Sports participation levels in Ireland reach new all-time high of 49%

UP AND RUNNING: Participant Emily Mansfield with her medal after the inaugural Dublin City Half Marathon last week. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Sports participation across the country has hit a new record high, a study has shown. 

Buoyed by ever-increasing numbers of Irish teenagers and young adults taking part in sports activity, the Irish Sports Monitor report found that overall active participation hit 49% in 2024, up from 46% the previous year. 

The Irish Sports Monitor 2024 survey, which was published Thursday by Sport Ireland, shows that the country is on track to hit the 50% target laid out in the National Sports Policy 2018–2027
According to the survey, which has been published annually since 2007, personal exercise category, including gym-going and fitness classes, was the most popular activity with 18% of all respondents saying they had participated in the activity in the previous seven days. This was followed by swimming (8%), running (7%), and cycling (5%). Among the 11 most popular activities, the only one to see a drop in participation was Gaelic football down from 3% to 2%. Teenagers and young adults in Ireland have the highest sports participation rates of all age groups. 

The ISM also showed increases in social sports participation, club membership and volunteering. Weekly event attendance figures remained stable at 20%, which is one of the highest numbers in Europe.

Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May said: “The growth in active sports participation is very welcome. The latest figures are on track with Sport Ireland projections. The expectation is that we should reach and possibly slightly exceed 50% by 2027.

“These numbers show significant recovery from pandemic levels of participation, and we are going to continue to work hard to keep developing sport in Ireland."

Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue said: “The annual launch of the Irish Sports Monitor by Sport Ireland since its inception in 2007 is an important event in the sporting calendar. It provides a snapshot of our progress, allowing us to identify progress and areas for further analysis and development.

“The data gathered by Sport Ireland is an essential tool that provides an evidence base for the policy decisions that are made by Government to improve the take up of sport in Ireland. It is great to see in this year’s ISM that active sports participation has reached its highest level ever in line with Government’s vision of increasing participation for sport and physical activity for the people of Ireland.

“I’d like to thank and commend Sport Ireland for this work as it allows us to compare to the past while at the same time plan for the future.”