Should we give up football?

Rugby doesn't have to be skill free. France, Fiji, Japan or Portugal can play a risky type of game that Ireland never would.

Hurling hasn't been destroyed, like Gaelic Football, because mass defence is a useless tactic. It's probably not an accident that this game is ancient - it's creation predates the national fear of being creative or taking a risk.

And if you are creative then you directed towards the arts. Ireland produces writers and actors, not ball players.

We are cleaning up at the Oscars, but we don't have a midfield - it can't be a coincidence!

There's something going on here!

We are not a tiny island nation .....roughly 11th largest island on the planet. We are also a very wealthy country, 3rd wealthiest in the world - GDP Per Person. Admittedly its a terrible measure, but by any reasonable measure we are a wealthy country. We should be doing a lot better. 

The lack of a league with 10-15 full time professional squads with academies attached is a major drawback. 

What sports do we punch above our weight in?

Rugby is played by posh schoolboys from British colonies + France, and if it were ever to be taken seriously by big countries we'd shoot down the rankings. Bearing in mind our best players in recent years have been residency-rulers.

I'm sure someone will mention a sailor or rower from the Olympics as an argument, but neither are global sports that anyone can just pick up. These are elitest sports.

Norway, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Romania, Finland, Switzerland are just some examples of countries ahead of us in the Olympic medal table.

But don't worry, my parish bet your parish in the bog ball last weekend.

Rugby Union

Golf

Boxing

This island has produced some of the current greatest golfers and boxers on the planet. 

Of the list of countries you provided, Ireland has a lower population than them all expect for New Zealand (we are ranked 120th, and New Zealand are 121st for population) and Croatia who are 128th. So your logic makes no sense.

And why bring a bog ball reference into this? GAA is a huge part of Irish sport and culture. The lads playing Inter county football and hurling are serious, almost professional, athletes.

Young lads and girls playing  gaelic fotball, hurling, camogie etc. At times to the detriment of other sports such as soccer. It's a fact of life in this country. For those of us in hurling and football dominated counties, it's a fact of life!