10 of the best sporting statues to visit in Ireland

How you cross the roundabout in Tralee is up to you.

THERE IS A serious lack of statues dedicated to Irish sporting greats past and present.

However, if you find yourself at a loose end this summer, get the old school map of Ireland out and plan a week-long break around the Emerald Isle to visit the best we have to offer:

Sam Maguire (Dunmanway, Cork)

A legend in Liverpool too? (Credit: ©INPHO/James Crombie)

Jack Charlton (Cork Airport)

Forget Euro 88 and the two World Cups, Big Jack was a fishing legend. (Credit: Window on Working)

Mick O’Dwyer (Waterville, Kerry)

YouTube credit: RTENewsNow

Seve Ballesteros (Heritage Golf Club, Laois)

Paul Feriather with his sculpture of Spanish golfer Ballesteros. (Credit: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer)

Christy Ring (Cloyne and Cork Airport, Cork)

Willie John Ring with the statue erected to his brother Christy. (Credit: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

Jack Lynch (Blackpool, Cork)

A tunnel and bench statue for Jack. (Credit: originalwriting.ie)

Galway Races (Galway)

(©INPHO/Cathal Noonan)

Sean Boylan (Dunboyne Castle, Meath)

Uncanny. (Credit: todayfm)

Payne Stewart (Waterville, Kerry)

The American golfer often visited Waterville Golf Club when warming up for the British Open. (Credit: ©INPHO/Tom Honan)

GAA footballers (Tralee, Kerry)

(Credit: Geograph.ie)

Many thanks for your suggestions — we have added some more statues…

Nicky Rackard (Wexford)

(Credit: Paul Egan)

‘Ruck and Puck’ (O’Connell St, Limerick)

(Credit: flickr)

Olympians (Nenagh, Tipperary)

Matt McGrath (hammer throw), Bob Tisdall (400 meter hurdles), and Johnny Hayes (marathon). (Credit: irelandtravelkit.com)

Sporting murals

They have Royal Mail stamps, a statue at Old Trafford and Belfast murals (below) but a statue remains in the pipeline:

Talk of a George Best statue began in Belfast in 2008. (Credit: Geograph.ie)

Are there any statues or murals we have missed?