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Gaelic football is a mixture of soccer and rugby, though predating both games. The pace is similar to football, but allows the carrying of the ball, for a short distance, and adds goal posts to avoid those 0-0 draws.

Europe’s oldest field sport uses a hockey-style stick partly to throw a ball down the pitch, but mostly to smack opposing players. The fastest field sport around, expect lots of excitement and a bit of blood.

The beautiful Avondale Forest Park is filled with marked walks and nature trails, some of them along the bucolic setting of the River Avonmore banks. There is also an 18th-century arboretum within the park, with an impressive range of plant species.

The delightful Georgian village of Blessington is where the beautifully preserved Palladian mansion Russborough House, and its famous Beit Art Collection, is to be found. From here, yet again, there are good views of the mountains while, just south of the village, the River Liffey has been dammed to form a picturesque lake reservoir, popular with Dubliners for picnic outings and water-sports.

A top recreation site for families, the fun park is in the Vale of Clara, and near the village of Laragh – hence the name. Its rides are mostly based around water, but there are Go Karts, too, and the highest slide in Ireland, as well as tree-houses, climbing frames and picnic areas.

Crowds flock to the Liffey as Trinity and University College Dublin compete in the age-old rivalry of a rowing race between O’Connell Bridge and Sean Heuston Bridge, The tiny Ha’Penny Bridge fills with spectators.

Although close to Wicklow Town, this romantic wooded glen, with its waterfall and chirruping birds, is a haven of peace and tranquillity. It is part of the pretty valley of the Vartry. Perfect for walking or riding, it makes a quiet escape within an hour’s drive of Dublin. There are many pleasant self-catering apartments and cottages to rent, as well as stables, and other holiday facilities.

Close to Dublin, this steeply hilly woodland is part of the Powerscourt Estate. With the beautiful Powerscourt Waterfall at its centre, it is a popular area for an outing from the city, especially for walks, picnics, jogging and orienteering. Deer and red squirrel can be seen among the oak, Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, beech and chestnut trees.

Beginning on Aran Quay and winding through the city to finish back where it started, the Dublin Marathon attracts thousands of participants and spectators.

Every year, in the middle of June, thousands of keen cyclists race each other from Dublin to Belfast, then back again.