All-Ireland
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All-Ireland is an attributive which emphasises the island of Ireland. It contrasts with expressions such as the South or Northern Ireland which apply only to regions. Many sports are organised on an all-Ireland basis.
"All-Ireland" is often used as an abbreviation of All-Ireland Championship, held by sports organised on All-Ireland basis. In particular:
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in Gaelic football
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in Hurling
Many sports are organised on an all-Ireland basis, for example basketball, boxing, cricket, curling, Gaelic games, hockey, golf, rugby league and rugby, in which case the international team is usually referred to simply as "Ireland". Others are organised primarily on an all-Ireland basis, but with both "Ireland" and "Great Britain" international teams, in which case players from Northern Ireland may opt for either - these include tennis, swimming, athletics and any events at the Olympics. Some others have separate Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland organisations and teams, including notably football and snooker.
Similarly, the term may be used in reference to annual competitions in certain traditional music and art forms:
- All-Ireland Fleadh in Irish music (see Fleadh Cheoil)
- All-Ireland Feis in Irish dance
- List of All-Ireland Champions in Traditional Irish music
- The All Ireland Talent Show
It is also used in the title Primate of All Ireland, the senior clergyman in each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland:
In Irish republicanism, expression Counties of Ireland is often used instead: 32 as distinct from the 26 traditional counties of the Republic and the remaining 6 of Northern Ireland.
