The changing face of sport in Northern Ireland
When you think of sport in Northern Ireland, we’d bet that gaelic, rugby or football (AKA soccer to you international folk) are first to mind.
And while we love to celebrate everything Northern Irish, we also love the impact that our diaspora and friends around the globe have on our wee island.
Like all the wonderful international sports they’re bringing home with them!
Whether you’re moving home or coming here for the first time, you don’t have to leave your favourite sports behind.
Just ask the lovely Luisa Reynolds who, all the way from New Jersey, turned to the sport she played as a child to help her settle in Northern Ireland.
And settle she did!
Luisa is now captain of the Hawks Softball Team in none other than Lisburn.
Read on to see how sport has made her feel very much at home… and discover some of the other international sport on offer in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland are Softies for Softball
For those who don’t know; softball is a sister sport of baseball from the US that’s currently enjoying a home run in Northern Ireland.
Take Luisa's word for it...
“While it’s on a smaller scale here, the sport is really taking off with 15 teams now competing in the Softball Ulster League and even a National Team that competes throughout Europe.”
But that’s not all…
“This year, North Down Softball Club opened Ireland’s first purpose-built softball diamond at Ward Park in Bangor which is a huge step forward for the sport. Lisburn has big dreams of building one of our own in the future.”
Not only is that a fantastic investment into the local community and an opportunity to try a different sport, but it helps our international friends feel more at home in Northern Ireland.
That’s why for Lisburn Softball Club members, softball is growing from a niche pastime to a community-wide hobby.
“Our youngest player is 18 and our oldest is 50-something so it’s a sport for absolutely everyone. It’s very much a family vibe.
We socialise together, train 3 times per week, travel across Ireland for tournaments and have plenty of craic along the way.”
We think it sounds like a wonderful way to pass the time – and of course, the best way to meet people if you’re new to Northern Ireland.
“Every training session comes with at least one comedy moment, we laugh as much as we play. There’s something special about the friendships forged on the field, built through the grind of working together and the thrill of competing side by side.”
Visit www.softballulster.com to find your nearest team.
Give Ice Hockey a Go in Northern Ireland
Speaking of friendships forged on the field, have you heard of Friendship Four?
It’s the only international sporting event where American colleges play outside of the United States.
And it’s a sport that doesn’t initially scream “Northern Ireland”.
Ice hockey!
We wrote a blog all about it here… but while it’s an event very much for the pros, if you fancy getting your skates on there are lots of local clubs you can try.
Lots are Belfast based, using Dundonald Ice Bowl as their training ground.
You might be cutting ice with the best of them in no time!
Either way, as Luisa recommends, if you’ve got any interest in trying a new sport in Northern Ireland, “Find a team and give it a go! It’s a brilliant way to meet people – both locals and ex-pats.”
Northern Ireland is (American) Football Crazy, Football Mad...
Arguably the most well-known ex-pat sport of them all, American Football has been part of the Northern Ireland sport scene for decades.
Cast your mind all the way back to 1942 and the Second World War…
…when Ravenhill in East Belfast was home to an American Football match between two military sides known as ‘Yarvard’ and ‘Hale’.
It was the first one ever played in Ireland, and we’re sure it lifted their spirits!
There are loads of American Football clubs in Northern Ireland that are open to join whether you want to play, coach, referee or volunteer.
Like one of the earliest clubs in Ireland is The Craigavon Cowboys, who were founded back in 1985.
Or one of the most successful is the Belfast Trojans, who won the Shamrock Bowl five times – impressive!
Northern Ireland’s got the Pick of Pickleball and Padel
We can’t be the only ones who have noticed all the pickleball and padel courts popping up all over the place.
And we’re also not complaining about it.
Both these sports use racquets and balls, but there are differences when it comes to courts, racquet sizes and general gameplay.
(Just don’t ask us exactly what those differences are…)
Padel is originally a Mexican sport that has been big in Spain for years but is now taking over the globe as the fastest growing sport in the world.
You can play padel by the river at Belfast Boat Club, try the exciting soon-to-open Powerhouse Padel in Coleraine or play a few rounds while exploring the Lakelands in Enniskillen at the Killyhevlin Hotel.
Pickleball comes from Washington and isn’t far behind, with the worldwide pickleball community priding itself on being the most friendly, welcoming sport.
You can join that community here.
Northern Ireland Sport Might Surprise You…
Isn’t it great to know that coming to Northern Ireland doesn’t mean leaving your favourite sports behind?
We’ll leave you with these lovely words from Luisa about how she felt coming to Northern Ireland, which we think sums it up perfectly.
“It was a big adventure for me. Honestly, I expected it all to look like the Irish Pubs back home with shamrocks, fiddles and Guinness everywhere. Instead, I was surprised by how cosmopolitan Belfast already was in the early 2000s."
"And the scenery still makes my jaw drop. And the people? Some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet.”
Well said 👏
Big thanks to Luisa for sharing her story and love of softball with us.
If you can, make sure to show your support to the Lisburn Softball Club!
What do you think? Are any of these sports for you or is there another you’ve discovered since being away that you’d love to see take off in Northern Ireland?
Let us know so we can give it a go too!
