Sporting smorgasbord is the luck of the Irish

The fieldsports paradise of Ireland offers something for everyone, making it a match for anywhere in the world, argues Barry Stoffell

- Barry Stoffell

I read with great interest and no little enjoyment Patrick Laurie’s stirring ode to British field sports (The very best of us, 28 October). Patrick makes many excellent points. The sheer depth of tradition and diversity of sport undoubtedly mark Britain as one of the greatest field sports nations in the world.

Not the greatest, however. I find myself unable to rest until I make the case for the sporting pedigree of your closest neighbour and challenge the assertion that Britain stands alone atop the podium. I contend that in such a lofty position, Ireland stands firmly beside you.

Endless variety

Britain may have nearly three times the land area, but Ireland can claim every bit as much diversity in quarry species (with the welcome exception of the muntjac — and you can keep them). The Isle of Saints and Scholars also has more than its fair share of stags and salmon, and has long been a cherished sporting destination for fieldsports enthusiasts worldwide.

For the stalkers, a mere five-hour drive separates the mighty red deer of the rugged Donegal hills at one end of the country from the elusive sika stags in the wild shadows of Ireland’s highest peak in Kerry at the other. In between, you can easily break your journey and pursue fallow in Galway or Tipperary.

If fishing is more your line of country, you’re in good company with some of the finest salmon rivers in Europe. In the right conditions, the river Moy in Mayo or the Munster Blackwater will offer as fine a day’s sport to a fisherman as anywhere in the world.

Spend a day out in an old timber lake boat casting a BlackDoctor for salmon in Lough Currane in Kerry, or spinning for specimen pike in Lough Corrib, Connemara, and you’ll wonder why you ever bothered fishing anywhere else.