Travel

Specialist sports agencies can arrange packages to events abroad

Irish soccer fans make a huge impact on sports travel to Britain

Irish tour operators such as Cassidy Golf arrange trips abroad to competitions such as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

Joan Scales
Sat Aug 5 2017 - 06:00

Whether it is golf, football, rugby, athletics, tennis, horseracing, boxing, wrestling, motor racing or cricket, everyone has a favourite sport. Many sports events are more accessible now and easier to get to. You can support your favourite team at away games.

More Irish athletes and sportspeople are participating in international competitions, and it is always nice to support them. There are a number of specialist sports agencies that can source tickets and put together packages to events.

Rugby, especially the Six Nations, is one of the most popular overseas events to attend. Next year the away fixtures will be France and England, and booking early is a good idea as they are both popular matches.

Killestertravel. com, Abbeytravel. com, John Galligan Travel, jgt.ie organise rugby trips. Leinster Rugby's own travel agent is JoeWalshTours.ie, who handles lots of group trips for supporters.

READ MORE

Irish soccer fans make a huge impact on sports travel to Britain. Large fan groups travel to Premier League matches. Favourite teams include Manchester United and Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. Specialist travel agencies include dawsontravel.com in Cork and Celtichorizontours. com who have been appointed official Man City agents.

When it comes to Wimbledon, cricket, European soccer and Grand Prix, Keith Prowse is the first port of call. They can get tickets for most events, keithprowse.ie

Tour events

Golf has a big following in Ireland both for playing and for going to tour events. Spain and Portugal are the most popular destinations for playing. Designated golf agencies include cassidygolf.ie, carrgolf.ie and theflyinggolfer.com

Athletes and amateurs who like to compete in events will find access to worldwide marathon events with sportsinternationaltravel.com

When it comes to racing Newbridgetravel.ie and Tullystravel.ie, Kildare, have been bringing Irish punters to Cheltenham, Aintree, Prix de l'Arc and other famous meetings for years.

jscales@irishtimes.com

AbbeytravelCeltichorizontoursDawsontravelKillestertravelSportsinternationaltravelTheflyinggolfer