If you’re on the east coast of Ireland (and chances are high that you will be, as the capital of Dublin is situated there), you can find many places to fish. Just north of Dublin in County Meath, for example, you will find Clarke’s Sports Den, where you can obtain both advice and a permit to fish.

Angling is regulated in the Republic of Ireland by the Central Fisheries Board, which focuses primarily on the provision of advice to the government on protection and conservation of fish stocks in Ireland. Regulation of the fishing industry is important in Ireland, given its reputation as a haven for nature and its rural identity on the international stage. Although endowed with a moist and changeable climate, Ireland prides itself on its outdoor pursuits, fishing being among them. So you will need to check if the kind of fishing you intend to enjoy while in Ireland requires a permit from one of the seven Regional Fisheries Boards located around the country. Note too that in 2010, the seven regions and the CFB are expected to be amalgamated into one body – the Inland Fisheries Ireland organisation. Sea trout and salmon fishing require permits. These are game fish. Irish salmon has a world class reputation, and scientists have expressed alarm in recent years at the decline in the return of wild salmon to Irish waters. As a result, there is now a national quota on the number of salmon that can be fished in Ireland which must be adhered to by anglers and other fishermen.

Coarse fishing is the term used to describe fishing for other kinds of fish such as bream and eels. However, there are species from both categories protected in Ireland; indeed, all freshwater fish fall under some kind of protection, so make sure you do your research before you set out and make sure you’re not breaking any laws. You’ll need to get a state licence to fish for salmon or sea trout anywhere in Ireland.

So where to go fishing? County Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland and on the other side of the island of Ireland to Dublin, is known as one of the most watery of the counties of Ireland, and both fishing and boating can be done on Lough Erne. Lower Lough Erne has more than ninety islands, Upper Lough Erne more than 150, and there are guided cruises on offer as well as boat rental from angling centres such as the one in Belleek.

Meanwhile County Down offers trout fishing along the Shimna River on the Mourne Mountains. You’ll get permits on Newcastle’s Main Street in the Four Seasons.

Lough Ree in Athlone is one place from where you can strike out along the Shannon, and there are boats of various kinds to rent, as well as cruises that may take as long as half a day to complete. If you rent your own boat, make sure to bring a rod along if you want to enjoy the fishing.

County Leitrim with its loughs and rivers is an oft overlooked part of the west of Ireland. Boaters can go out on cruises and the fish are plentiful along the Leitrim waterways.

Controversial tax breaks in recent years in Ireland have encouraged stud farmers and others with an interest in horse racing to develop the sport here, although there was never any real need for the government incentives. The Irish have always had a fondness for horse racing, and the fact that Irish jockeys and horses frequently win races at big UK events is testament to this fact.

The Galway Races is the big summer event. With celebrities, politicians and successful entrepreneurs in attendance in their droves, you can be sure that you’ll be rubbing shoulders with a higher class of sports fan. Some of them have been known to arrive at the races by helicopter, an extravagance that is now balked at in the media because of the state of the world economy. However, the Champagne Tent at the Galway races is one venue worth a visit if you’re looking to develop business contacts.

The summer festival at the Galway Races runs for an entire seven day week, and local businesses and offices have been known to shut up shop early so that employees can attend. On Ladies’ Day, the best turned out member of the fairer gender is awarded a prize, and there are various other events – other than horse racing – that take place over the course of the week. The festival in Galway runs from the last Monday of July each year. If you’re looking for local accommodation during the festival, you’d be advised to book early to guarantee a place to stay. Although there has been a dip in the popularity of the races due to the economic downturn, hotels and other accommodations in the area have been known to be booked out during festivals.

The Autumn Racing Festival is another Galway Races event, a little quieter than the summer event. The Autumn festival has been moved forward to the end of August this year.

On Ireland’s east coast you will find the Leopardstown Race Track in Dublin. It holds a festival over Christmas and it also houses a golf centre.

You will find all of the expected facilities at all of the racetracks in Ireland. Both Galway and Leopardstown offer car parking facilities. Screens both big and small feature, with the races being broadcast over them in case you’re off in the bar ordering booze while the race you’ve bet your house on is taking place. Betting stalls are located on the grounds, with various betting shops competing for your custom. Because horse racing is the sport of kings, you won’t be surprised to learn that the bars and restaurants at the race tracks are usually of a high standard, although the prices aren’t too prohibitive. Outdoor seating is not unusual, so you can view the races live while you drink or eat. If shivering in the cold Irish weather at Christmas time nursing a pint of cold beer isn’t your idea of a good time, patio heaters will keep you warm if the weather has taken a turn for the worse.

Croke Park on Dublin’s north side is the home of the Gaelic games in Ireland’s capital. A brisk twenty minute walk from O’Connell Street, one of Europe’s widest main thoroughfares, will take you to the stadium. The games traditionally played in Croker, as its known, are Gaelic football and hurling. However, recently, other sports played there include soccer and rugby due to the ongoing redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, Dublin’s other main stadium on its south side. The decision to allow sports of foreign origin to be played at the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association was controversial for some members of the GAA. The Gaelic Athletic Association is the Irish and international sporting body responsible for the promotion of Gaelic games, including camogie, hurling, Gaelic football, handball and rounders, with a heavy emphasis placed on hurling and football. The popularity of both sports among the Irish is high. Principally because of this, out of the population of about six million in Ireland, the GAA boasts 800,000 members – the largest organisation in terms of membership in Ireland. When you consider this alongside the fact that GAA players are amateur status athletes, and the sporting body relies on a good degree of good will and volunteerism, you can appreciate how important Gaelic games are to the Irish populace.

The foundation of the association in 1884 was a reaction to the decline in the popularity of Irish sports. The association also actively encourages other aspects of Irish culture, such as Irish dancing and the Irish language. However, since the late 1800s, there has frequently been a chauvinism displayed when it comes to Gaelic games – members of the British armed forces and the police were not permitted to join the association in its early days, and even children who played Gaelic football were often not allowed to play soccer or rugby if they wanted to retain their place on the Gaelic team. The decisions of school teacher-coaches to deny teenagers the right to play more than Gaelic and hurling in days gone by may well have scuppered more than one professional football career in the English Leagues. Croke Park has been used to host Gaelic Games for decades, and even today some traditionalists took exception to the recent rugby and soccer internationals that have been played there because of Landsdowne Road’s refurbishments.

However, the GAA had some basic tenets outlined in its foundation that were less controversial, including the desire to encourage native games among all social classes.

Croke Park itself has seen some redevelopment in recent years, making it among the largest world class stadiums in Europe. In keeping with the changing times in Ireland, it can also lay on impressive corporate hospitality functions both during matches and at other times.

When it comes to GAA games, the All Ireland football final is one of the two main events, the other being the hurling final. Held at Croke Park every year on the third or fourth Sunday of September, the football final is the culmination of a games series among the counties from all four corners of Ireland – currently with the exception of County Kilkenny, whose strength lies in its hurling team – for the Sam Maguire Cup. The game is faster than soccer and a joy to watch, so if you have an opportunity to see a match, whether it’s the All Ireland Final or not, check it out.