Sport

Harrington's rendition of Grace was Ireland's most memorable sporting moment of 2024

Kellie Harrington of Team Ireland sings the song 'Grace'. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The annual Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index, TSSI, has revealed that Kellie Harrington's rendition of Grace after winning her second Olympic gold was the most memorable Irish sporting moment of 2024.

The TSSI is a comprehensive 1,000-person, nationally representative survey with quotas imposed across gender, region, age, and social class. The research was carried out by Teneo's Sports Advisory team and iReach Insights and examines the Irish general public's attitudes towards sport and their sporting heroes. The survey was done between December 5 and 13 this year.

Harrington's singing won 14% of the memorable moment vote. While the second-place finish was shared by the defence of their Olympic title by Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy in the men's lightweight double sculls and the moment Katie Taylor's hand was raised in victory following her fight with Amanda Serrano.

The team of the year went to Team Ireland for their performance at the Olympics. They won 28% of the vote, beating the likes of the Irish men's rugby team (17%), the women's 4x400m relay team (14%) in third, and the Irish Paralympics teams in 4th (12%).

After the cheering stopped. Kellie Harrington, double Olympic champion pic.twitter.com/mXjIt4IR6V

— Chris Latchem (@chrisdotlatchem) August 6, 2024

Katie Taylor continued her reign as Ireland's Most Admired Athlete, a title she has held for an unprecedented eight years in succession. Her sole contest of 2024, the gutsy win over Amanda Serrano in November, clearly struck a chord with the Irish public, and she received 15% of the vote. Rising sprint star Rhasidat Adeleke was runner-up with 11%, with Kellie Harrington, winner of that historic second Olympic gold, taking third place with 10%.

Gaelic games, for the seventh successive year, remained Ireland's favourite sport, receiving 20% of the vote. Soccer was next with 18%, and rugby secured third on 15%. Strong though these strongholds were, the survey underlined the breadth of the Irish public's sporting interests, with athletics, horse racing, tennis, and motorsport all drawing significant followings.

The most-anticipated sporting event for the coming year, looking ahead to the 2025 Men's Six Nations, at 30%, is when Ireland will be pursuing a third consecutive title. In second place come the All-Ireland Senior Hurling and Football Championships, at 15% and 12%, respectively.

Teneo Public Survey 2024

Team of the Year

Winner: Team Ireland (28%) – Seven medals at the Paris Olympics (4 gold, 3 bronze).
2nd Place: Ireland men’s rugby team (17%) – Retained Six Nations title.
3rd Place: Women’s 4x400m relay team (14%) – European silver medallists, Olympic finalists.
4th Place: Irish Paralympics Team (12%) – Six medals at the Paris Paralympics.

Most Admired Athlete

Winner: Katie Taylor (15%)—Defeated Amanda Serrano in November for her only 2024 fight.
2nd Place: Rhasidat Adeleke (11%)—Star sprinter at European Championships and Olympics.
3rd Place: Kellie Harrington (10%)—Won her second Olympic gold medal.
Joint 4th: Paul O’Donovan & Fintan McCarthy, Bundee Aki (7%).
6th Place: Rachael Blackmore (5%).

Greatest Sporting Achievement

Ireland men’s rugby team: Consecutive Six Nations title (15%).
Kellie Harrington: Second Olympic gold (11%).
Daniel Wiffen: Olympic gold and bronze (10%).
Katie Taylor: Victory over Serrano (10%).
O’Donovan & McCarthy: Defended lightweight double sculls title (8%).
Rhys McClenaghan: Pommel horse gold (7%).

Most Memorable Sporting Moment

Kellie Harrington’s rendition of Grace after Olympic gold (14%).
(Joint) O’Donovan & McCarthy defending Olympic title, Katie Taylor's victory (11%).
(Joint, 8%) Women’s 4x400m relay, Daniel Wiffen’s interview, Ciaran Frawley’s last-minute drop-goal vs South Africa.