TAYLOR, TUBRIDY & BONO STAR IN ONSIDE’S 2022 MOST ADMIRED
Katie Taylor, Ryan Tubridy and Bono topped their respective fields in sport and entertainment, and collectively made up the top 3 most admired Irish sports, broadcast, and music stars overall in Ireland in 2022, according to sponsorship advisors ONSIDE.
The queen of world lightweight boxing Katie Taylor retained her status as Ireland’s Most Admired Sports Personality for the sixth year in a row, albeit down 7% to 18% in 2022, and will look to cement her enduring status as one of Ireland’s greatest ever sports stars through a potential multi-million Euro box office rematch with Amanda Serrano in Ireland next year.
Joining Taylor on this year’s podium are past players and media pundits Roy Keane (+2%) and Brian O’Driscoll (+1%), while golfer Shane Lowry (+4%) and horse-racing star Rachael Blackmore (+2%) made most ground in the chasing pack for the hearts and minds of the Irish public in 2022.
John Trainor, ONSIDE CEO, outside head office on Lansdowne Road
According to John Trainor, Founder and CEO of ONSIDE: “Katie Taylor has an avid fan base of over 680,000 Irish adults that see her as their number 1 Irish sports star. Within that base, she could potentially sell out Croke Park twice over with active supporters that will want to see live, the biggest event in women’s boxing history, if staged in Ireland”.
Trainor adds: “2023 looks set to offer major platforms for Irish sports stars to connect their personal brands with businesses seeking to engage with the 3 in 4 adults that have a sports star they admire most. The Republic of Ireland women’s soccer team journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia / New Zealand opens a strong pool of talent, with captain Katie McCabe currently admired most in the squad by the public. Retired rugby stars Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell, and Ireland and Leinster captain Johnny Sexton, also emerge from our latest research as strong prospects for brands seeking to align with talent around the Rugby World Cup in France.”
Outside of sport, the ONSIDE STAR TRACK 2022 also found that Ryan Tubridy retained his number 1 status as the most admired television or radio personality in Ireland, achieving his highest score in over 10 years at 18%. Meanwhile Marty Morrissey, Ray Darcy and John Creedon replaced Graham Norton, Marty Whelan and Ian Dempsey in the Top 10 most admired broadcast personalities.
U2 lead singer Bono, who has just released his autobiography ‘Surrender’, topped Dermot Kennedy and Christy Moore in the research category regarding most admired Irish music and live entertainment stars. Trainor notes that: “with the largest avid fanbase in the category of almost 370,000 Irish adults, and with 6 in 10 Irish adults in general book readers in Ireland, Bono can expect a strong base of sales for his new book in the Irish market in the run into Christmas”. Aslan front man Christy Dignam was the biggest mover in the music and live entertainment category in 2022, up 11 places to joint 5th with Hozier.
Trainor concludes: “Not only are the athletes, broadcasters and music talent on our lists familiar and distinctive in their respective fields, but their influence and willingness to speak out on social and environmental issues positions them as model ambassadors and corporate speakers for companies seeking to communicate effectively to consumer and corporate audiences in Ireland in 2023”.
