Vodafone and AIB have been ranked as standout sponsors for their involvement with rugby union and Gaelic sports, according to a survey carried out by Onside in conjunction with the Marketing Institute of Ireland.

Attendees at an event organised by Onside selected IRFU sponsor Vodafone as top sports sponsor of 2019, while they singled out AIB for its long-term collaboration with the GAA.

Marketing professionals voted Katie Taylor as the No 1 most marketable Irish sports star, followed by golfer Shane Lowry, rugby player Johnny Sexton and the Irish Women’s Hockey Team.

Electric Ireland’s Darkness into Light was singled out as the best overall non-sports sponsorship of 2019.

Onside chief executive John Trainor commented: “Reflecting consistent progress in the Irish sponsorship industry this year, four in ten marketing professionals surveyed felt sponsorship campaigns in Ireland this year had improved on previous years, with just one in ten feeling standards had dropped back.”

Vodafone head of sponsorship Gerry Nixon added: “It’s great recognition for the ‘Everyone In’ campaign around the World Cup, but more importantly it bodes well for the future as we look forward to building on these foundations with the IRFU through 2020 and beyond.”

Among the public, Guinness was singled out as the top sponsorship brand over the past decade. Others on the public’s Top 10 included Vodafone, Heineken, Aldi, Lidl, 3, Bank of Ireland, AIB, Aviva and Aer Lingus.