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All-Ireland is an attributive which emphasises the island of Ireland. It contrasts with expressions such as the Republic or Northern Ireland which apply only to the specific jurisdictions that exist on the island. Many but far from all sports are organised on an all-Ireland basis.
"All-Ireland" is often used as an abbreviation of All-Ireland Championship, held by sports organised on All-Ireland basis. In particular:
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in Gaelic football
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in Hurling
Many sports are organised on an all-Ireland basis, for example American football, basketball, boxing, cricket, curling, Gaelic games, hockey, golf, rugby league and rugby union, in which case the international team is usually referred to simply as "Ireland". Others are organised primarily on an all-Ireland basis, but with both "Ireland" and "Great Britain" international teams, in which case players from Northern Ireland may opt for either - these include tennis, swimming, athletics and any events at the Olympics. Some others have separate Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland organisations and teams, including notably football and snooker.
Similarly, the term may be used in reference to annual competitions in certain traditional music and art forms:
- All-Ireland Fleadh in Irish music (see Fleadh Cheoil)
- All-Ireland Feis in Irish dance
- List of All-Ireland Champions in Traditional Irish music
- The All Ireland Talent Show
- Archbishops of Armagh - Primate of All Ireland (Catholic)
- Archbishops of Armagh - Primate of All Ireland (Church of Ireland)
In Irish republicanism, expression Counties of Ireland is often used instead: 32 as distinct from the 26 traditional counties of the Republic and the remaining 6 of Northern Ireland. Those who subscribe to Irish republican legitimatism, that the Irish Republic continues to exist refer to the All-Ireland Republic to distinguish from the 26 county Republic of Ireland.
Republican Sinn Féin hold an Eve of All Ireland Rally ahead of the senior All-Ireland Football Championship final on O'Connell Street, Dublin.