Top 20 Athletics & Sports from Ireland on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: May 20, 2026

Total Athletics & Sports Influencers in Ireland

3,336

Expected Reach

23.0M

Total Followers

99.5M

Avg Engagement

7.73%

Audience Analysis

Gender Distribution

Female40%
Male60%

Age Distribution

25-3441.5%
18-2433.9%
35-4413.9%
13-175.6%

Top Countries

Ireland45.2%
United Kingdom14.3%
United States of America11.3%
Germany2.8%
Spain2.3%

Top Languages

en85.7%
es3.9%
pt3.1%

Top Cities

Dublin11.1%
Cork3.7%
Greater London1.8%
Galway City1.4%
Kilkenny0.7%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Gardiner Brothers
@gardinerbrothers
Irish living in USA🇺🇸 5x World Champions 🌍 Content Creators | Performers | Speakers General: hello@gardinerbrothers.com Brands: madison@smithsaint.com
Ireland
2.2M
Followers
0.08%
Engagement
+1.5%(+32.8K)
5.3
2
Pa O’Dwyer
@paodwyer__
🏋🏻‍♀️🇮🇪Athlete | Fitness Creator @maxlabsuk code ODWYER15 @appliednutrition code PA20 COACHING 👇🏻 CLOTHING
Ireland
607.1K
Followers
3.69%
Engagement
+5.5%(+31.6K)
8.1
3
Pro Sports Advice
@prosportsadviceltd
🏇 11 Year Professional Horse Racing Analyst 📲 Daily Horse Racing Tips 🌍 20,000+ PSA Members Worldwide ↘️ Join My VIP on Whop
Ireland
553.5K
Followers
2.68%
Engagement
+4.5%(+23.9K)
7.0
4
Troy Sutton | #1 Body Transformation Coach
@troyjfitness
📚EASY Fitness Tips Posted DAILY 👉I Also Coach People 1-1 To Lose ALL Stubborn Fat & Keep It Off FOREVER 📥DM Me “TROJAN” To Be Next👇
Dublin, Ireland
804.2K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+2.4%(+18.8K)
6.7
5
Jornel Lugo
@aunolugo
🥊I Help People Master Defense 🏆8th Ranked Fighter On Earth For Bellator 2022 🤝DM for Collabs 🥷400+ Fight Drills👇🏽
Dublin, Ireland
427.3K
Followers
0.31%
Engagement
+3.8%(+15.8K)
5.6
6
Speedgolfrob
@speedgolfrob
MERCH ⬇️
Ireland
524.6K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+2.7%(+14.0K)
8.1
7
Sean McNamara
@seanmcnamara_official
Retired Jockey & Professional Athlete National Champion 2018 🏆 Proudly sponsored by @triequestriancurragh @fatfrogdrink
Dublin, Ireland
123.4K
Followers
0.62%
Engagement
+10.3%(+11.5K)
3.7
8
Bernard O'Shea
@bernardo.oshea
Irish comedian 2026/27 Tour on sale now ⬇️
Ireland
193.0K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+5.0%(+9.3K)
7.3
9
Sebastian
@actwithaim
🥷🏻 I can help you lose 26-30lbs in 12 weeks ⚒️ DM me “COACH” to work with me @calai.app @proteinworks @lineageprovisions code; AWA 🇮🇪🇵🇱⛰️🏋🏻‍♂️📚🧘🏼‍♂️
Ireland
136.1K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+6.6%(+8.4K)
6.7
10
Cian Stanley
@_cian_stanley_
1.9 million followers on TikTok Email: cianstanley77@gmail.com Managed by: @stridetalent
Dublin, Ireland
446.0K
Followers
1.55%
Engagement
+1.8%(+8.0K)
6.6
11
Luis Andre Bastos
@luisandrebastos
Criador da mentoria PLA, escritor, palestrante, Pastor e mentor de empresários e executivos Interessados em palestras e mentorias acessar link :
Dublin, Ireland
492.4K
Followers
0.23%
Engagement
+1.6%(+7.9K)
6.8
12
Ciarán Duffy.
@cduffy1001
TUNNEL VISION. TIKTOK | 520k. YOUTUBE 📺 | CDUFFY101| 500k. ✖️ @kickscrewcom(CDUFFY15) EMAIL 💻: Ciaranduffyy@gmail.com
Dublin, Ireland
205.1K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+3.9%(+7.8K)
4.3
13
Eamon
@eamonjohn
🇮🇪 Creator Dancing the sun up 🌅 Making your day brighter (and funnier) 😂 700M+ views 👀 💌 management.eamonjohn@gmail.com
Ireland
109.5K
Followers
0.79%
Engagement
+7.1%(+7.3K)
7.5
14
THE HIGH KINGS - IRELANDS FOLK BAND 🇮🇪
@thehighkingsofficial
Ireland’s Multi Platinum Artists Darren Holden, Brian Dunphy, Finbarr Clancy & Paul O’ Brien.
Dublin, Ireland
68.8K
Followers
1.67%
Engagement
+9.4%(+5.9K)
8.5
15
Sky Ireland
@skyireland
⚽️ Proud Primary Partner of the FAI Women’s & Men’s National Teams 🇮🇪 #BoundByBelief 📲 Sky Mobile - Ireland’s Newest Network #ExpectMore
Ireland
60.1K
Followers
2.80%
Engagement
+9.6%(+5.3K)
6.4
16
RushGK
@rushgk_
🧤Goalkeeper 📩rushgkbusiness@gmail.com 🇮🇪 Cork, Ireland @theonegloveco OG squad
Ireland
221.6K
Followers
0.87%
Engagement
+2.3%(+5.0K)
7.0
17
Mick Medeiros
@mick_medeiros
🎥 Presenter | Content Creator ✍🏾 Managed by: @connectmgt 📩 Enquiries: james@connectmgt.com
Ireland
87.4K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+5.7%(+4.7K)
7.5
18
Nicky Byrne
@nickybyrneinsta
@Westlife PODCAST - NickyByrneHQ - @acast @youtube - NickyByrneOfficial @tiktok - NickyByrneHQ @facebook Nicky Byrne @X - @NickyByrne Hubby/Dad❤️
Ireland
569.0K
Followers
2.19%
Engagement
+0.8%(+4.3K)
7.1
19
James Doyle
@jamesdoylefitness
Health, Entertainment and Mighty Craic 🇮🇪 hello@matchstick.ie @matchstick.ie
Dublin, Ireland
308.9K
Followers
4.80%
Engagement
+1.3%(+4.0K)
7.5
20
Michael Breen
@mikeybreeno
📚 Teacher 🥘 MSc Food Business 📍Ballina, Tipperary
Dublin, Ireland
16.1K
Followers
27.72%
Engagement
+31.0%(+3.8K)
9.7

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in Ireland with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Athletics & Sports content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 23.0M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 99.5M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 7.73% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 3,336 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:

  • Top Markets: Ireland, United Kingdom, United States of America
  • Gender Distribution: 40% Female, 60% Male
  • Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (41.5% of audience)
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Athletics & Sports niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through May 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Ireland on Instagram?

Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) is, as of May 2026, the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Ireland on Instagram, with +1.5% monthly growth (+32.8K followers).

How many followers did Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) gain last month?

Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) gained about 32.8K followers last month (+1.5%).

Who grew more: Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) or Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__)?

Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) grew more than Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__) (32.8K vs 31.6K).

How is Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__) performing right now?

Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__) is growing at +5.5% (+31.6K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.1 and average engagement of 3.69%.

How is Pro Sports Advice (@prosportsadviceltd) performing right now?

Pro Sports Advice (@prosportsadviceltd) is growing at +4.5% (+23.9K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.0 and average engagement of 2.68%.

How is Troy Sutton | #1 Body Transformation Coach (@troyjfitness) performing right now?

Troy Sutton | #1 Body Transformation Coach (@troyjfitness) is growing at +2.4% (+18.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 6.7 and average engagement of 0.00%.

How is Jornel Lugo (@aunolugo) performing right now?

Jornel Lugo (@aunolugo) is growing at +3.8% (+15.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 5.6 and average engagement of 0.31%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__) or Pro Sports Advice (@prosportsadviceltd)?

Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__) leads (5.5% vs Pro Sports Advice (@prosportsadviceltd) 4.5%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers)?

Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) gained about 32.8K followers last month (+1.5%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__)?

Pa O’Dwyer (@paodwyer__) gained about 31.6K followers last month (+5.5%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Pro Sports Advice (@prosportsadviceltd)?

Pro Sports Advice (@prosportsadviceltd) gained about 23.9K followers last month (+4.5%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Troy Sutton | #1 Body Transformation Coach (@troyjfitness)?

Troy Sutton | #1 Body Transformation Coach (@troyjfitness) gained about 18.8K followers last month (+2.4%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Jornel Lugo (@aunolugo)?

Jornel Lugo (@aunolugo) gained about 15.8K followers last month (+3.8%).

Is Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Gardiner Brothers (@gardinerbrothers) has a Profile Score of 5.3, average engagement of 0.08%, and +1.5% (+32.8K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Athletics & Sports in Ireland?

The average engagement rate for this category is 7.73%. Generally, rates above 9.3% are considered excellent, while rates above 6.2% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in Ireland?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.