There may be a few hotbeds of Irish rugby that produce most of our professional players, but there has been a good spread of talent to come from through the island of Ireland down through the years.
The likes of Dublin, Limerick, Cork, and Antrim certainly produce the most players. However, they are not the only ones to do so.
With that in mind, here is the best Irish rugby player that each of the 32 counties has ever produced.
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The best Irish rugby player from each of the 32 counties
Antrim - Willie John McBride
Toome native Willie John McBride is one of the most iconic figures in Irish rugby, starring for the international team at a time when success was relatively hard to come by.
While he would not experience much success in the Five Nations, he would help Ireland to a first win over South Africa and a first victory for a 'home nations' team in the southern hemisphere when they defeated Australia in Sydney.
However, it was with the Lions that the lock really came to the fore. He would tour with the team a record-breaking five times, including during their test series win in New Zealand in 1971. He would go on to captain them to victory in South Africa three years later.
Armagh - Rory Best
Rory Best is the fourth most capped Ireland player of all-time, making 124 test appearances across 14 years.
The hooker is also among the most decorated Ireland internationals, having won four Six Nations, two Grand Slams, four Triple Crowns, and a Pro 12 title with Ulster over the course of his career.
Carlow - Sean O'Brien
Sean O'Brien, affectionally referred to as the 'Tullow Tank', was one of the best back rowers in world rugby during his prime.
He would win 56 caps for Ireland over a ten year period, a figure that would have been even higher were it not for some unfortunate injury issues.
O'Brien would also make five test appearances for the Lions across the two tours in 2013 and 2017.
Cavan - Oisin Kiernan
Cavan was by far the highest spot to fill on this list. The county does not have a huge tradition when it comes to rugby, with their local clubs only being set up in recent decades.
In terms of players who have advanced to the next level, Cavan native Oisin Kiernan (not the GAA player) was part of Ulster's academy side around five or six years ago.
Clare - Keith Wood
Keith Wood was the first Irish player to win World Rugby Player of the Year award, claiming the gong during its inaugural year back in 2001. He remains the only hooker to win it, and one of only three Irishmen.
While Wood would spend much of his career playing with the poor Irish teams of the 1990s, he did still experience quite a bit of success at test level with both Ireland and the Lions.
Cork - Ronan O'Gara
There are no shortage of options to choose from when it comes to Cork, but Ronan O'Gara is the clear choice.
The legendary outhalf had a brilliant career with both Ireland and Munster, acting as a mainstay in both sides for well over a decade.
He would win two European Cups and three URC titles at provincial level, as well as a Six Nations, Grand Slam, and four Triple Crowns at test level. He was at one point Ireland's top points scorer and most capped player, although both records would be overtaken in the years that followed.
Derry - Andrew Trimble
Derry has not been a hotbed for rugby over the years, although Andrew Trimble certainly broke the mould by emerging as a top class player from within the county.
He would win 70 caps for Ireland after making his debut in 2005, scoring 17 tries along the way. He would also end his career as the Ulster all-time appearance leader, a record that has since been broken by Rob Herring.
Donegal - Dave Gallaher
Dave Gallaher never played for Ireland, but he remains one of the most iconic rugby figures to come from this country.
Born in Donegal in 1873, he would move to New Zealand as a young child. It is here that he would embark on his rugby career, where he would go on to become the captain of the 'Original All Blacks', the iconic side that toured Britain and Ireland in 1905 and 1906.
He has been inducted into both the World Rugby Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. In 2015, a jersey he wore during the 1905 tour would sell for £180,000, nearly ten times the previous record amount for a rugby kit.
Down - George Stephenson
George Stephenson was one of the biggest figures during the infancy of Irish rugby, winning 42 caps at test level from 1920-1930. That included captaining the side against the 'invincibles' of New Zealand during their northern hemisphere tour of the mid 1920s.
At the time of his retirement, his tally of 42 international caps was a world record. That record stood for 27 years. He also retired as Ireland's top try scorer, with his tally of 14 not bettered until 1991.
Dublin - Brian O'Driscoll
There was hardly anything to split Brian O'Driscoll and Johnny Sexton here, but in the end it was impossible to leave BOD out.
He was an absolutely incredible player, one that was at the very peak of the sport for 15 years. He also helped to completely transform the fortunes of both Ireland and Leinster after coming into those teams, captaining them both for long stints.
Nobody has made more appearances or scored more tries for Ireland than O'Driscoll, he is a four-tour Lion, a three-time 6 Nations player of the year, and was named the Rugby World Magazine player of the decade in 2010.
They are only his individual honours, we haven't even mentioned the team ones.
He's the greatest Irish player of all-time.
Fermanagh - JJ McCoy
Enniskillen native JJ McCoy earned 16 caps for Ireland between 1984-1989, including at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1997.
The prop would be part of the team that won the Five Nations in 1985.
Galway - Eric Elwood
Eric Elwood is a genuine legend of Irish rugby, with the Galway native starring at both provincial and international level during his career.
The outhalf would make 168 appearances for Connacht across 16 years, scoring 1,152 points along the way. For Ireland, he would earn 35 caps and still ranks at the team's fourth all-time top points scorer.
Kerry - Moss Keane
Moss Keane (centre)
Moss Keane started his sporting life as a GAA player, winning three Sigerson Cups, a Cork county title, and a Munster club title while attending UCC. He would also represent Kerry at U21 and junior level.
However, after taking up rugby in college, he would go on to become one of Ireland's finest ever players.
Keane earned 51 caps for Ireland, winning Five Nations titles in 1974 and 1982. He would also tour with the Lions in New Zealand in 1977.
At provincial level, the lock was part of the famous Munster side that defeated the All Blacks at Thomond Park in 1978.
Kildare - Jamie Heaslip
Jamie Heaslip is the 12th most capped Ireland player of all-time, winning 95 caps after first making his debut in 2006.
His career would also coincide with Ireland's arrival as a genuine force in the sport, with Heaslip winning three Six Nations titles. He would tour twice with the Lions and was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year on two occasions.
At provincial level, the no. 8 was one of the catalysts for Leinster's drastic improvement during the 00s. He would win three European Cups, three Pro 14 titles, and a Challenge Cup with the province.
Kilkenny - Willie Duggan
Willie Duggan was regarded as one of the best no. 8s in world rugby during his playing career, winning 41 caps and captaining Ireland during his career.
He would also tour New Zealand with the Lions in 1977. Duggan holds the rather unfortunate record of being the first player to be sent off in the Five Nations, having been given his marching orders alongside opponent Geoff Wheel during a game against Wales in 1975.
Laois - Gerry Culliton
A native of Clonaslee born in 1936, Gerry Culliton was originally a keen GAA player in his youth. After being introduced to rugby, he would eventually be banned from the GAA for playing the sport.
Culliton would go on to win 19 caps for Ireland across six years at test level. He would also play for Wanderers, Leinster, and the Barbarians.
Leitrim - Shane Mallon
Leitrim is another county that does not have a history of producing top class rugby players.
Bornacoola's Shane Mallon is arguably the best of them, having been included in the Ireland squad for 2022 U20 Six Nations. He is part of Connacht's academy setup.
Limerick - Paul O'Connell
Paul O'Connell is among the very finest players Ireland has ever produced, having a glittering career at both provincial and test level.
Two European Cups, three URC titles, three Six Nations titles, a Grand Slam, four Triple Crowns, and three Lions tours (one as captain).
Not a bad CV.
Longford - Horsey Browne
Born in Longford in 1903, William Fraser Browne (better known as 'Horsey Browne') earned 12 caps for Ireland between 1925 and 1928.
He is the first international from the county, going on to play for a number of army teams after joining the British army.
Louth - Rob Kearney
Rob Kearney is another player that shined during an incredibly successful period for both Ireland and Leinster racking up the team honours as a result.
On a personal level, Kearney was the undoubted starter at fullback for both teams for over a decade. He was also named as European Player of the Year in 2012, having won his second consecutive European Cup earlier that year.
Mayo - Gavin Duffy
Gavin Duffy made almost 200 appearances for Connacht over the course of his career.
He would also earn ten caps for Ireland and was part of the squad for the 2007 World Cup.
Meath - Shane Horgan
Shane Horgan earned 65 caps for Ireland during the course of his career, being a huge part of the team that changed the fortunes of Irish rugby in the mid 2000s. He would also tour with the Lions in 2005.
At provincial level, he would win two European Cups and two Celtic League titles with Leinster before retiring in 2011.
Monaghan - Tommy Bowe
Tommy Bowe had a hugely successful career at both international and club level, with the Monaghan man being one of the most dangerous wingers in world rugby during his prime.
He would earn 69 caps for Ireland, scoring 30 tries along the way. He also toured with the Lions in 2009 and 2013, featuring in five tests.
At club level, Bowe would win Celtic League titles with both Ospreys and Ulster.
Offaly - Cormac Izuchukwu
The Tullamore native became the first Offaly man of the professional era to play for Ireland, when Andy Farrell selected him to take on Fiji in the 2024 November Series.
Despite hailing from Leinster, Izucukwu enjoyed a less-than-conventional rise to international rugby. After missing out on U19 Connacht trials through injury, Izucukwu headed to Scotland for a coaching course that saw him learn his trade before returning to the Ulster academy.
There, the 24-year-old would become a mainstay of Ulster's senior squad before earning 3 Emerging Ireland caps that preceded his international debut. Izucukwu is also one of the only men on this list to have been capped for the Ireland Sevens, earning two caps in 2019.
Roscommon - Jack Carty
Jack Carty has carved out a brilliant career at Connacht, making his 200th appearance for the province back in December and also holding the record as the province's top point scorer.
Carty has earned 11 caps for Ireland, with the last of them coming in 2019.
Sligo - David McGowan
Sligo native David McGowan played his club rugby at Sligo RFC, before also spending some time with Buccaneers after enrolling at Athlone IT.
He would eventually spend a couple of seasons at Connacht, before moving to La Rochelle and making over 100 appearances for the club form 2007-2012. He would win promotion to the Top 14 with them in 2010.
Tipperary - Denis Leamy
It was difficult to separate Denis Leamy and Alan Quinlan here, although Leamy's superior Ireland record probably gives him the nod.
Despite having his career cut short at the age of 30, he would win 57 caps for Ireland and make 145 appearances for Munster. He won two European Cups at provincial level and captained Munster for part of the 2010/11 season in the absence of Paul O'Connell.
Tyrone - Willie Anderson
Willie Anderson won 27 caps for Ireland from 1984-1990, captaining the side on a number of occasions. That included a memorable opposition to New Zealand's Haka in 1989.
Anderson's life has been a remarkable one, with the Sixmilecross man also spending three months in an Argentinian prison after attempting to smuggle a flag out of a government building during a rugby tour in 1980.
He would go on to coach at both Leinster and Scotland after retirement.
Waterford - Bill McKay
Bill McKay spent most of his rugby career in Ulster, but he hailed from Waterford before moving to Derry and eventually Belfast to study medicine at Queen's University.
McKay would earn 23 caps for Ireland as well as six for the Lions in 1950. He was part of the Irish team that won their first ever Grand Slam in 1948, appearing in all four games of the championship. He would also win a Triple Crown the following year.
After completing his medical degree, he emigrated to New Zealand where he would spend the remainder of his life before passing away in 1997.
Westmeath - Robbie Henshaw
Robbie Henshaw has been one of the most consistent players in Irish rugby over the last decade. Having started his career at Connacht and making his Ireland debut in 2013, he has gone on to earn 67 caps in green. He was also part of Lions tours in 2017 and 2021.
Having won a Pro 12 title with Connacht in 2016, the Athlone man would join Leinster and win another four titles in that competition as well as a Champions Cup. With Ireland, he has won three Six Nations titles and a pair of Grand Slams.
Wexford - Tadhg Furlong
Tadhg Furlong has been one of the best players in the world in his position for quite some time now, with the Wexford man at the forefront of the new age of props currently dominating the sport.
The 31-year old has been incredibly consistent for both Leinster and Ireland, racking up a large number of individual and team honours along the way.
He has been included in the World Rugby Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year for the last three years on the spin.
Wicklow - Josh van der Flier
Along with Keith Wood and Johnny Sexton, Josh van der Flier is one of only three Irish players to win the World Rugby Player of the Year award. That is some going.
The Wicklow man is one of the most consistent operators in the game at the moment, putting in top class performances every time he takes the pitch.
The flanker is likely to add to what is already a long list of honours with Leinster and Ireland over the coming years.
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