Sporting smorgasbord is the luck of the Irish

I read with great interest and no little enjoyment Patrick Laurie’s stirring ode to British fieldsports (The very best of us, 28 October). Patrick makes many excellent points. The sheer depth of tradition and diversity of sport undoubtedly mark Britain as one of the greatest fieldsports nations in the world.

Not the greatest, however. I find myself unable to rest until I make the case for the sporting pedigree of your closest neighbour and challenge the assertion that Britain stands alone atop the podium. I contend that in such a lofty position, Ireland stands firmly beside you.

Endless variety

Britain may have nearly three times the land area, but Ireland can claim every bit as much diversity in quarry species (with the