Each year ESPN The Magazine names the highest paid sport stars in 203 countries, including Ireland. In the list announced today they believe that, based on salary and/or prize money, the highest paid sportsperson from the Republic of Ireland is Stephen Ireland.
According to the handy currency converter on Oanda.com that means that ESPN estimates that Stephen Ireland earned €3.28 million for 2012, or just over €63,000 a week. Football has provided the top Republic of Ireland earners for the past 3 season with John O'Shea and Shay Given topping the list in 2011 & 2012 respectively.
Of course that salary pales in comparison to Northern Ireland's top earner, Rory McIlroy, who earned over $10 million last year. These figures don't include lucrative sponsorship deals either.
McIlroy topped the list in 2012 too, succeeding fellow golfer Graeme McDowell from 2011.
In case you're wondering about our highest paid near-neighbours, they are; England - Lewis Hamilton, Scotland - Andy Murray and Wales - Gareth Bale. You can spent the rest of the day looking through all 203 countries here;
(Article cover pic of Stephen Ireland in hairer, poorer times thanks to Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE)
