Barry McGuigan, Graham Little, Adrian Logan and Jackie Fullerton were joined by the HARP Angel while they discussed the merits of a range of NI sporting greats before deciding on their Top 3 ‘Living Legends: Giants of NI Sport’. The Top 3 are – in no particular order - Rory McIlroy (golf); AP McCoy (horse racing) and Pat Jennings (football).

Panel of local sporting personalities featuring Barry McGuigan, Jackie Fullerton, Adrian Logan and Graham Little select Rory as one of the Top 3 in lively debate

It’s a conversation (or sometimes a heated debate) that has taken place many times over a pint of HARP® in pubs all across Northern Ireland: Who are the very best sports stars Northern Ireland has to offer? And who would make a Top 3 ‘Living Legends: Giants of NI Sport’?

In a bid to answer those burning questions, HARP brought together four local sports experts to start the debate and thrash out their Top 3. Thirty years on from becoming World Champion at Featherweight and being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Barry McGuigan was joined by Graham Little (Sky Sports), Adrian Logan (former UTV sports editor) and Jackie Fullerton (voice of NI football) at The HARP Bar in Belfast to attempt to reach definitive answers.

Football, horse racing, GAA, motorsport, rugby, athletics, boxing, hockey, cricket and golf were all on the agenda and after some serious consideration - and much mickey-taking - the panel eventually agreed their Top 3 Living Legends. Holywood’s very own Rory McIlroy (golf) has been included in the top three alongside (in no particular order) AP McCoy (horse racing) and Pat Jennings (football).

The filmed chat, created by HARP as a way to champion the very best of Northern Ireland sport, saw much lively debate as the experts whittled down a longlist of 24 men and women who each, in their own right, could be considered a giant of their sport.

Suggested criteria to start the conversation was that the Top 3 must have reached the highest point in their sport and stayed there for a long period of time; must have made an impact internationally; and must be a household name.

Watch the extended ‘Living Legends: Giants of NI Sport’ panel debate here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izBVMr7KXwM