A sporting survey has found that 74 percent of people asked would support a bid for the rugby World cup in 2023, that's according to the sport sentiment index 2013 which was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 18-65, with quotas imposed on gender, region, age and social class.

The survey also found that Katie Taylor remains Ireland's most popular current sports star with 25 percent of the vote while Brian O'Driscoll was second with 13 percent.

The survey was conducted by Pembroke communications and Marcus Ó Buachalla from Pembroke spoke to us about the survey and if it has practical applications for sporting bodies.

PEMBROKE COMMUNICATIONS’ SPORTS SENTIMENT INDEX – SELECTED RESEARCH FINDINGS

Who, in your opinion, is Ireland’s greatest current sports star? (top five stats with last year’s vote in brackets)

25%     Katie Taylor (2012 = 53%)

15%     Brian O’Driscoll (13%)

6%       AP McCoy (3%)

5%       Paul O’Connell (didn’t feature in 2012)

5%       Robbie Keane (4%)

5%       Rory McIlroy (16%)

What was the best/most memorable/iconic sporting moment of 2013? (only top five selected below)

13%     Appointment of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane

9%       AP McCoy claiming a record 4,000 career win

9%       Rob Kearney’s try against the All Blacks

7%       Simon Zebo’s flick against Wales in the Six Nations

6%       Dublin hurlers winning Leinster title for first time in 52 years

5%       Shane O’Donnell’s hat trick in the Hurling Final replay

In your opinion, which of the following deserve the title of Team of the Year 2013? (only top five selected below)

13%     All-Ireland winning Clare hurling team

13%     Grand Slam winning women’s rugby team

8%       Irish amateur boxing team for 2013 European and World performance

7%       Double winning Leinster Rugby team

6%       Dublin’s Gaelic footballers

What, in your opinion, was the greatest Irish sporting achievement of 2013? (only top five selected below)

12%     Rob Heffernan taking World Championship gold

11%     AP McCoy claiming his 4,000^th career win

9%       Grand Slam winning Irish women’s rugby team

9%       Dublin winning All-Ireland football title

9%       Clare winning All-Ireland hurling title

What are you most looking forward to in 2014? (only top five selected below)

23%     The FIFA World Cup

14%     6 Nations Championship

9%       The Sochi Winter Olympics 2014

8%       All-Ireland Hurling Championship

5%       All-Ireland Football Championship

Would you be in favour of Ireland hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

74%     Yes

7%       No

19%     No opinion