Ireland Rides In for the 150th Diamond Jubilee

The countdown continues toward Newport Polo’s 150th Diamond Jubilee in 2026—celebrating a century and a half as America’s first polo club—and the world is already gathering for the occasion. From all corners of the polo globe, our greatest international rivals are preparing to return to the birthplace of American polo for a landmark season of sport, camaraderie, and global homecoming.

No celebration would be complete without one of our most enduring competitors: Ireland, a perennial fan favorite with the longest appearance record of any visiting nation.

The season will hit full stride when Ireland brings its trademark charm and spirited gamesmanship back to Newport on July 25, rekindling one of our audience’s most festive and beloved rivalries. Polo took root in Ireland in 1873, blossoming to nearly 30 clubs at its pre-war height and still flourishing today with eight active clubs. In 1992, Michael Herbst—then building what would become the Polo Wicklow Club—jumped at the chance to make Ireland’s Polo Series debut in Newport. The rest has entered the realm of Newport lore.

Today, the tradition lives on through his daughter, Siobhan Herbst, a Newport fan favorite since 2000 and the proud captain of Team Ireland since 2002.

Ireland’s return marks another milestone in our global countdown, celebrating all 38 international rivals who have shaped our past—and will help define our future—as we build toward the 150th Diamond Jubilee. Each monthly reveal brings another nation back into the fold, from longtime friends to fierce challengers, each adding to Newport’s legacy as the cradle of American polo.

Stay tuned as the world continues to return to Newport. The next chapter of our history is about to be written—and the best is yet to come.