Context: Physical activity (PA) parenting research has increased over the past two decades. Findings from the Irish Sports Monitor (2017) recognise the important role that parents play in encouraging children to be more active, especially in relation to mothers encouraging and facilitating their children to participate in sport. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship of PA parenting practices to children’s PA and to make recommendations for future interventions. Methods: A qualitative sample of 117 families were included in the study. Parents and children were interviewed using a multi method participatory approach and families were stratified by socio-economic status. The data was thematically coded to specific PA parenting domains as proposed by Masse et al., (2017) which were as follows: neglect/control, autonomy support, and structure. Results: PA parenting practices of encouragement, involvement and facilitation were positively associated with structured sport activities. Co-participation was positively associated with children’s unstructured PA. Mothers and fathers differ in their PA roles. Fathers from higher socioeconomic groups indicate the importance of facilitating PA for boys as a preventive effect against future health risk behaviours. Parents who modelled an active lifestyle adopted PA parenting practices that promote child PA. Conclusions: This study identifies how Irish parents engage in PA parenting practices and complements the international knowledge base on how parents influence children’s PA behaviour. Improving parents’ knowledge of the variety of PA parenting practices they can adopt maybe a first step for effective PA parenting interventions.