GAA alongside Irish Diplomats at Croke Park
The GAA today hosted a landmark Strategic Europe Day at Croke Park, bringing together senior Irish diplomats, GAA leadership, World GAA, and Gaelic Games Europe (GGE) to discuss collaboration and opportunities for strengthening the reach of Gaelic Games across Europe.
Tom Ryan, Ard Stiúrthóir officially welcomed everyone and opened the session, highlighting the GAA’s ongoing commitment to supporting Irish communities worldwide through Gaelic games. The importance of the Department of Foreign Affairs role in supporting the evolution of Gaelic Games globally through the Emigrant Support Program and the Global Games Development Fund was acknowledged.
The Gaelic Games Europe strategic plan was shared (2024-2027), detailing progress over the past 25 years and ambitions to grow Gaelic Games in more than 20 countries across Europe. The plan focuses on community-building, officer training, coach education, referee development, Erasmus+ exchanges, and building sustainable clubs to serve both Irish and local communities.
Reflecting on the importance of the occasion, John Murphy, Chairperson Gaelic Games Europe said:
Niall Burgess, Irish Ambassador to France, reflected on the significance of celebrating Europe Day in Croke Park. The French Embassy was acknowledged for the key role it plays in supporting GAA development in France, in particular for the regular meetings welcoming GGE volunteers to the Irish Embassy in Paris for training, planning, and community-building sessions - a model that could be replicated across Europe.
Practical insights from the European journey from the beginnings of four founding clubs to a continent-wide network while highlighted the organisation’s focus on engagement with the diaspora and the infinity diaspora. The extraordinary growth of Gaelic Games in Galicia and Brittany were highlighted as standout examples of how Gaelic games can grow. Opportunities through Erasmus+ projects, both inbound to Ireland and outbound across Europe were highlighted as opportunities explore.
The session concluded with a roundtable conversation involving Ireland’s network of European ambassadors, who offered unprecedented insights into how Irish diplomatic missions and Gaelic Games organisations can work more closely together to deliver shared community and cultural outcomes.
The Europe Gaels team parade to the Renault GAA World Games Opening Ceremony at Theatre Royal & Waterside Cade Park in Waterford.
Among the diplomatic attendees were:
- Niall Burgess, Irish Ambassador to France
- Frank Smyth, Irish Ambassador to Spain
- Alma Ní Choigligh, Irish Ambassador to Portugal
- Kevin Conmy, Irish Ambassador to Belgium
- Ann Derwin, Irish Ambassador to the Netherlands
- Barbara Jones, Irish Ambassador to Sweden
- Elizabeth McCullough, Irish Ambassador to Denmark
- John Lynam, Deputy Head of Mission, Irish Embassy Germany
- Karl Gardiner, Director of the Irish Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs
- Mícheál Tierney, Chef de Mission adjoint, Irish Embassy Paris
This landmark gathering not only celebrated Europe Day but also marked the start of a new era of collaboration between the GAA, the Irish diplomatic network, and Gaelic Games Europe-working together to build stronger, more connected communities across the continent through the power of Gaelic Games.
