GAA and LGFA mark UNESCO Submission

The GAA and LGFA have held an event to mark the submission of the application for official recognition of Gaelic football by UNESCO.

Former Mayo football all-star Alan Dillon, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and officials from the Department of Culture were guests at the Tailteann Cup final and Mayo-Louth All-Ireland football semi-final on Saturday, hosted by GAA Ard Stiúrthóir Tom Ryan, Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns, and LGFA CEO Lyn Savage.

The process of securing UNESCO recognition requires the support of the Government through the Department of Culture, who oversaw the preparation of the submission.

The bid recognises the documented existence of forms of football being played in Ireland from the 1500s, through to the codification and popularisation of Gaelic football following the formation of the GAA in 1884 and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association in 1974, with the game played in 2,000 clubs across both associations throughout Ireland, and in 500 clubs overseas.

The widespread participation in the game by men and women of all ages is reflected in the significance of Gaelic Football in communities nationwide, where it is an intrinsic part of our cultural identity.

Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport said: “As we saw with the recognition of Hurling in 2018, UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity listing is a powerful statement of international recognition for the importance of our living culture to the world’s shared heritage. The Government is happy to support the GAA and LGFA’s application to secure UNESCO status for men’s and women’s Gaelic Football. We also hope this will be an important milestone in the GAA’s ongoing work to grow the global footprint of our game.”

Minister Alan Dillon said: “I know firsthand what Gaelic football means to people across Ireland as a former inter-county footballer. It’s far more than a sport, it’s at the heart of our communities, our identity and our culture. I am proud to support the GAA and LGFA in seeking UNESCO recognition for a sport that has inspired generations and continues to bring people together at home and across the world.”

Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “Gaelic games bind communities together like nothing else in Ireland and Gaelic football is not just a sport but, a way of life for people from Killarney to Kilcar and from Swords to Salthill and everywhere in between. Like hurling and camogie, these games are a part of who we are, and Gaelic games are a part of our DNA. Achieving UNESCO status would grant international recognition of their cultural significance and greatly assist us in our efforts to grow our games at home and abroad.”

Trina Murray, Uachtarán LGFA, added: "This is a landmark moment for Ladies Gaelic Football. Since 1974, we've built a game that now stands proudly alongside the men's code, with thousands of women and girls lacing up every week from local pitches to Croke Park. UNESCO recognition would place our sport on a global stage it has long deserved, and send a clear message to the next generation that their game matters, is valued, and has a future without limits. We're proud to stand with the GAA in putting this submission forward, and we look forward to what the coming months will bring."

The GAA/LGFA submission will be adjudicated on by UNESCO over the coming months, with a decision expected in 2027 – a year that would mark 140 years since the first All-Ireland Championships.

UNESCO Peil workgroup: Joe Kernan, Dr Hayley Kilgallon, Dr Will Murphy, Dr Tom Hunt, Lyn Savage, Charles Harrison, Jamie Ó Tuama and Cian Murphy.