GAA World Games to showcase increase in Gaelic games' participation among native populations
This years' FRS GAA World Games is set to be the biggest and best yet. It will be the first time the event is held in Derry; the previous games having taken place in Dublin in 2016 and Waterford in 2019. The numbers involved, including teams, players, volunteers, staff and spectators is expected to rise significantly from the last tournament.
The numbers of teams outside of Ireland has risen to 500+ and this is reflected in teams registering for this year’s FRS Recruitment GAA World Games with the majority of players coming will be non-Irish born. It's an incredible testament to the people that initially set up GAA clubs in widespread regions across the globe, and to the people who continue to nurture them and ensure their development, that this is the case. It's really encouraging to see Gaelic Games not only exist in pockets where Irish communities gather, but they are thriving, becoming popular with locals, and becoming significant as sporting and recreational hubs and also places for social and community-based activities.
The Games will open with a parade through Derry city on the evening of July 24th, in what is certain to be an incredible visual spectacle, with 94 clubs from 10 regions set to be represented. The diversity in competitors will add hugely to the event in terms of its cultural and social aspects and will contribute handsomely to the already guaranteed action-packed games on the pitch. Naturally, the return of hundreds of our Irish expats is something that we look forward to hugely, especially as this competition graces them with the opportunity of taking to Celtic Park in their respective finals.
The combination of Irish players coming home to represent the regions where they now reside, coupled with local people coming to the birthplace of the games they have adopted as their own makes for a truly unique sporting event, and one that we are exceptionally looking forward to!
There are 94 teams confirmed for FRS Recruitment GAA World Games across the four codes, a 16% increase from the last GAA World Games held in Waterford in 2019 with 79 teams. Of the 94 teams 74% of them are international born, 70 in total - the highest number of international teams we’ve ever had, compared 60% of teams back in 2019.
The twinning initiative, which was piloted in 2019 will continue this year, seeing international teams twinned with Derry GAA, LGFA and Camogie across the week. Lastly there is an added flavour in the Open Hurling and Camogie sections, where on Monday 24th July teams will play against Derry club teams in Hurling and Camogie as warm up games.
Planning and arrangements are coming together well to ensure everyone attending the FRS Recruitment GAA World Games have the best experience to date – with the Derry Launch set to take place on Thursday 29th June in Owenbeg.
