The growth of Gaelic Games on an international stage will be shown off in Tipperary this weekend when the final round of the O’Neills European Hurling and Camogie Championships take place in Thurles.
The European Board will draw teams from Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain to the competition which will be played as part of the Thurles Sarsfields International Festival of Hurling.
Over 150 players will take part including a US Air Force team from the UK.
The European Board of the GAA was founded in 2000 with just 4 teams. This number has now grown to more than 50 across 19 countries.
“We are delighted to be bringing our finals to Thurles as part of the European Town of
Sport celebrations and Thurles Sarsfields’ own International Hurling Festival,” said Willie Cashin, Chairperson of the European GAA Board.  “We have seen an extraordinary growth in juvenile and adult Hurling and Camogie across the continent. This is only possible with the commitment and passion of the European players who are here to play the Championship Finals this weekend.”
“This is the first time we have brought this event to Ireland,” added Tony Bass Secretary of the European Board.  “It offers a great opportunity for the Irish ex-pat community In Europe to come home to Ireland and play in front of friends and family. Even more exciting, is the fact that the majority of our teams include non-Irish nationals who have fallen in love with Gaelic Games and now have a chance to visit Ireland for the first time to play competitive games and attend the Munster Hurling final the following day.”
The event is supported by O’Neills, Shannon Development, Thurles Chamber of Commerce and a number of GAA and regional commercial organisations
Recent main stories on Sport for Business

Find out more about how Sport for Business can be of benefit to you
Subscribe today for the free Sport for Business daily news digest
.