Connacht GAA and Tourism Ireland joined forces last night to announce the start of the 2019 GAA Football Championship at the Embassy of Ireland in London.
This year’s football championship will swing into life on Sunday with the meeting of London and Galway at McGovern Park, Ruislip before New York host Mayo at Gaelic Park in the Big Apple.
The early stages of the competition will see the four provincial championships unfold before the two quarter-finals groups are confirmed and the All-Ireland series takes centre stage.
Last night’s event was organised with the co-operation of the Ambassador to the UK, Adrian O’Neill, and is part of efforts to showcase football and hurling as attractions for those visiting Ireland while at the same time raising the profile of the games in Britain.
Tourism Ireland invited top British travel and sports journalists and influencers to attend the event and will also invite the journalists to come and visit Ireland this summer – and to include a GAA match in their itinerary.
“Gaelic Games offer our overseas visitors an insight into something that is unique to Ireland and an opportunity to enjoy a truly authentic Irish experience,” said Siobhan McManamy, Tourism Ireland’s Director of Markets.
“In our promotions, we’re encouraging British visitors to come and sample an integral part of our culture – by attending a Gaelic football or hurling match. We’re reminding them that it’s a really great thing to do on their Irish holiday – providing a fun, unique and memorable experience.”
“This evening’s event and our growing collaboration with Tourism Ireland can help raise awareness of our games making them an attractive proposition for anyone visiting Ireland,” added GAA President John Horan.
“It is fitting for us to be in London this evening so close to the start of the 2019 Connacht championship, and by extension the GAA Football Championship,” according to Connacht GAA president Gerry McGovern.
“This annual fixture is an important day in the GAA calendar and will bring together GAA people from across Ireland and Britain for 70 minutes plus of exciting championship football.
“It serves an important function in connecting the GAA scene in London and indeed Britain with our premier football competition and I know the Irish diaspora value these games and will once again turn out in large numbers at the impressive McGovern Park.”
“I am delighted to be here in London to help launch the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship,” said Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin.
“I want to compliment the GAA and Tourism Ireland on this collaboration, which showcases Gaelic Games for the benefit of Ireland as a whole. As Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, I’m very aware of the many tourism benefits that sporting events bring to all parts of Ireland. One of the unique identifiers for Ireland, that gives us real stand-out in a very congested global tourism market, is our Gaelic Games, which help attract both international and domestic participants and spectators, with economic benefits for local tourism businesses. Sporting and cultural events have contributed significantly to the success of Irish tourism.”
“The Tourism Action Plan 2019 – 2021, which Minister Ross and I launched last December, commits to ensuring that the appropriate structures and supports are in place to attract sporting and cultural events, which generate additional overseas tourism revenue and contribute to the promotion of Ireland.”