Preparations are well underway for a landmark sporting and cultural exchange as young athletes from Palestinian GAA clubs in the West Bank travel to Ireland for a two-week tour beginning July 18th, 2025.
The initiative, which will bring together 33 children and 14 mentors from Tulkarm, Ramallah, Jenin, Beit Lahm, and Al Khalil, is being organised by GAA Palestine.
In January 2024, Irishman Stephen Redmond travelled to the West Bank, driven by the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the desire to offer solidarity.
Redmond envisioned using Gaelic games as a way to connect with Palestinian communities. From that vision, GAA Palestine was born.
After returning to London, he launched a fundraiser and gathered support from Irish sports activists and cultural organisations. Backed by groups like Irish Sports for Palestine and Gaels Against Genocide, and supported by humanitarian NGO FAJR Scientific, hurleys and sliotars were delivered to Ramallah. In July 2024, the first hurling training session took place.
The first club, now named the Moataz Sarsour GAA Club after a volunteer tragically killed by Israeli forces, has grown to 28 young members. Expansion is underway in Bethlehem, Al-Khalil, and Tulkarm, with a focus on introducing boys and girls to the sport through partners such as Palestine Sports for Life.
The Irish tour will see the group visit four provinces and participate in a series of friendly games, cultural visits, and community events, supported by the GAA and Irish host clubs.
“This is more than just a sporting trip,” said Redmond. “It’s about building friendships, offering unforgettable experiences to children, and showing that the values of the GAA, community, inclusion, and resilience can reach far beyond borders.”
A Dublin Welcome
The tour begins with a four-night stay in Dublin, where the group will enjoy a packed programme that includes a VIP tour of Croke Park and the GAA Museum, personally led by GAA President Jarlath Burns.
They will also participate in a friendly Gaelic football match hosted by Fingallians, Good Counsel and Liffey Gaels, providing the Palestinian players with an opportunity to showcase their skills, exchange sporting knowledge, and form new friendships with their Irish peers.
After Dublin, the tour travels to County Tipperary, stopping in Carlow en route to Thurles. There, the group will visit Lar na Páirce Museum, tour Semple Stadium, and compete in a blitz tournament hosted by local clubs Burgess, Drom and Inch, and Borris Ileigh at Dr. Morris Park.
The journey continues to County Cork, where the group will enjoy boat and train journeys, again first-time experiences for many, and take part in the Cork Palestinian Solidarity Campaign march on July 26th. Their Cork visit will also include a tour of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and a stop at Blarney Woollen Mills.
From there, the tour heads to County Clare, where Éire Óg will host a community event before visits to the Cliffs of Moher and Castlegar GAA Club.
The itinerary includes a proposed visit to Belfast and Derry, pending visa approvals.
The tour has been made possible through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, donors, and partners, including Paddywagon, Fórsa, and O’Neills. Redmond expressed his “deepest thanks” to all who contributed.
“As we continue to grow, we believe in the power of sport to unite people. Our hope is that these children return home with lifelong memories, a greater sense of connection, and renewed pride in their identity, and that Irish communities will be richer for having welcomed them.”
The GAA tour follows a growing wave of sporting solidarity between Ireland and Palestine. In May 2024, Bohemian FC hosted the Palestine women’s national football team at Dalymount Park, drawing a sell-out crowd, President Michael D Higgins and global attention.
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