EuropeanIrish.com News Stories

More Irish people head to Europe, than to UK or USA

Cork Ireland, January 23rd 2008

A recent report by the CSO indicates that between the years 2006 and 2007, at least 25% of all Irish Emigrants settled in Continental Europe (CSO Population/ Migration Report December 07).
This is greater than those travelling to the UK 23.9%, and more than 3 times greater than the percentage travelling to the USA, both the traditional destinations for Irish emigrants.
It is estimated that approximately 300,000 Irish people have made their homes across Europe, and with 3.5 million trips by Irish residents to the Continent in 2006, Ireland’s relationship with her European neighbours has deepened considerably.
The Irish emigrants have settled in their new countries, raised families, and have sown the roots of future generations. As in the past, they have brought with them the wealth of culture that is unique to the Irish, a tradition long since enjoyed in both England and the States. A testament to this is the increasing number of Irish Clubs and Societies that have grown up across Europe, catering for both the Irish and native Europeans all of whom have a shared love of Irish Culture, Sport and Music.
For those interested in the Irish Scene across Europe, there is one unique central point – EuropeanIrish.com.
The brainchild of well travelled Irishman, Siasy Collins, this website is the focal point for all the information one needs to enjoy the Irish scene across Europe.
For the past 5 years the site has been managed on a part-time basis. Since May 2007, however, the emphasis has been on upgrading the existing site, to provide Irish in Europe with the opportunity to connect with other Irish in Europe, and with similar interests.
Siasy Collins, Editor & Publisher, EuropeanIrish, having been based in Europe himself, and involved in the local Irish scene there, explained that Irish people in Europe - want to find where to watch the All-Ireland or Heineken Cup, and where to find Irish Dancing Schools, Bands, Festivals, Irish Sports & Social Clubs, The Irish Embassy, and a choice of more than 2200 Irish Pubs across the Continent, when any local Irish Entertainment or Sport Events are on, and European Irish News.
“The new look Europeanirish.com has a lot of new benefits for visitors. The website is easy to use & navigate. You can build your profile and meet others through M I N E, which is My Irish Network in Europe. You can also chat with others, create a personal story and add events, items or news”, Siasy added.
Irish in Europe can always feel close to home, with the short and lower cost flights, and now through this website one can tune-in live online to over 50 Irish Radio stations, and download free music, supplied by Irish bands based at home and in Europe.

With thousands visiting the website daily, EuropeanIrish.com has something added for everybody, whether you’re an Irish person living in Europe or planning travel to Europe, or whether you’re from Continental Europe, enjoying Irish music, culture, sports or pubs.
Do you know any Irish person in Europe? Let them know today.
Are you planning a trip there for a vacation, on business, to study or to live?
The Next step is simple – just click on www.EuropeanIrish.com, browse the site, stay a while and enjoy it.
– Ends –

Wouldn’t it be great to hear more about top Irish sports stars who are competing for Ireland all across the Continent.

EuropeanIrish.com will feature any sport and all age groups too, if you are Irish and competing in Europe – you are just as important as the Irish Senior soccer team or Munster Rugby, or the Olympic Athletes.EuropeanIrish.com wants to hear from you all - simply visit http://www.europeanirish.com/ News and add the News story.

or maybe you are based in Europe and run a club or a member of one which features a number of irish players, - if you have a news story add it.The Irish in Europe would love to read about it.

Athletics Vienna Indoor International   Austria   2008-01-29 
Athletics - Indoor Meeting Bratislava  Slovakia  2008-01-31
Athletics: Budapest Indoor Meeting  Hungary  2008-02-02
European Clubs Cross Country Albufeira  Portugal  2008-02-03

http://www.europeanirish.com/events.php

Login / Join to search by Country, and Event type - Sport

2008 Athletics events across the Continent with Irish participation have been added today.

The Brand new website is going live his week.

we are currently tranfering the data from the existing site to the new one.

There are many  athletics events this year, chances than no matter what part of Europe you are based - Irish athletes will be competing nearby sometime this year.
These include events in Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Turkey, Russia, Estonia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland and Belgium.
You can even start planning for 2009, with events in Russia, Italy, Lithuania, Serbia, Finland, Germany and Ireland all added already.

currently can be seen at

http://www.europeanirish.com/new/events.php

The first ever survey about Irish people in Europe is being conducted.

If You are Irish and are based in or moving to Continental Europe -

This short survey is for you!

Please forward this email to every Irish person you know living in Europe. 
It is really important for the Irish in Europe.
Please answer just a few short questions in 90 seconds or less Click the Link and answer the questions, thanks.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=c_2bbUKK6N36zUdjY5Fx1FKA_3d_3d

What are the best and hardest things about living in Europe ?
Why might you stay, why might you return?

This survey is specifically about you - Irish people living in Continental Europe.

If you know of any Irish person living anywhere in Continental Europe , please send this survey to him or her today.
If you know many Irish People living in Europe, please send this to them all. This very important survey about you and for you,  and is finishing this week. If you are Irish in Europe - now you can get your say. Click Here to take survey - Have You taken the survey yet? 

Thanks in Advance
Siasy Collins

The Hague, Netherlands, 8th December 2007

Killurin 3-13   1-10 County Europe
“Killurin, winners of the Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship defeated a brave ‘County Europe’  in the Historic Away Leinster Final  held in The Hague, The Netherlands on Saturday December 8th” reports Siasy Collins, Editor of EuropeanIrish.com.

There was no shortage of skill and clash of the ash on display, as Killurin and Europe played out a keenly contested close first half. Just a single point separated the sides at half time.
Played over the full hour, Europe team which although fit, had not played together as a competitive team before, and is used to playing the European Championship over shorter 2 20-minute halves.
The more experience of the Killurin club side from Offaly began to tell late in the second half. Having whipped to a 3 point lead 1-13 to 1-10 with a few minutes left in the match, they finished the stronger with 2 dynamite late goals, to an overall win 3-13 to Europe’s 1-10. Maastricht based Hurling referee was Tony Bass.

 “As the winners of the 2007 European Hurling Championship, Den Haag GAA Club of The Netherlands, one of the longest established and most successful GAA clubs on mainland Europe, were awarded the honour of hosting Killurin and Europe in this first ever match by a mainland Europe Hurling team in the Leinster Championship series.”, says Marie Sheehan, Den Haag GAA Club PRO. “County Europe team comprised hurlers from clubs in Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag.”

“European County Board (ECB) currently encompasses 27 clubs in 13 countries speaking 11 different languages with over 600 male and 170 female adult players, which is an increase of 28% on two years ago! The largest clubs in Europe being Paris, Luxembourg, Munich & The Hague but all still have less than 100 members each. “ stated Eileen Jennings, Chairperson of the ECB.

Killurin from Offaly were crowned Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions when they defeated Park Ratheniska from Laois on November 18th. On December 8th they added the first Away Leinster Special Junior Club Title to their honours.

www.EuropeanIrish.com

The Hague, Netherlands, 8th December 2007

Killurin 3-13   1-10 County Europe
“Killurin, winners of the Home Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship defeated a brave  “County Europe”  in the Historic Away Leinster Final held in The Hague, The Netherlands on Saturday December 8th” reports Siasy Collins, Editor of EuropeanIrish.com - the resource for Irish people living in Contiental Europe.

Hurling is one of Ireland’s two national sports, and is currently also played in Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs across Continental Europe – in Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich, Den Haag, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Groningen,  Munich, Dusseldorf, Budapest, Vienna, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Knn Croatia and Llati Finland. Gaelic Football, Ireland’s other National Sport is also played in Sweden, Czech Republic and Portugal.

Played at lightening speed, hurling is similar to hockey, played on a sports field, and the players can pickup the ‘sliotar’ (ball) and strike it long distances with the hurley. With ‘H’ shaped goals, 3 points are awarded for a Goal under the crossbar, and 1 point for a score over the crossbar and between the posts. The match is played with 15 players per side, a standard club match lasting 60 minutes, played in 2 halves.

“As the winners of the 2007 European Hurling Championship, Den Haag GAA Club of The Netherlands, one of the longest established and most successful GAA clubs on mainland Europe, were awarded the honour of hosting Killurin and Europe in this first ever match by a mainland Europe Hurling team in the Leinster Championship series (Leinster is an Irish Province)”, says Marie Sheehan, Den Haag GAA Club PRO. “County Europe team comprised hurlers from clubs in Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag.”

There was no shortage of skill and clash of the ash on display, as Killurin and Europe played out a keenly contested close first half.
Just a single point separated the sides at half time.
Played over the full hour, Europe team which although fit, had not played together as a competitive team before, and is used to playing the European Championship over shorter 2 20-minute halves.
The more experience of the Killurin club side from Offaly began to tell late in the second half. Having whipped to a 3 point lead 1-13 to 1-10 with a few minutes left in the match, they finished the stronger with 2 dynamite late goals, to an overall win 3-13 to Europe’s 1-10. Maastricht based Hurling referee was Tony Bass.

“European County Board (ECB) currently encompasses 27 clubs in 13 countries speaking 11 different languages with over 600 male and 170 female adult players, which is an increase of 28% on two years ago! The largest clubs in Europe being Paris, Luxembourg, Munich & The Hague but all still have less than 100 members each.”  stated Eileen Jennings, Chairperson of the ECB.

Killurin from Offaly were crowned Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions when they defeated Park Ratheniska from Laois on November 18th. On December 8th they added the first Away Leinster Special Junior Club Title to their honours.

www.EuropeanIrish.com

Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport ?

30th November 2007
At the GAA European County Board Convention, being held in Budapest Hungary on 1st and 2nd December 2007, wording is being agreed to submit a motion to Ireland’s Annual GAA Congress to ‘pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport’.

The motion being submitted by the European County Board looks to establish an International Gaelic Games Federation. This Federation would drive the development of Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie across the globe. It would look for recognition as a sport from official authorities in countries where Gaelic Games are played, and pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport.

“This is just one of more than 75 Motions being discussed this weekend at the County convention of the European GAA County Board.” reports Siasy Collins editor of EuropeanIrish.com.

ECB Secretary Tony Bass of Maastricht Gaels explained that “Almost 30 clubs and one national federation …, over 600 men and 200 women played Gaelic Games on European soil during the year”

Chairperson of the ECB Eileen Jennings (Paris Gaels) is delighted “to welcome Helen O’Rourke (Ladies Football Association), Pat Toner (GAA Overseas Committee) and GAA club development personnel Con Hogan, Pat Fitzgerald and Kieran Leddy from Ireland and all European Club delegates to the 2007 ECB convention”
Delegates from every club arrive in Budapest Hungary for the weekend which comprises of a GAA Club Development Training Seminar, a Games Workshop, and the ECB Convention.

Follow a morning Training Seminar, the Convention opens at 16:30 on Saturday 1st December, with reports from the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The election of 2008 officers and voting on ECB Motions continues on Sunday from 10:00.

European County Board (ECB) is an official Gaelic Athletics Association County, under Croke Park (Dublin, Ireland) and the Leinster Council, similar to Kilkenny County Board or Dublin County Board.
In fact, Killurin from Offaly ,  Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions  travel to The Netherlands next weekend December 8th and will take on County Europe – a team comprising hurlers from Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag, in the away final of the Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship.

Read More on European GAA at www.EuropeanIrish.com

Chris de Burgh will be doing a limited number of shows in 2008,
initially in Eastern and Western Europe.

Details to be announced soon!

http://europeanirish.com/Music/irishbandsontour.html

Maastricht Gaels, supported by the ECB, will host a foundation level football coaching course with two coach tutors from Dublin on Saturday, November 24th, between 10:00 & 17:30.

The couse is targeted at those who would like to introduce those interested in bringing gaelic football into schools etc. The principal objective is to qualify coaches to teach 8-12 y.o’s.

Both coaches are qualified tutors.
Damian Byrne is a former Dublin hurling goalkeeper and one of the first full-time coaches in the GAA. He was recently appointed Hurling Development Manager for Dublin and is currently a senior county team selector.
Ken Fitzgerald is full-time coach with a leading Dublin club and coach of a third level (DLIADT) college football team.

The course will be broken into a theory session in the morning and a practical skills session in the afternoon. A light lunch (soup/sandwiches) will be available. Copies of the slides etc will be made available. Participants should wear a tracksuit and bring football boots.

Please let Tony Bass (Secretary ECB) know as soon as possible if your club has anyone interested in attending.
Or indeed if you wish to introduce Gaelic Football or Hurling to a new area in Europe. Contact Tony at maastricht GAA club - details here:

http://www.europeanirish.com/Sport/GAA/gaaclubs.html

Gaelic Football in Munich Germany,
Scoring goals and points in Budapest, Hungary,
Danish Capital Denmark playing Austria’s Vienna in the Central and East Europe Men’s Gaelic Football  Region.

First up was Budapest hosted 2 visiting teams - from Munich and Vienna,
Budapest came out on top with victories over both.

Vienna ladies defeated Budapest to claim the first trophy of the year.

Next onto Vienna, again with the same 3 teams playing, Munich Colmcilles came out on top, with Vienna in second place.

München Colmcilles 2-9 – Vienna Gaels 0-4   
München Colmcilles 6-7 – Budapest Rangers 1-8   
Vienna Gaels 5-7 – Budapest Rangers 1-8   
München Colmcilles 5-10 – Vienna Gaels 1-4   
Team white 0-5 – Team red 1-4   
In Munich

Copenhagen travelled down, Budapest did not travel to this one.
So Munich Copenhagen and Vienna battled out for the honours.

Munich defeated both other teams quite comprehensively to progress to the final,

In the encounter between Vienna and Copenhagen, it finished all square 2-04 to 1-07.

It required a Play-off between the pair, for a place in the final.
This time Copenhagen won by the narrowest of margins 1-05 to Vienna’s 1-04.
Munich won the final 2-08 to 1-02 over the Danish visitors.

So in the final standings, each team copunting their best 2 rounds out of the 3 played  - Munich came out on top with 50 (2 wins), Budapest 2nd with 41 points (1 win and a third place), with Vienna on 32 (with 1 second and a third), while Copenhagen from just 1 appearance came out with 20 points (one 2nd place).

The 2007 European GAA
Men’s and Women’s
Regional and All-Europe
Championships & Shields

are all available on an easy to follow spreadsheet - with scores, points per tournament, and matches and tournaments  played.

Thanks to Mike Cryan of Paris Gaels GAA and European GAA County Board, for compiling the comprehensive details from the year.
Step 1. Go to: http://europeanirish.com/Sport/GAA/index.html

Step2. Click on
European Men’s and Women’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie - Championship, Shield, European Regional and all-Europe competitions
CLICK HERE NOW

Step 3.  Read the Spreadsheet - check page 8

The 2007 European GAA
Men’s and Women’s
Regional and All-Europe
Championships & Shields

are all available on an easy to follow spreadsheet - with scores, points per tournament, and matches and tournaments  played.

Thanks to Mike Cryan of Paris Gaels GAA and European GAA County Board, for compiling the comprehensive details from the year.
Step 1. Go to: http://europeanirish.com/Sport/GAA/index.html

Step2. Click on
European Men’s and Women’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie - Championship, Shield, European Regional and all-Europe competitions
CLICK HERE NOW

Step 3.  Read the Spreadsheet -

Page 2 has the Championship and Shield Results from each tournament.

Page 3 has the Hurling Results, showing how Den Haag captured the Hurling Championship ahead of Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris and Zurich.

Page 4 has the Ladies Championship Tournamnet Results - from each match played across 7 Rounds in 2007.

The 2007 European GAA
Men’s and Women’s
Regional and All-Europe
Championships & Shields

are all available on an easy to follow spreadsheet - with scores, points per tournament, and matches and tournaments  played.

Thanks to Mike Cryan of Paris Gaels GAA and European GAA County Board, for compiling the comprehensive details from the year.
Step 1. Go to: http://europeanirish.com/Sport/GAA/index.html

Step2. Click on
European Men’s and Women’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie - Championship, Shield, European Regional and all-Europe competitions
CLICK HERE NOW

Step 3.  Read the Spreadsheet -
How to read the spreadsheet-
First page : Pan European Rounds Summary -
featuring the Mens Championship Rounds’ tables
Hurling: Round 1 in Bruxelles, Round 2 in Luxembourg, Round 3 in Zurich and Round 4 in The Hague - with these 4 teams plus Paris taking part.
The Ladies Football Championship Standings shows the results from 7 rounds in Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Munich, Copenhagen, Maastricht, Paris and Barcelona, with teams also from Rennes, Vienna, Madrid, and Den Haag teaming up with Amsterdam to form the team Holland.
The Men’s Football Championship & Shield  had 4 rounds
in Copenhagen, Maastricht, Paris and Barcelona
Teams played from Luxembourg, The Hague, Paris, Jersey and Budapest played for the Championship.
In the Men’s Shield GAA clubs from  Rennes, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Maastricht, Barcelona, Madrid, Nantes, Pamplona, Valencia, Luxembourg B, and Paris B played this year.

EP News Plenary Session ( Strasbourg ) 12-15 November 2007 :

More sport in schools to tackle child obesity

On Monday evening, Hungarian MEP Pál Schmitt and ex-olympic fencer will present a report on behalf of the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee which points to the importance of sport in schools.  According to the Culture Committee’s study, the average time allocated by primary schools to physical education has fallen from 121 to 109 minutes and the number of children in the EU who are overweight or obese is estimated to be rising by more than 400,000 a year.  300,000 children are obese or overweight in Ireland .

The European Parliament’s report emphasises that physical education should be carried out together with information campaigns aimed at children and their parents on the need to adopt a health lifestyle and on the health risks linked to an unhealthy diet. MEPs also emphasise the need for better sports facilities and recommend using EU structural funds to create sports facilities in disadvantaged areas.

Irish MEPs on this issue: Liam Aylward (FF - East); Kathy Sinnott ( Ind - South); Eoin Ryan (FF - Dublin )

Greece
2-5 Dec Greece INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA OF INDEPENDENT FILM/VIDEO MAKERS ARISTOTELOUS 32 STR. 54631 Thessaloniki

Denmark
9-18 Nov Denmark CPH:DOX Danish Film Institute Gothersgade 55 DK-1123 Copenhagen

November 16, 2007 / November 17, 2007  “GRACE” FALUDI INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR FILM FESTIVAL   Budapest, Hungary
http://www.europeanirish.com/All_Events.htm

Luxembourg, Paris, Rennes, Budapest win at European Gaelic Football Finals

Luxembourg are Men’s Gaelic Football Champions of Europe, having been runners-up 4 times in the last 5 years.
2007 European Ladies Gaelic Football Champions are Paris.
Rennes from Brittany, have impressively won the 2007 Men’s Shield, after extra time.

Barcelona Gaels hosted the last round of the European Championships today.
In the Men’s Championship, Budapest Rangers stole the show.
It was supposed to be a 3-horse affair with Den Haag, Paris and Luxembourg. Budapest had not read the script, and after travelling 1500km, started the day with a shock comprehensive 2-09 to 0-05 win over Paris Gaels, before defeating favourites Den Haag 0-06 to 0-05.

Luxembourg and Budapest Rangers reached Final, ensuring that Luxembourg secured the overall 2007 European Championship. But the Barcelona Championship tournament went to Budapest in the Final, Rangers winning by 2 points, in a scoreline 1-3 to 0-4. I guess they were just more Hungary!

2007 European Ladies Gaelic Football Champions are Paris.
Paris comprehensively defeated Luxembourg in the Final 2-14 to 1-6, but it was their group displays of courage and skill with 1 point wins over Holland and Luxembourg earlier in the day which really secured Paris this title.
Holland and Paris were tied for the overall European Championship coming into this Tournament, leading 3rd place Maastricht, and the 2006 champions Luxembourg. Munich, Vienna, Barcelona, Rennes and Madrid Ladies have all contributed in no small measure to this thrilling skilful 2007 Championship.

Rennes from Brittany have impressively won the 2007 Men’s Shield, defeating Copenhagen from Denmark by just 1 point, after extra-time, in the Final.
Maastricht (Holland), 2006 Shield Champions could only manage 3rd place this year. Barcelona, Madrid, Nantes, Pamplona and Valencia picked up valuable points and experience for the future, in this year’s Championship, many making their debut here today.
A few of the GAA teams playing today had no Irish players at all - Rennes, Barcelona and Maastricht teams are made up of predominantly non-Irish players.

It will be remembered as the day Budapest came to town and stole the crown, Luxembourg did enough to win the Men’s Championship, Paris secured the Ladies Championship, winning the Final in style, and Rennes came from behind to win the Final and win the 2007 Shield.

Men’ Championship Finals Results
Paris
Luxembourg
Den Haag
Budapest

Final
Budapest Rangers 1-3 0-4  Luxembourg

Group Matches
Luxembourg  0-4 0-5  Den Haag
Paris   0-5 2-9 Budapest
Den Haag  0-5 0-6  Budapest
Luxembourg  1-12  1-2 Paris
Luxembourg  3-6 1-10  Budapest (1 point win for Lux)
Den Haag  3-4 0-4  Paris (also 3rd place playoff)

Ladies Championship Final Tournament Results
Final
Paris Gaels  2-14 1-6 Luxembourg

Semi Final
Luxembourg  1-5 1-3 Barcelona
Paris Gaels  2-14 0-1 Maastricht

Group matches
Paris   2-2 1-3  Holland
Luxembourg  4-7 0-1 Rennes
Barcelona  2-7 1-1 Munich
Maastricht  2-2 0-1  Madrid
Holland  4-6 0-1 Rennes
Paris   1-6 1-5  Luxembourg
Munich   0-2 1-4 Madrid
Barcelona  0-11  1-2 Maastricht
Paris   2-4 0-1  Rennes
Holland  3-6 4-4 Luxembourg (1 point win for Lux)
Barcelona  1-5 0-1 Madrid
Munich   1-1 3-2  Maastricht
Men’s Shield 2007
Barcelona  Amsterdam
Maastricht  Rennes
Copenhagen  Madrid
Valencia  Pamplona

Final
Copenhagen  0-12 2-07  Rennes
(1 point win for Rennes after Extra Time)

Semi Final
Copenhagen 1-6 2-0 Amsterdam
Barcelona  1-5 2-3 Rennes (1 point win for Rennes)

Other playoff results include debuts by
Pamplona 5-3 2-3 Valencia
##

In Europe, Gaelic Football outperforms Irish Soccer and Rugby

While Irish Soccer and Rugby hit rock bottom this autumn, Gaelic Football has risen to new heights in Europe – mainland Europe.

This weekend, November 3rd, Barcelona hosts the Gaelic Football European Championship Finals.
300 players from 20 Men’s and Women’s teams will arrive from Spain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Hungary to play 40 Gaelic Football matches.

Tournaments across the Continent, have been contested keenly throughout the year, Saturday’s tournament is the Final of the season, with the European Men’s & Ladies’ Championships, and the Men’s Shield being decided.

Men’s top prize will be contested by Budapest, Paris, Luxembourg and Den Haag.  A last minute point separated Luxembourg and Den Haag in October’s tournament.

Barcelona V Munich - just one of the fascinating encounters, with eight teams competing for the Ladies Gaelic Football Championship.

Men’s Shield leaders Amsterdam (Holland) may be pipped for the overall European Shield Title if Rennes (Brittany) wins the Shield Tournament this weekend.
Copenhagen Team travels 1757 Km for this Tournament.

The success of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Europe “is down to the passion of 100’s of players who travel regularly, at their own expense, by plane and train, to play with pride for their European GAA Clubs. This can cost a player more than €3500 in a year.” according to Siasy Collins, Editor of Europeanirish.com, 10 years reporting on the GAA in Europe.

“The event is hosted and organized exclusively by the playing staff of Barcelona Gaels’ men’s and women’s teams, comprising over 60% local Catalans”  described Mick McGrath, Secretary Barcelona Gaels. “The Iberian region will have representatives from Barcelona, Madrid, Pamplona and Valencia. More than 600 spectators will watch the Finals” added Chairman Stephen Garland.

Top officials from Croke Park Dublin, including Director General of the GAA, Liam Mulvihill, will attend, marking the largest GAA event ever on the Continent.

 “There is an increasing number of non-Irish players now playing Gaelic Football in Europe”, Tony Bass, European GAA County Board Secretary explained. “In the Maastricht GAA Club, for instance, the mix is 50/50 Dutch to Irish players”

At a time when Irish Soccer and Irish Rugby are at their lowest, Gaelic Football has never been stronger in Europe than it is today, with over a 1000 players in 25 Clubs!

For further details on the European Gaelic Football Finals in Barcelona, this Saturday 3rd November, download the Official Pr