AER LINGUS yesterday announced the International Hurling Festival at Croke Park as part of The Gathering 2013.
The 16-team global event will take place across four days in Galway next September and will see GAA enthusiasts from all corners of the world converge on the city of the Tribes.
The tournament will run from September 18 to 21 and qualifying games will be played in regional towns around Galway, with the final taking place at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.
A variety of lively traditional music and dance events are also scheduled to take place across the city throughout the festival.
Among the regions invited to the festival are New York, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Buenos Aires, Canada, Australia, the Gulf and mainland Europe.
GAA President Liam O’Neill said: “This is a hugely exciting initiative in what is a most exciting year for the country with the staging of The Gathering.
“We showed our support of and enthusiasm for the initiative on All-Ireland hurling final day last year when we helped officially launch the idea and anything that helps us make a connection between hurling and Irish people overseas is something we wholeheartedly endorse.
“I acknowledge Aer Lingus’ support of the project and I have no doubt that we will get a great response to the efforts of everybody involved, not least the organisers on the ground in Galway.”
Michael Grealy, Chief Human Resources Officer of Aer Lingus, added: “”We are very excited to bring this one of its kind hurling festival to Ireland, in the year of The Gathering. The game of hurling is uniquely Irish, like Aer Lingus, and is a source of enormous pride to the Irish all around the World. We look forward to welcoming many friends and visitors home to Ireland for what promises to be an exciting year.”
THE 16 COMPETING TEAMS
North America: Canada, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Barley House Wolves (Allentown), Indianapolis, Milwaukee
South America: Buenos Aires
Europe: Europe Irish, Europe Non-Irish
United Kingdom: St Gabriel’s, Kilbrum Gaels, Robert Emmets (all London), Rest of Britain
Asia: The Gulf
Oceania: Australia
