football
Wexford captain Coleman doing his family proud
By John Harrington It really is true that you never know what someone else is going through. Wexford football team captain Liam Coleman attended the launch of the Tailteann Cup this week in Croke Park and he couldn’t have been more accommodating. He was thoughtful and forthcoming in his interviews
Thursday 9 May 2024
football
Record-breaking Foley as hungry as ever
By John Harrington
If you didn’t know Darragh Foley, you might have expected him to ride off into the sunset after Carlow’s season ended in 2023, content with a record-breaking inter-county career spanning 14 seasons.
After all, last year he became the county’s highest ever scorer, with a monstrous tally
Wednesday 8 May 2024
football
Clare footballer Ikem Ugwueru hopes to inspire others
By John Harrington
It’s quite common nowadays for sportspeople to have something of meaning written on a wrist strapping or even the back of their hand before they go out to compete.
It could be a key performance indicator they’re chasing, a message that refocuses them in a moment of
Tuesday 30 April 2024
feature
Neil McManus hopes Unionists will come to embrace Gaelic games
By John Harrington
In a way, Neil McManus is a child of The Troubles.
He grew up in Cushendall on the North Coast of Antrim, but his family is originally from a mainly Protestant area of Belfast
Such were the intimidatory times, they were among thousands of Catholics who felt
Friday 26 April 2024
football
Life lessons helped make Padraig O'Hora a pillar of his community
By John Harrington
SuperValu really couldn’t have picked a better ambassador for their #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign than Mayo footballer, Padraig O’Hora.
A proud Ballina man, he’s also a hugely positive influence in the wider community through his work with the Mayo Mental Health Association and Youth Work North Connacht.
His role
Wednesday 24 April 2024
football
David Clifford: 'Your life can't be lived by whether you win or lose a game'
By John Harrington
Earlier this year the Kerry football team’s performance coach, Tony Griffin, described David Cliford as ‘Jordan-esque’ in terms of his attitude to try to continually better himself.
The Jordan he compared him to was basketball legend, Michael Jordan, whose mantra was that he could accept failure, but
Tuesday 23 April 2024
hurling
Sean O'Donoghue happy to fight his corner
By John Harrington
How does someone end up playing as a senior inter-county hurling corner-back?
It’s hardly something the average hurling mad youngster aspires to be.
When they’re pucking a ball against a wall and lost in reverie it’s far more likely they’re dreaming of banging in goals for their
Saturday 20 April 2024
hurling
Unique Whelan is Galway's go-to guy
By John Harrington
There’s no mistaking Conor Whelan on a hurling pitch.
The left hand on top of a natural citóg, the hunched running style, the slightly looping but very effective striking action, the in-your-face bouldness, the clinical finishing.
He’s always been something a little bit unique ever since he
Thursday 18 April 2024
hurling
Ruairí Ó Mianáin has high hopes for Derry hurling
By John Harrington
Derry hurler Ruairí Ó Mianáin has all the hallmarks of a young man keen to get places as quickly as he possibly can.
Last year he was the star of the Derry U20 hurling team that beat Roscommon in the All-Ireland ‘B’ Final when he scored 1-5
Thursday 11 April 2024
football
Eamonn Murray happy to be a guiding hand for Cavan footballers
By Paul Keane
When Raymond Galligan was appointed Cavan manager at the age of just 36, he figured he could do with a wingman.
The players would clearly need to be coached so he recruited Tyrone's Stephen O'Neill and former Mayo coach James Burke for that task but given his
Friday 5 April 2024
football
Football's sleeping giants Down are on the up again
By John Harrington
This is a good week for Down football.
Their senior team play Westmeath in the Allianz Football League Division 3 Final on Saturday, and earlier in the day their minors play Derry in the Ulster League Final.
A good chunk of their senior panel are graduates of
Wednesday 27 March 2024
feature
New York GAA see gains in underage development
By Áine Hourican
The development of underage Gaelic games within New York City is an exciting point of growth for the stateside Irish community. A volunteer-based organisation that promotes Irish heritage and culture, the GAA in New York is an outlet for both Irish natives and Irish-American children to connect
Monday 25 March 2024
hurling
King hopeful that Offaly hurlers will rejoin the royal court
By John Harrington
Over the last couple of months, many of the brightest pupils in Offaly hurling have been put through an accelerated programme of learning.
Senior team manager, Johnny Kelly, promoted a clutch of players from the county U20 panel, with Cathal King the top boy of the class
Wednesday 20 March 2024
football
Glass feeling fresh despite club and county exertions
By John Harrington
When photos did the rounds of Conor Glass wearing a Tour de France yellow jersey while celebrating with his Glen team-mates the day after their All-Ireland Club Football Final win over St. Brigid’s, a yarn quickly grew legs.
Glass is so dedicated to fitness that he went
Wednesday 13 March 2024
feature
Dubai Éire Óg are a remarkable overnight success story
By John Harrington
Dubai Éire Óg have been in existence for just two years, but already they coach almost 200 children on a weekly basis.
Such is the enthusiasm of the coaches, children, and parents involved, that they estimate their numbers will grow somewhere between 15 and 20 per cent
Tuesday 12 March 2024
football
Ashbourne CS hope to adapt and overcome again
By John Harrington
Dublin and Meath might be great footballing rivals, but Ashbourne Community School are proof they can work well together too.
Their team that contests Saturday’s Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools ‘B’ Paddy Drummond Cup Final is a powerful alliance of both counties.
Seven of the starting
Thursday 7 March 2024
football
St. Malachy's, Castlewellan ready to go 'hell for leather'
By John Harrigton
If a vocal support is worth a few scores to a team, then St Malachy's, Castlewellan will be off to a good start before a ball is even kicked against Tarbert Comprehensive in Saturday’s Masita GAA Post Primary Schools All-Ireland ‘C’ Final.
They expect to bring around
Thursday 7 March 2024
hurling
Tralee Parnells are the blueprint for growing hurling
By John Harrington
GAA President Jarlath Burns has said he wants to be the catalyst for an explosion of new hurling clubs during his three-year term as Uachtarán Chumann Luthchleas Gael.
To help in this endeavour has put together a Hurling Development Committee that includes people who have successfully set
Tuesday 5 March 2024
football
Rennes G4MO event to celebrate all that is great about Gaelic games
By John Harrington
If you want to experience an event that ticks all the boxes of what Gaelic games should be about – sport, fun, community, culture, family, and friendship – then Rennes, France will be the place to be on April 6.
That's because Rennes Ar Gwazi Gouez GAA
Thursday 29 February 2024
feature
Westmeath GAA building towards a very bright future
By John Harrington
The vibes are positive in Westmeath GAA right now both on and off the pitch.
The county senior footballers have won four from four in the Allianz Football League and a youthful county senior hurling team featuring a clutch of players still in the U-20 grade performed
Wednesday 28 February 2024
feature
Strategic Plan will fuel the growth of World GAA
By John Harrington
The launch of World GAA’s first ever Strategic Plan last week threw into sharp relief just how much the Association has blossomed outside of Ireland in recent years.
The seven international units now boast a total of 475 clubs and that number is ticking upwards steadily year
Tuesday 27 February 2024
feature
Jarlath Burns sets out his goals for GAA Presidency
By John Harrington
Jarlath Burns was appointed the 41st President of the GAA on Saturday and sat down with GAA.ie to outline what he hopes to achieve during his three-year term.
GAA.IE: Jarlath, since you were elected Uachtarán Tofa a year ago I presume you've been busy preparing for the
Monday 26 February 2024
feature
Mary Coughlan determined to do her bit for Donegal GAA
By John Harrington
Mary Coughlan’s first GAA Annual Congress as Donegal GAA Chairperson this weekend is unlikely to faze her.
The former Tánaiste is no stranger to debate and voting on policy after 24 years as a TD in Dáil Éireann and six different ministerial briefs.
Politics has always been
Thursday 22 February 2024
feature
Well!Kids programme a huge success for Waterford GAA
By John Harrington
The success of Waterford GAA’s Well!Kids Nursery programme brings to mind the old Irish proverb ‘Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí – Praise the youth and they will flourish'.
What began as a pilot programme involving nine clubs in 2021 now involves all 36 juvenile clubs in
Wednesday 14 February 2024
hurling
New York hurlers on an upward curve
By Áine Hourican
The New York Senior Hurling team hit the year running with a historic win at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome. Marking an unforgettable milestone for New York Hurling, the panel improved on last year’s title—2023 Shield Final Champions—by being crowned 2024 Connacht Hurling League
Monday 12 February 2024
football
Galicia's Gaelic football revolution gathers pace
By John Harrington
Over the last three years, around 10,000 children have been coached how to play Gaelic football in Galician schools in the north of Spain.
This incredible achievement is down to the success of the Gaelico Escolas project which has seen GAA clubs in Galica promote the growth
Wednesday 7 February 2024
hurling
Jacob urges Wexford supporters to show patience with rising stars
By John Harrington
Former Wexford hurler, Rory Jacob, has urged the county’s supports to show patience with the new generation of exciting young players who caught the eye during the victorious Walsh Cup campaign.
Five players who Jacob coached at U-20 level in 2023 and 2022 – Cian Byrne, Corey
Thursday 1 February 2024
hurling
2024 Allianz Hurling League a formative one for all counties
By John Harrington
There’s every reason to expect that the 2024 Allianz Hurling League will be a very keenly contested one.
That’s because the final placings will determine what division teams will play in when the competition is restructured for the 2025 campaign.
In 2025 a seven-team Division 1A will
Monday 29 January 2024
hurling
Consistency the New Year resolution for Wexford hurlers
By John Harrington
Predicting a season outcome for a team in January is always going to be an inexact science, but perhaps especially so when the team in question is the Wexford hurlers.
This is a side, after all, that beat All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny in both the 2022 and 2023
Tuesday 6 February 2024
feature
Go Games no barrier to competition
By John Harrington
In 2007, the GAA introduced ‘Go Games’ for children aged 7 to 11 where the key principles included equal playing time for all players and an emphasis on skill development and enjoyment.
No scores are recorded in Go Games matches and there should be no winners’ trophies
Tuesday 6 February 2024