Dublin county hurlers visit GAA Palestine at summer camp in Jordan

After the cancellation of their Ireland Tour, GAA Palestine have been visited by members of the Dublin hurling team.

GAA Palestine originally planned to arrive in Dublin last Friday for their summer tour of Ireland, but announced last week that the tour could no longer proceed after ongoing challenges with the visa process. Instead, GAA Palestine held a summer camp in Jordan for the team of 33 children and 14 mentors.

According to a statement released today from the Dr. Harry Edwards International Foundation Sport for Social Good, the Ireland tour had included tickets to the All-Ireland Hurling Final at Croke Park. After the tour was cancelled, the statement said, the young Palestinian hurlers had some special visitors.

"Once their visa applications were rejected the organising committee switched their summer camp to Jordan where they were made very welcome and where players from the Dublin Hurling team joined them for coaching sessions," wrote Ken McCue, director of the Foundation's European department.

McCue said the team was supplied with playing kits from the Fórsa trade union, decorated with a dove of peace and the words "human rights."

"It is clear that the younsters who are under constant siege at home have occupied the high moral ground and are in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Gaza," McCue wrote.

In posts on GAA Palestine's Instagram, Dublin hurlers expressed their solidarity with the young Palestinian athletes.

"As Dublin players, we are proud to stand in solidarity with GAA Palestine, embracing the power of sport to unite, inspire, and foster hope beyond borders," said forward Fergal Whitely.

"Together, we celebrate resilience, community, and the universal language of Gaelic games."

"Travelling from Dublin to Jordan for the GAA Palestine summer camp has been an incredible experience," said midfielder Conor Donohue.

"It’s inspiring to see how sport can unite people across different backgrounds and foster understanding. We’re proud to be part of this initiative, demonstrating that the spirit of hurling can help build bridges and bring hope for the future."

Dublin GAA director of coaching Shane Casey joined Whitely and Donohue in coaching GAA Palestine and gifting them official Dublin training kits, according to an Instagram post yesterday. The three arrived in Jordan on Monday to what GAA Palestine said was "a very warm failte" from the young players.

 

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