'A blatant disregard for fairness': GAA Palestine outraged after Irish visit postponed over visa refusal
GAA Palestine issued a statement on Monday evening, saying that despite numerous attempts to engage with the Department of Justice, it was now clear the trip could not go ahead.
Over the weekend, both All-Ireland football semi-finals saw protests urging the Department of Justice to 'Let Them Play,' with the tour originally set to begin on Friday.
In the statement, GAA Palestine said: "We are also troubled by the fact that other agencies have successfully brought children from various countries to Ireland on similar tours, and their travel has been permitted without issue.
"Yet, it appears that because these children are Palestinian, our government is refusing to allow them to come."
They called the situation "deeply concerning" and said it raises questions about the "fairness and impartiality of the process."
On Monday, the GAA Palestine executive travelled to Dublin to seek clarity and resolution.
They say they initially met with a Department of Justice secretary, who assured them a senior officer would meet them.
However, at 4.38pm, they say received an email dismissing their concerns and directing them to an appeals process.
This process, they were told, would take an indefinite amount of time, effectively preventing the team from travelling on July 18.
The executive will remain in Dublin for the coming days in an effort to seek a resolution.
"We are hopeful that in the final 24 hours, a resolution can be found. We genuinely want to come together and work constructively to remedy this situation. We are ready and available to engage in meaningful dialogue and to explore any options that might allow our players to participate.
"It is deeply disappointing that common sense and fairness have been ignored. Our government's decision to hinder our players' travel is unjust and unacceptable. We call on the Irish authorities to reconsider their stance and facilitate the safe and fair travel of our team."
Bas O'Curraoin with Children from GAA clubs across the country joined forces in Croke Park to appeal to the Irish government to let the 33 children into Ireland for their GAA Palestine Irish tour next week. Picture: ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon
GAA Palestine founder and chairman Stephen Redmond said, "We are deeply disheartened and outraged by the Department of Justice's outright refusal to allow our team to travel to Ireland.
"Despite providing all necessary documentation and engaging in good faith, we have been met with dismissiveness and an appeals process that, in reality, guarantees our trip will not happen.
"This is not just a logistical setback; it's a blatant disregard for fairness, transparency, and the spirit of sport that unites us all."
The Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv's requirement that flights be purchased before visa approval resulted in a €38,000 loss on non-refundable tickets for the club.
The statement added: "This reckless requirement, combined with the visa refusals — despite some members having previously travelled to Ireland this year without issue — raises serious questions about transparency and fairness.
"Our players deserve better, and we will continue to fight for their right to participate and showcase their talent. We remain committed to finding alternative solutions and will not be deterred by this unjust treatment."
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