Preparations begin for Waterford to host 2026 World GAA Games
The five-day event will feature matches over four days at SETU Arena, West Campus, Carriganore, County Waterford from July 13 – 16, 2026, with the finals taking place on Friday, July 17 in the county ground at Walsh Park.
The Waterford event will be the fifth staging of the World GAA Games since its inception in 2015. It is anticipated that upwards of 2,000 players will participate in the 100 or more football, hurling, camogie, and ladies football teams.
The GAA World Games, first held in 2015, celebrate the global reach of Ireland's native games and the efforts of volunteers and players across more than 560 clubs established outside of Ireland.
The confirmation that Waterford will host the 2026 World GAA Games has been welcomed by Sinn Féin TD for Waterford and party spokesperson on community development, Conor McGuinness.
Deputy McGuinness said the decision represents a vote of confidence in the strength of Gaelic games in Waterford, the power of community sport, and the world-class facilities available across the city and county.
'This is a huge honour for Waterford and a proud day for everyone involved in our local GAA clubs and communities. The decision by the World GAA Council to award the 2026 Games to Waterford is a recognition of the talent, commitment and infrastructure we have here - and of the deep love of Gaelic games that runs through every parish in the county.
'This is not just a sporting event - it's a homecoming for our national games,' added Deputy McGuinness. 'The World Games are about identity, belonging, and the unifying power of sport. They bring together Irish communities abroad, international players, and volunteers who've built something extraordinary around Gaelic games in every corner of the world.'
'This announcement also speaks to the outstanding quality of Waterford's facilities and infrastructure – especially SETU Arena and the redeveloped Walsh Park – and to the strength of the local bid, which saw off high-calibre submissions from Kerry and Derry.'
He added: 'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Waterford – for our clubs, communities, and our children. I want to commend all those who made the bid a success.'
SETU Arena is Waterford's and the south east's largest sport, fitness and events centre and will play a huge part in hosting the event.
A spokesperson said that 'preparations are already underway to deliver an unforgettable experience for players, officials, and supporters from across the world'.
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The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Lure of the Land Down Under: Record 39 Irish players set for new AFLW season
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Some of the Irish contingent would fall in that category, also afforded $6,000 [€3,356] as a relocation fee per annum. It's a far cry from being left out of pocket playing inter-county football, along with balancing full-time employment and other challenges for young people in Ireland. The Irish AFLW Class of 2025 hail from 19 counties, and are spread across 13 of the 18 Australian clubs. Mayo is the county with the most players, seven, while Carlton and Fremantle are the Aussie outfits most populated by the Irish, with five apiece. North Melbourne celebrate their 2024 win. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo North Melbourne, the defending Premiership champions, have four Irish players on their books: Vikki Wall, Erika O'Shea, Blaithin Bogue and Amy Gavin Mangan. Gavin Mangan is one of nine new Irish faces to have signed ahead of this, the AFLW's 10th season. Australia-based Cavan native Laura Corrigan Duryea was the only Irishwoman involved in the inaugural season of 2017, before Mayo legend Cora Staunton became the league's first-ever international signing the following season. Huge numbers have followed in her footsteps, endless top talents crossing codes from ladies football. Four players who featured in the All-Ireland senior final 10 days ago, Dublin duo Sinéad Goldrick and Éilish O'Dowd, and Meath's Wall and Aoibhín Cleary are all in situ Down Under. Jennifer Dunne, Grace Kos and Orlagh Lally previously played for those counties but have focused solely on AFLW of late. The Australian season has extended — although it's paused at 12 rounds for now — making it increasingly difficult for Irish players to split their careers and play both sports, as the majority previously had. On an individual level, the lure is undeniable, but player drain is an ever-growing issue for the LGFA and the game on these shores. That said, the amount of Irish players contracted is a good endorsement of LGFA standards. The skills are transferrable, the athleticism appealing as international recruits get the nod ahead of natives. The AFLW is still in its infancy, playing catch up as its underage structures develop. While New Zealand is the other nationality strongly represented — American, Canadian and South Sudanese players have also featured through the years — Ireland comfortably has the largest overseas contingent, making up over 5% of players on AFLW lists. Talk will heighten as the new season gets underway and the top ladies football talent are marked absent from club championships across the country. But their eyes are firmly fixed on the oval ball, and flying the flag Down Under. Here, The 42 looks at all 39 Irish players set for the 2025 AFLW season: ********** Adelaide Crows Amy Boyle-Carr (Donegal) 24 | Glenties Donegal flier and one-cap Irish soccer international, rewarded with contract extension after debut season. Kayleigh Cronin (Kerry) 28 | Dr Croke's Instrumental in Kerry's 2024 All-Ireland win, powerful defender now set for AFLW bow. Kayleigh Cronin. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Grace Kelly (Mayo) 31 | Moy Davitts Experienced player, gearing up for seventh AFLW campaign at a new club after earlier stints at West Coast Eagles and St Kilda. Niamh Kelly (Mayo) 29 | Moy Davitts Other Kelly sister, also started at West Coast. 2023 All-Australian speedster now leading the charge for Adelaide. Brisbane Lions Neasa Dooley (Kildare) 25 | Castledermot New to the game, joins 2024 runners up for first season. Jennifer Dunne (Dublin) 25 | Cuala All-Ireland champion and AFLW winner in 2023, Dublin powerhouse went all in with oval ball ahead of third campaign. Orla O'Dwyer (Tipperary) Advertisement 27 | Boherlahan Most capped Irish AFLW player, Tipp triple-threat has starred since debut in 2020. Two-time Premiership winner and first Irish female All-Australian. Orla O'Dwyer. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Carlton Blues Maria Cannon (Mayo) 22 | Burrishoole One of three new Irish faces at Carlton, 22-year-old set for first season. Dayna Finn (Mayo) 24 | Kiltimagh Ireland basketball international, has shown athletic prowess since arriving in 2023. Erone Fitzpatrick (Laois) 24 | Park-Ratheniska Back from an ACL injury after a brilliant debut campaign two years ago. Síofra O'Connell (Clare) 24 | Doora-Barefield Tall defender, earned contract after impressing scouts at recruitment session in Ireland. Aisling Reidy (Clare) 24 | Doora-Barefield Same goes for O'Connell's clubmate and UL colleague, versatile rookie out to make a splash. Collingwood Muireann Atkinson (Monaghan) 28 | O'Neill Shamrocks Powerful, tight marker, looking to drive on in second season. Kellyann Hogan (Waterford) 23 | Ballymacarbry Déise star forward was a big loss after departing for debut campaign, named to debut tomorrow. Sarah Rowe. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Sarah Rowe (Mayo) 30 | Kilmoremoy Like O'Dwyer, multi-sport star that needs little introduction. Shoulder injury will keep her out of early rounds of eighth season with Collingwood, won A-League soccer title in May. Fremantle Joanne Cregg (Roscommon) 32 | Michael Glavey's Quickly established herself after debut in 2023, now set for third campaign with Freo. Orlagh Lally (Meath) 24 | Clann na nGael 2021 and 2022 All-Ireland winner, utility player has focused on AFLW since. Aisling McCarthy (Tipperary) 29 | Cahir Another of the top Irish players in the league, 2024 All-Australian. Experience key ahead of eighth season, third with Freo after previous stints at West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs. Amy Mulholland (Armagh) 32 | Peadar Ó Doirnín Forkhill Fast and dynamic, hoping her fourth campaign will be as consistent as before. Aine Tighe (Leitrim) 33 | Kiltubrid Towering goal-kicker, has really made her impact felt since her return from a third ACL injury. Geelong Rachel Kearns (Mayo) 28 | MacHale Rovers Defensive anchor since her debut in 2022, strong background in Gaelic football, soccer and boxing. Kate Kenny (Offaly) 23 | St Rynagh's Offaly dual star, one to watch in her second AFLW season. Aishling Moloney. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Aishling Moloney (Tipperary) 27 | Cahir 2024 All-Australian turned down interest from other clubs to commit future to Geelong. Joint-top goal-kicker last season, towering Tipp star a joy to watch in any code. Gold Coast Clara Fitzpatrick (Down) 34 | Bryansford Has played 30 AFLW games since her bow in 2020, a versatile player for St Kilda and now, Gold Coast Suns. Niamh McLaughlin (Donegal) 31 | Moville The 2022 LGFA Player of the Year is the first Irishperson to captain an AFLW / AFL side, co-skippering the Queensland outfit in her third campaign. GWS Giants Grace Kos (Dublin) 23 | Kilmacud Crokes New to the game, joins Greater Western Sydney Giants for first season. Wasn't involved in Dublin's All-Ireland winning run. Eilish O'Dowd (Dublin / Leitrim) 27 | Na Fianna / Ballinamore Seán O'Heslin's Two seasons in Dublin midfield, two All-Irelands. Leitrim native focused solely on AFLW for her debut campaign last year. Hawthorn Aileen Gilroy (Mayo) 32 | Killala 2024 All-Australian, teak-tough defender, has been instrumental for Hawthorn since transferring from North Melbourne. Aine McDonagh (Galway) 26 | Maigh Cuilinn Creative spark who had a superb 2024 season. Also a talented basketball player. Melbourne Sinéad Goldrick. Leah Scholes / INPHO Leah Scholes / INPHO / INPHO Sinead Goldrick (Dublin) 35 | Foxrock-Cabinteely Fresh off fifth All-Ireland win, hard as nails, will be instrumental for Dees in seventh season. Blaithin Mackin (Armagh) 26 | Shane O'Neills Premiership champion alongside Goldrick in debut season of 2022, available for selection after hamstring injury. Sister Aimee is inactive. North Melbourne Blaithin Bogue (Fermanagh) 25 | Tempo Maguires Didn't feature in her first season as North were crowned 2024 champions. Has impressed through pre-season, kicked three goals in recent practice match. Amy Gavin Mangan (Offaly) 26 | Naomh Ciarán Offaly forward set for first campaign with holders. Erika O'Shea (Cork) 23 | Macroom AFLW's youngest ever Irish recruit, has established herself as a pivotal player in North's backline since debuting in 2022. Vikki Wall (Meath) 27 | Dunboyne Meath maestro's double helped Kangaroos to glory last year. Back in fold after All-Ireland defeat, ruled out for round one due to absence. Vikki Wall and Aoibhín Cleary after Meath's All-Ireland final defeat. Leah Scholes / INPHO Leah Scholes / INPHO / INPHO Richmond Aoibhín Cleary (Meath) 26 | Donaghmore Ashbourne Captained the Royals to third All-Ireland final in three years, now set for debut AFLW season. Sydney Swans Tanya Kennedy (Donegal) 32 | Robert Emmets Moved to Australia in 2012, recruited in 2023 as an injury replacement and quickly nailed down a permanent position. Paris McCarthy (Kerry) 21 | Castleisland Desmonds Featured for Kerry in 2022 All-Ireland final loss, then took up basketball scholarship Stateside at Tennessee University, began chasing AFLW dream in 2023. Julie O'Sullivan (Kerry) 23 | Inbhear Sceine Gaels Another Kerry native who joined with McCarthy in 2023 and played in '22 All-Ireland defeat. Consistent. **********
The 42
an hour ago
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Career lessons and soccer tactics: What will Andy Moran bring to Mayo?
AFTER THE BLUNT break-up that ended Kevin McStay's tenure, the appointment of a recent Mayo GAA hero has at least reinjected a bit of hope into a county which has drifted away from All-Ireland contention. Mission one already accomplished for Andy Moran. What's to follow will be harder to achieve, but it's a task he has been preparing for ever since the moment he announced his retirement. In one of the exit interviews from his playing days, there was little doubt what Moran had in mind as he spoke about going down the coaching route. 'I've been dreaming about winning an All-Ireland since I was five years of age. Hopefully, my story isn't finished with Mayo yet,' he said. The 41-year-old's career was a story of personal growth. Having emerged as a roaming half-back/half-forward, a broken leg and cruciate injury triggered his transformation into a full-forward. He studied soccer strikers to learn the inside movement required, as well as contemporaries such as Paul Geaney, Con O'Callaghan, and Ollie Murphy. His career as a gym owner, much like TJ Reid, helped him produce his best football into his thirties. Following his 15th season of inter-county football, Moran was named Footballer of the Year for 2017, a day after his 34th birthday. James Horan convinced him to give one more year in 2019. In a similar vein, one of Moran's first calls is likely to be to 33-year-old former teammate Cillian O'Connor, enquiring whether the championship's record scorer fancies another spin. Mayo's Andy Moran taking on Michael Fitzsimons of Dublin during the 2017 All-Ireland final. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO Moran would've relished Gaelic football's new rules (much like O'Connor would). He coached a Monaghan side who were early embracers of those opportunities. The Farney's 58 two-pointers were more than any other county, averaging 4.5 per game. Attacking returns have too often been Mayo's greatest fallibility. After joining Gabriel Bannigan's backroom team last autumn, Moran identified moving the ball quicker as a priority and impressed the opportunity of squeezing up on opponents. They were beliefs that chimed with the intent of the Football Review Committee's modifications. 'I believe in football being a forward-based game, in terms of being progressive,' he told the Farney Army Pod last October. He added: 'I think (Gaelic) has taken an awful lot from soccer, but I think it has taken the bad stuff if you ask me. If you look at the real top teams now playing soccer, all their passes are forward. They might go back once, but the next one has to be forward. We need to take that into our game, where it's more of a forward transition game than a backward passing game. Advertisement 'We're nearly taking soccer from back in the 1992 Euros, pass it back to the keeper and use it, but we need to get to the modern soccer, which is pass the ball forward. 'Like most teams, when they're attacking, they've five fellas across the front line. If you look at Arsenal now, they'd have Saka one side, they'd have a left back the other side, Martinelli, Havertz, and somebody else in the middle. They'd have five guys up. 'In Gaelic, we're taking the bad stuff out of the possession, instead of getting it forward.' That experience of Ulster football served as a final apprenticeship to sharpen him for his home role. Moran set about learning his trade outside the county bounds as he was appointed Leitrim manager ahead of the 2022 season. His tenure featured some bad luck in penalty shoot-outs. They were eliminated in the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals by Sligo on penalties in 2022 before the lowest point, losing to New York at Gaelic Park in another shoot-out. His third and final year brought promotion from Division 4 and, doubling up as U20 manager, a stunning triumph over Mayo. Andy Moran was appointed Leitrim manager ahead of the 2022 season. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO The Leitrim County Board hailed his 'boundless levels of energy and enthusiasm' upon his departure that summer. With Monaghan, Moran was involved in a Division 2 title and a run to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. His Mayo backroom team has also caught the eye. Colm Boyle is another hero of that 2010s era, who, like Moran, earned a reputation as an insightful pundit upon his retirement. Paddy Tally is coming off a tumultuous year as Derry manager, but holds an impressive coaching CV. He has been involved in All-Irelands with Tyrone (2003) and Kerry (2022), while helping Down to the 2010 final. Moran's final game as a player was the All-Ireland semi-final loss to Dublin in 2019. Since then, the goalkeeper, the entire defence bar Stephen Coen, half of the midfield pairing, and four of the substitutes called upon that day have retired. Enough time has passed to ease the potential awkwardness of managing former teammates. The slight fall off in support highlights that expectations aren't immediately set sky high, although Moran knows where the bar is fixed from his playing career. The board statement reaffirmed their belief in the county's stature in the game when stating: 'The level of interest and calibre of applicants once again highlights the strength and reputation of Mayo football.' Their victory over Tyrone and the nature of their narrow loss to Donegal underline that Mayo aren't far away on their day. Their defeat to Cavan and shaky Connacht displays show that they are miles away when off form. An early aim will be to bring the consistent application which defined Moran's career. Another will surely be to halt Galway's five-in-a-row Connacht bid. The playing resources aren't what they were in his playing days. He will need to build around the remaining leaders from then. Beyond recruiting Cillian O'Connor, pressing matters include getting the most out of the remaining years in Aidan O'Shea (perhaps in an Andy Moran-type role) and a clear run of fitness for Paddy Durcan, Tommy Conroy, Diarmuid O'Connor, and Eoghan McLaughlin. Ryan O'Donoghue has been too often starved of support. He needs back-up. Otherwise, teams that succeed in snuffing out his influence will continue to beat Mayo. Given his career trajectory, Moran will hope to inspire improvements from the in-between generation, who are approaching their peak years. Infusing some of the young stars from their U20 Connacht champions is another important step. That team produced some exciting attacking displays, which are just what Mayo need, before falling one point short in an All-Ireland semi-final. Their minor teams have also reached the semi-finals in the past two campaigns, which will form the basis of next year's U20 offering. Translating that promise to higher grades hasn't always come easily. Still, if they can add those attacking reinforcements, there is enough of a base there to regain their status as a contender. The new man will need patience and loyalty from the board, but he could be just the man to return the feel-good factor to Mayo football.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
€70,000 plus AFLW packages on the way for top ladies GAA stars as season opens
When the oval Sherrin ball is bounced up in the air at 10.15am Irish time tomorrow morning, it will signal the 10th season of AFLW with a record 39 Irish players set to feature across the next four months of keenly-contested action. That figure has risen from 34 players last year and has been creeping up steadily, all the time since the inaugural 2017 AFLW season - (two competitions were played in 2022) Over the coming days nine Irish players could make their Australian Rules debuts. More and more firsts are happening. Meath captain Aoibhín Cleary is Richmond's first ever GAA signing, putting pen to paper on a two year deal, meaning there's another club serious about scouting Irish talent. Donegal's Niamh McLaughlin - the 2022 LGFA Player of the Year - is the first Irish recruit to skipper an AFLW side, after being appointed joint captain of the Gold Coast Suns. Another first is the number of regular season games increasing to 12 from 10 in 2023 and 11 in 2024. It may not sound like that big a deal but the turnover between this year's All-Ireland finals and the first round of the AFLW season is now just 11 days, with an increasingly tight schedule for the top stars of both codes. While the more attractive climate in Australia and the chance to train as a professional athlete are variables that the LGFA can't compete with, there is a wider LGFA and societal context to this ever evolving situation. But perhaps the biggest concern in LGFA circles should be the increasing salaries in the AFLW - another variable they can't control. By the end of the 2027 season the average AFLW salary will be just under €50,000 - - €290,000 for men - with the AFLPA (Players' Association) agreeing a joint pay deal with the League back in 2023. The average AFLW salary was €25,750 for the 2023 season, so it will have doubled inside four years. On top of this all international players are entitled to an agreed relocation fee of just over €9,000 in their first year. Flights home and back for the players and two family members are also part of the deal. The full average value of the package for a first year Irish player by the end of the 2027 season will be in the region of €65,000. There's also a €3350 per annum relocation payment for international players that travel home and back in a given year. Here's the kicker though for the LGFA and the top GAA stars. Under the current agreement the AFLW payment structure allows for two players on Tier 1 contracts, six players on Tier 2 deals, six players on Tier 3 contracts, and the remainder of the roster at Tier 4 level. The 36 Tier 1 players across the 18 sides currently earn a base salary of just under €61,500. By 2027 that figure will be almost €66,000. It is believed that some of the 39 Irish players are Tier 1, but this information is not in the public domain. A current Tier 4 salary is in the region of €37,500, but this will rise to in the region of €40,500 by the end of 2027 as part of a Collective Bargaining Agreement. An open-market salary cap - as operates in the men's game - has been mooted and could see the top AFLW players salaries soar to well above the 2027 mark of €66,000. Throw in potential endorsement deals and the package could prove very attractive to the top LGFA stars, many of whom are already in the AFLW. Fresh from the recent All-Ireland Senior final are Meath super star Vikki Wall, the North Melbourne player who has also represented Ireland in rugby sevens. Dublin's Eilish O'Dowd (Great Western Sydney) and Sinead Goldrick (Melbourne) also jet in following their All-Ireland success, as does Meath skipper Aoibhín Cleary Like Cleary, last year's All-Ireland Final player of the match, Kerry full back Kayleigh Cronin, is one of the new recruits. The others are Clare duo Síofra O'Connell and Aisling Reidy (both St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield), Mayo's Maria Cannon, Waterford's Kellyanne Hogan, Dublin's Grace Kos, Kildare's Nease Dooley and Offaly's Amy Gavin Mangan. With TG4 providing extensive live coverage and a highlights package, AFLW has a promotional window in Ireland. There's even talk of an International Rules series. Losing top players like Sarah Rowe (Mayo) and Orlaith Lally (Meath) from counties outside Dublin inevitably damages the competitiveness of the senior series - with the capital side winning six of the last nine All-Ireland titles. Other factors at play are that the quality and promotional impact of ladies football is affected when the top stars go to Australia and don't return to play inter-county GAA. The slow pace of integration is another. A fully integrated GAA would make the game more attractive and ladies players feel more valued than they currently are. Part of this is access to the same expenses, gear and medical teams as the men's game. The ties ups between AFL men's and ladies clubs means AFLW players have all of this - with salaries to boot. It may take a generation for ladies GAA (and AFLW) to gain the same level of respect as the men's game and build attendances significantly, but this has to be the goal, where it will be achieved or not. They're all pieces of the jigsaw with Vikki Wall recently suggesting rule changes could help the flow of players to AFLW. The GAA and LGFA can do nothing about housing prices. It's not any better in Australia, but the fact that young people are finding it so difficult - and nearly impossible in some areas - to save for a deposit makes them more likely to go off and try something else. Young people are always going to want to travel too while the opportunity exists. The great leveller could ultimately come with the growing popularity of AFLW in Australia. More Australian players and better coaching will invariably mean the quality rises and the same volume of Irish players are not required - or able to compete. Currently there are 13 Irish men in the AFL, with only a handful playing regularly. AFLW may end up with similar numbers of Irish recruits. Ladies football has never been more popular, but for now though there's a sweet spot there for the top ladies GAA players. And it's difficult to see how the LGFA can compete with what's on offer - or what they can do about it.
