The International Hurling Festival in Galway took place from September 18 to September 21. Sixteen teams from all over the World took part. Local native Nevin O’Regan from Rathcormac starred with the Middle East all stars. The hugely successful week was sponsored by Aer Lingus/Etihad Airways.

The final took place on Saturday in a packed Pearse Stadium, Galway and the Middle East all stars emerged victorious against Canada on a scoreline of 11 points to 8 points with Nevin scoring 2 points to help his side overcome a very talented Canada team. President of the GAA Liam O’Neill attended the various functions and parades all the week, as did many dignitaries from the sporting and political world.

Loughrea played host to the Middle East all stars, Canada, Europe Irish and Milwaukee and on Thursday evening a huge parade was held in the town where the teams were presented to the public. Both senior and intermediate Galway All-Ireland camogie teams also attended.

Nevin who left for Dubai in September 2012 began his hurling days with Fermoy GAA and also St Colman's College before joining Bride Rovers, Rathcormac and later Naas GAA where he worked for a period. Congratulations Nevin from all your friends and family in Ireland.

THE MIDDLE EAST

Hurling was born in the Middle East back in 1985 when two teams in Al Kharj, just outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, played in an inter-firm game at Almarai. The boys from the Glens of Antrim played a Munster selection and there was skin and hair flying in the sands of Saudi Arabia.

Over the years, further games were played in Saudi between Kentz and Aramco before an official tournament was set up in Bahrain in 1993, which saw the emergence of new clubs Naomh Abdulla Dhahran, Naomh Alee Riyadh and the Arabian Celts (formerly the Bahrain Irish). The tournament has been running ever since, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Other clubs emerged in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman, with clubs in Kuwait, Al Ain and Sharjah joining later. The Middle East All Stars feature players from clubs from all over the Middle East and feature players like Killian Coleman (played for the Cork minors in 1998), Aidan Clarke (was on the Down team in 2010), Shane Rackard (was hurling MVP at the Asian Gaelic Games in 2012) and Andrew Keary (All-Ireland winning captain with the Galway minors in 2005)

The Middle East County Board is the newest board in the GAA family. Previously part of the Asian County Board, the Middle East Board was set up in June 2013 in recognition of the fact that over 1,000 people are now playing Gaelic Games in the Region.

blog comments powered by Disqus