MEGAA April 2024 Update

Middle East GAA had an eventful month of April, with the 2024 Middle East GAA Championship event contending with inclement weather conditions for the second time in a short period, having previously been postponed in March for the same reason. On this occasion, unprecedented rain and flooding impacted many areas of the UAE in the days before the Championship, which unfortunately meant that only some of our games could be completed. 

However, for those footballers who managed to take to the field for the 2024 Middle East GAA Football Championship, Zayed Sport City in Abu Dhabi was the location on Friday, April 19th, where Ladies’ Senior, Junior B and Junior C Plate competitions were contested, along with Men’s Intermediate, Junior B and Junior C Cup competitions. A fantastic evening of football took place across 4 pitches, beginning late in the afternoon while the sun began to set, and continuing late into the night with clubs battling it out in the knockout stages to claim Championship honours. Middle East GAA were delighted to welcome teams from Abu Dhabi Na Fianna, Al Reem Shamrocks, Arabian Celts, Dubai Celts, Kerry Middle East, Kuwait Harps, Naomh Alee, RAK Ropairí, and Sharjah Gaels to the event, where almost 50 fixtures took place involving 350 players. 

On the same evening, an All-Star exhibition match took place, featuring ladies’ teams comprised solely of international players playing Gaelic Games for clubs in the Middle East region. This event showcased the skills and commitment of those members who took up the sport for the first time and became leading members of their respective clubs in the Middle East. Special thanks to all players who took part in the occasion, and to Harmony Bergin and Jamie Wrenn for their efforts in organising teams. It is hoped that a men's exhibition match can be revisited in the future. Thank you especially to Harper Hair and Beauty, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ma Buckley’s, Abu Dhabi for their generous support and sponsorship of the initiative, which saw bespoke playing gear provided for the occasion. Harper Hair and Beauty is owned by Clodagh Harris, while Ma Buckley’s is owned by Trevor Buckley, both of whom have served on club and county board committees in the Middle East. We wish both Clodagh and Trevor every success with their respective businesses. 

On the next day, on Saturday, April 20th, Al Ain Rugby Club hosted the 2024 Middle East GAA Hurling and Camogie Championship, where Senior and Intermediate Cup and Plate competitions were held for both codes. On the day, Middle East GAA welcomed teams from Abu Dhabi Na Fianna, Al Ain, Al Reem Shamrocks, Dubai Celts, Jumeirah Gaels and Sharjah Gaels to Al Ain, with over 200 players taking part. The event started in the late afternoon with the sun shining down throughout the group stages, before entering the cooler evening period when the knockout stages commenced, and the sun began to set.  

Thank you to Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club for their support in hosting a tournament at short notice, and to Al Ain GAA club, John Daly and Johnny Beirne, for their efforts behind the scenes in ensuring that the event proceeded smoothly. 

Middle East GAA would like to thank all members for their understanding and support throughout a particularly testing and uncertain period while working through challenges arising from inclement weather conditions. Congratulations to our 2024 Middle East GAA Championship winners: 

• Ladies Senior Football Plate – Abu Dhabi Na Fianna 

• Ladies Junior B Football Cup – Kuwait Harps 

• Ladies Junior B Football Plate – Abu Dhabi Na Fianna 

• Ladies Junior C Football Plate – Naomh Alee 

• Men’s Intermediate Cup – Dubai Celts 

• Men’s Intermediate Plate – Abu Dhabi Na Fianna 

• Men’s Junior B Cup – Kerry Middle East 

• Men’s Junior C Cup – Arabian Celts 

This Championship event brought the 2023 – 2024 season to a close, which began in summer 2023 with the FRS GAA World Games in Derry and continued with the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce Middle East League, which saw a total of 14 competitions being played between September and April. In addition, several juvenile events took place at club level throughout the year, including 2 Middle East tournaments held in Doha, Qatar and Dubai, UAE. The coming weeks see a reduction in activities as many clubs prepare for the summer break, although our juvenile sections still look forward to Cúl Camps taking place in the coming weeks.