Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival

July 13 and 14 next will see over one thousand players from Ireland and overseas descend on Thurles for a two day International Festival of Hurling.

In association with the GAA, Thurles Sarsfields GAA Club, Shannon Development and a host of regional partnerships and bodies, the two day weekend event will serve up a feast of hurling activity with clubs and teams competing for a range of cups and silverware culminating in the Munster GAA Senior Hurling Final on July 15.

Speaking at the official launch of the event, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Liam Ó Néill said, “The International Hurling Festival of events scheduled for June 13/14 will really add to what is always an exciting weekend for hurling enthusiasts, the occasion of the Munster Senior Hurling Final.

“It is hugely encouraging to see the number of clubs from our overseas network involved in the hurling festivities and I have no doubt that the organising committee, host club, Thurles Sarsfields and all the players and officials involved will derive massive satisfaction from an initiative which has the potential to occupy a place in our calendar on an annual basis.

“The range of other diverse activities organised further compliment the hurling action and a special word of thanks is also due to the entire support network behind the organisation of the weekend”.

Also speaking at the event, Alan Kelly, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport said: “I am delighted to see this festival growing again this year and want to congratulate Thurles Sarsfields and their committee on the initiative they had to set it up. To have an international hurling tournament as well as European competitions from clubs all over the world really showcases the far reaching capacity of hurling. The festival will also showcase ‘Hurl Ball’ and ‘Camán Abú’ which shows how hurling is diversifying and encouraging more and more people to participate. It will be a fantastic event and I hope to see more than a thousand extra people coming to Thurles that weekend. I was happy to help the committee receive funding earlier on this year and believe this will be a ground breaking year for the festival given that Thurles is the 2012 European Town of Sport”.

Brian Keating, Shannon Development Regional Manager for Tipperary and Offaly said: “Over the past few years Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Sports and Conference Bureau have focused on working with partners to attract sustainable legacy sports tourism events into the Shannon Region – whether these are national, European, or World Championship events. This is why we are so pleased to have two new high calibre events to add to our sports calendar – the Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival and the European Hurling and Camogie Championships. Rest assured we will be working with our partners in Thurles to maximise the economic and promotional potential which these new sporting events offer us in our bid to attract additional tourists and sports fans to the area.”

John Enright, chairman of the organising committee said, “The festival is an effort by the Thurles Sarsfield club to aid the development of hurling as an international game while at the same time stimulating the local economy by attracting teams and visitors to the area. Hurling is unique to Ireland and has a huge largely un-tapped potential to boost tourism to our country in these difficult financial times”.

Events taking place include the Association’s social and recreational game, Camán Abú which will be showcased competitively at the Ursuline Convent Thurles on Saturday, July 14. Any club or social team can participate. For full details on entering, visit justplay.gaa.ie.

The European Board will also play the final round of their European Hurling and Camogie Championships in Thurles on Saturday, July 14. Teams from Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain amongst others will compete over the course of the day to become the 2012 European Champions.

For a full list of events, please see below. For more information visit http://www.thurlessarsfields.gaa.ie and www.justplay.gaa.ie.

For media queries, contact:

GAA Communications Department on (01) 8658659.

Competing for the Tom Semple Cup (presented to Sarsfields Club by the family of the late Tom Semple, distinguished hurler, coach, and administrator, after whom Semple Stadium is named) will be – Kilburn Gaels of London, last year’s winners; Robert Emmets (London), Keady (Armagh), O’Donovan Rossa (Antrim), Na Magha (Derry), Kilmoyley (Kerry), Kilbrin (Cork), Toureen (Mayo), Manorhamilton (Leitrim), Naomh Moninne (Louth), Dunboyne (Meath) and Carnew Emmets (Wicklow).

Teams eliminated after the round-robin section of the Semple Cup will take part in the Jackie Carew Cup tournament. The trophy was presented to the club by the late Jackie Carew, a former club official.

The European Board will play the final round of their European Hurling and Camogie Championships in Thurles on Saturday, July 14.  Teams from Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain amongst others will compete over the course of the day to become the 2012 European Champions.

The games will be held in various venues around Thurles with finals scheduled for Semple Stadium that evening. The event will see more than 200 players and supporters from across Europe and in Ireland descend on Thurles for the weekend.

A novel innovation at the festival will be a Camán Abú hurling tournament featuring celebrity selections. The Association is also inviting teams from around the country and overseas to participate in the tournament. Take part in an enjoyable day with food, fun and entertainment for all the family. The event will take place on Saturday, July 14 from 12.30-5pm at the Ursuline Convent, Thurles. For more information, please visitwww.justplay.gaa.ie.

Another first this year is a Hurl Ball tournament. Hurl ball is played in handball alleys with players using their hurleys in a new game largely based on handball rules. It is growing in popularity among current and former players.

The Michael Cusack Cup will be presented to the winners of a special interprovincial men’s competition, which will have contestants representing all four provinces. In tandem with this event the Munster Girls U18 final will also be played at Thurles.

On the evening of July 13, Thurles Sarsfields will play O’Donovan Rossa which will be followed by the official opening at Sarsfields Social Centre and a concert by Tipperary Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann musicians.

European Board – Launch of Thurles Hurling Festival /European Hurling and Camogie Finals

PRESS RELEASE – Croke Park, May 21

The European Board will play the final round of their European Hurling & Camogie Championships in Thurles on Saturday, July 14th.  Teams from Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain amongst others will compete over the course of the day to become the 2012 European Championships.

The games will be held in various venues around Thurles with finals scheduled for Semple Stadium that evening. The event will see more than 200 players and supporters from across Europe and in Ireland descend on Thurles for the weekend. Board chairman, William Cashin, himself a proud Tipperary man said “the European Board is delighted to bring our finals to the spiritual home of hurling in Thurles. Neither the GAA founders in Hayes Hotel in 18884 nor Tom Semple himself could have imagined that that hurling and camogie would now be flourishing across Europe”.

He continued “it is particularly appropriate that the European hurling and camogie finals will be played in the European Town of Sport this year and that our clubs will battle it out with the best teams having the honour to play in the iconic Semple Stadium”.

This is also the first year of an official partnership between the Board and O’Neills who are the official equipment partners of our finals this year. “The European Board is proud to have partnered with O’Neills, who are themselves an institution in meeting the equipment needs of Gaelic games players and supporters around the world” according to Cashin.

Cashin also noted the importance of the support given by Comhairle Laighean, who through their twinning partnership with the European Board, have supported the development of our fabulous games with coaching, equipment and other assistance. This year the European Board has 51 clubs playing gaelic games across 18 countries outside of Ireland & the UK with an ever increasing number of youth development.  He noted that “the European Board, thanks to Leinster Council support, has now trained its own referees, assessors and coaches/tutors and is largely self-sufficient”.

“Whilst many of the of the players in Thurles will be Irish expatriates, a large percentage will be indigenous players from cities such as Zurich, the current European hurling champions who were founded by, and feature, many Swiss nationals on their teams” according to ECB Hurling Officer, Brian Sheehy.  They will face a stiff challenge from teams based in The Hague, Paris and Brussels amongst others.

ECB camogie officer, Fiona Byrne, noted that while Paris Gaels currently lead the way in the European camogie championship, “they will come under severe pressure from holders, Belgium , new entrants Holland Ladies and resurgent Luxembourg and Zurich teams”.

Contacts:

William Cashin (Chp):   +41 21 318 43 87        email: chairperson.europe@gaa.ie

Tony Bass (Sec):                +353 (0) 85-7341039      email: secretary.europe@gaa.ie