All Stars aligned over the Middle East
November 15, 2016
Kilkenny's Richie Hogan, Paul Murphy and Ger Aylward at Dublin Airport
The Middle East, renowned for its sun, sand, camels and oil may not be the first place you think of when the conversation turns to Gaelic Games, but right now, and for the next two weeks, the Middle East stands ready to become the focus of the GAA World, as the GAA GPA Football All Stars prepare to tour Dubai and Abu Dhabi from 23rd to 28th November 2016.
Amid an array of diplomatic and social events, the highlight of the Tour will be the biennial Test Match between the 2015 and the 2016 All Stars selections. The test match will be part of an exhibition of Gaelic games, featuring Camogie, Hurling and ladies and mens football.
And the venue will be the impressive Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, the same venue that hosted the inaugural GAA World Games in 2015.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Middle East can boast an impressive recent GAA pedigree of its own. Although the youngest GAA Board of all the International GAA Units, the region is currently home to both the General Michael Collins Cup and the Harry Boland Cup - the awards for the GAA World Games Football and Hurling Champions respectively.
The Middle East teams travelled in numbers earlier this year to claim the 2016 World Games Senior Football and Hurling titles - on the hallowed turf of Croke Park.
Speaking of the imminent arrival of the best that Gaelic Games has to offer, Middle East GAA Chairman Patrick Moynagh said: "Plans are well advanced at this stage and we look forward to the arrival of Aogan [O'Fearghail] and playing squads. Middle East Gaels from the four corners of Ireland are looking forward to seeing Lee Keegan, Mattie Donnelly, Alan Brogan, Donnchadh Walsh and the teams lining out at Sports City.
Of course, we're not entirely without Celtic crosses in these parts, and you can expect to see Donegal Stars Paul Durcan and Ryan Bradley both lining out on the day alongside the best of the Middle East, in our festival of Gaelic Games on Friday 25th November"
The All Stars Tour departs Dublin on Wednesday 23rd November for Abu Dhabi. Irish Ambassador Mr Patrick Hennessy will host a Diplomatic Reception on Thursday 24th November and the teams take to the field at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Friday 25th November followed by a reception in 'down-town' Abu Dhabi.
The tour events on Saturday 26tt includes dinner with the Stars in Dubai, with Sunday and Monday presenting a chance for the All Stars and their partners to relax and view the sights of the United Arab Emirates.
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