Aer Lingus will host the first ever International Hurling Festival, in association with The Gathering, and supported by the GAA and partner Etihad Airways. The qualifying games will take place in regional towns around Galway from Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st September 2013 with the finals being staged at Pearse Stadium.
A number of lively traditional music and dance events are also planned to take place in venues around the “City of the Tribes” throughout the festival, supported by Galway GAA and Galway Hurling Supporters Club.
Aer Lingus is inviting teams from all over the world to compete in this unique International Hurling Festival. Together with our partner airline, Etihad Airways, we will bring teams from New York, San Francisco, Canada, Asia, the UK, Continental Europe, the Gulf and Australia. Aer Lingus and the GAA are also using the tournament as an opportunity to promote the game of hurling in developing regions by including teams such as Buenos Aires, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and a Europe team made up of non-Irish nationals.
Aer Lingus Chief Human Resources Officer Michael Grealy said “We are very excited to bring this one of its kind hurling festival to Ireland, in the year of The Gathering. We have already seen a huge response to the event and are confident that the Aer Lingus hurling festival will help to foster an interest in one of our most loved national sports. The game of hurling is uniquely Irish, like Aer Lingus, and is a source of enormous pride to the Irish all around the World. We look forward to welcoming many friends and visitors home to Ireland for what promises to be an exciting year. “
Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer Peter Baumgartner said “As proud sponsor of the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship and official airline to the GAA, we are delighted to support the International Hurling Festival. The festival will bring teams from the Arabian Gulf, Asia and Australia to Ireland, the home of Gaelic sports, and we are very proud to play such a key role in making the event a huge success. We wish best of luck to all the teams that take part “.
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 18th January 2013 All Rights Reserved.
