Midlands103

All the money raised will go towards equipment and meals after training for children in the new Kampala GAA Club in Uganda. This week Kilkenny stars Aidan ...

The joy that these kids have found in Gaelic Games really struck a chord with us at Newpark Hotel, and we want to do what we can to ensure that they have what they need to continue playing.” The passion these Ugandan children have for playing GAA is wonderful to see, but most are playing in flip-flops as they can’t afford football boots. I was shocked to discover that the average yearly salary Uganda is €815, approximately the cost of 15 hurls, so proper GAA equipment is out of their reach. “This is a fantastic initiative by the Newpark Hotel that will not only foster a love of the Gaelic games and Irish culture here at home but also internationally. Promoting gender equality is a cornerstone of the Uganda’s GAA club, and having Sinead lead several training sessions, will instil confidence in the young girls that are still too shy to train with the boys. “We were inspired by the story of a group of youngsters living in Wakiso, near Kampala in Uganda, who had stumbled on the Irish national sports of hurling and Gaelic football through YouTube and TikTok videos and started to copy what they had seen.