A new GAA club for immigrants in Dublin was the focus of celebrations for Europe Day.
On 9 May every year, the 27 member states of the EU celebrate the union.
This year, there are a number of sport events taking place in countries – including in Ireland – to highlight the power of inclusion through sport.
It is 40 years since the iconic blue flag with gold stars was first flown.
But it was well before that that the first iteration of the EU was set out, when on 9 May 1950, the Schuman Declaration was delivered by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman.
In Fairview Park in Dublin dozens of members of Na Gaeil Nua gathered for a special event.
It is one of the GAA’s newest affiliated clubs and is the first for immigrants and has around 40 different nationalities as its members.
Former Dublin GAA footballer Michael Darragh Macauley carried out some training with the New Gaels.
He said: “We know how important GAA is, we know how it can bring communities together.
“People are so passionate about it and we need to highlight these kind of welcoming projects.”
Cristina is a Kerry GAA fan
Club secretary Cristina Santoyo, who is from Mexico, said Na Gaeil Nua is basically an all-immigrant club but is keen to stress everyone is welcome.
“We are all about inclusion and it is hard when you move to a new country,” she said.
“I think this is a great club to meet people, to build community – it’s a great way to get to know people and learn more about Irish culture,” she added.
Although she lives in Dublin, she said she is a Kerry GAA fan – partly because of a Kerry man in her life.
Watch: Immigrant GAA club focus of celebrations for Europe Day
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Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne attended the event and congratulated the team on their affiliation to the GAA, adding that the Government is working hard to get Gaelic Games recognised as an official sport across European countries.
Speaking at the event, he said it was very important to celebrate Europe Day.
“We must remember that it is the greatest peace and economic project ever and while we may have differences from time to time on different issues, the European Union has secured peace for its member states,” the minister said.
He said the EU had secured incredible economic opportunities that should not be taken for granted.
Marianella Oropeza is chairperson of Na Gaeil Nua Club
Peter Power, who is Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said in Europe, Ireland is seen very positively as a “very good, functioning society, a society that is inclusive, that welcomes people, that has performed very well economically, that has raised living standards beyond all recognition”.
“We’re seen as a society that works,” he said.
Na Gaeil Nua Club chairperson Marianella Oropeza, who is originally from Venezuela, said the values of the sport have taught her a lot about what it means to be Irish.
“The way we play, that fighting spirit, the never giving up, being fierce, going for it has taught me a lot about Irish character,” she said.
She said the spirit of never giving up, to keep playing even when it is “raining and miserable outside you never give up and give your best” has brought her “very close to what it is to be an Irish person”.
Marianella met her Italian husband in Ireland and they called their son Patrick as, she said, an homage to the country they now call home.
With over 100 GAA clubs across Europe, the sport is thriving in countries from France to Iceland to Germany and Estonia.
Chris Collins said Gaelic Games bring ‘people together’
Chris Collins, who is Head of Operations at Gaelic Games Europe, said the games are spreading with 100 clubs in 23 countries.
He said there are 1,600 members registered in France and 97% of them are French.
He said in Germany they are “mad for the hurling”.
Chris said it is a “weird experience when you come down to a public park and you see Germans playing hurling, and it’s in the native tongue, and they’re just so passionate about it like it’s really, really serious”.
“But at the end of the game, everybody shakes hands,” he said, adding “it brings people together”.