In a moving and historic event at Waterford’s City Hall, Roanmore GAA Club officially announced its twinning with the Mouaz Sarsour GAA Club in Ramallah, Palestine —the first such initiative by any GAA club in Ireland.
Hosted by the Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Seamus Ryan, the event highlighted the powerful message of peace, solidarity, and cultural unity conveyed through sport during a time of immense global conflict.
The event saw young players and officials from Roanmore GAA gather in City Hall to mark the occasion. Mayor Ryan warmly welcomed the club and emphasized the significance of the initiative, calling it a “unique event” and a “fantastic show of solidarity.”
He praised the Roanmore club for leading the way in forging international friendships through Gaelic Games, particularly with a community experiencing the severe impacts of ongoing violence in Palestine.
“This is the first club in Ireland, I believe, to twin with a Palestinian club,” Mayor Ryan said. “I’ve seen videos of young Palestinian boys and girls playing hurling in the midst of bombing. In such unimaginable circumstances, this twinning gives hope, gives a sense of normality, and gives joy.”
The twinning follows Waterford’s own civic twinning with Ramallah in 2023, when the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland signed the Memorandum of Understanding in City Hall. Mayor Ryan, who also sits on the Waterford-Ramallah Twinning Committee, reaffirmed support for deepening ties between the communities.
“In the midst of a genocide, this kind of gesture shows the world that people are watching, people care, and we will not turn away.”
The initiative was spearheaded locally by Michael Murphy of Roanmore GAA, who is also active in the Southeast Palestine Solidarity Group. Recalling the origins of the idea, Murphy said, “It all started from a conversation, and from there we linked up with the Waterford-Ramallah Twinning Committee and had a Zoom call with club officials in the West Bank.”
The bond formed quickly. A formal twinning ceremony is now scheduled for 22nd July, to be held fittingly at Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles, the historic birthplace of the GAA.
John Fox of Roanmore GAA called the upcoming ceremony “a milestone in GAA history” and said it will “go down as something very significant, both in Irish sport and in international solidarity.”
Looking ahead, Murphy expressed his hope that this is just the beginning.
“When we started this idea back in 2023, I never thought we’d be talking about it nearly two years later. But I hope other clubs around Ireland join in. Our dream is to someday visit the club in Ramallah.”
The event closed with heartfelt thanks to all those involved in making the twinning a reality—from Roanmore’s executive committee to individual volunteers like Ray Sheridan, whose work on the club banner and commemorative cup was specially acknowledged.
In the words of everyone gathered, the twinning is not merely symbolic— it is a message of peace, of cultural unity, and of enduring human connection through the timeless spirit of Gaelic Games.
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