There were ‘brilliant scenes’ in Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 on Wednesday as a GAA team all the way from Zambia arrived ahead of a world tournament.
Sables Shamrocks flew from the Zambian town of Kabwe, and arrived via Dubai.
Their arrival comes ahead of the GAA’s World Games, which kicks off in Waterford next week.
Dublin Airport shared a clip of the African team’s arrival to T2, writing: ‘Brilliant scenes in T2 last night as the Sables Shamrocks arrived into Dublin Airport from Kabwe in Zambia (via Dubai) to fulfil their dream of playing in the upcoming @officialgaa World Games in Waterford.
‘We think they’re happy to be here!’
The airport extended best wishes to the players, who were full of excitement and energy in the clip which saw them dancing and singing.
Social media users took to the comments, full of appreciation for the sweet moment.
‘Fantastic,’ one wrote, ‘A thousand welcomes for the Shamrocks to Ireland. Best of luck in the games — it will surely be a very special experience and fantastic craic!!
‘Thanks for coming!!’
Brilliant scenes in T2 last night as the Sables Shamrocks arrived into Dublin Airport from Kabwe in Zambia (via Dubai) to fulfil their dream of playing in the upcoming @officialgaa World Games in Waterford.
We think they’re happy to be here!
Best of luck, lads 🇿🇲 pic.twitter.com/7mM4ck14rz
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) July 9, 2026
Another added: ‘Love seeing people from a different country having that much passion for our sport.’
A third commented: ‘That’s so cool! Best of luck to them, and I hope they have a great trip!’
The O’Neills GAA World Games is a triennial international festival set to feature 114 teams from across the world.
Some 2,000 players competing in hurling, camogie and Gaelic football are set to descend on Waterford for the games next week.
The tournament is being held at the South East Technological University (SETU) Arena from Monday, July 13.
The finals are set to take place on Friday, July 17.
Among the teams arriving to Ireland is the Sables Shamrocks, who are led by Pádraig Ó Fainín.
Pádraig established Zamba Ireland, the charity which runs the Sables Nua School in Kabwe. Many of the Sables Shamrocks GAA players are former pupils of Sables Nua.
The son of former GAA President Pat Fanning, Pádraig has been associated to Zambia since 2003 when he visited the country to see the work being done by Christian Brothers there.
Having been struck by the poverty, the Waterford man volunteered his help, moving over seven years ago with his wife when they retired.
Speaking to the GAA recently, Pádraig shared how he had learned of the GAA World Games and was ‘bowled over’ by the idea of bringing the team over.
Having got the go-ahead from the GAA, Pádraig selected a team of players he thought could be good and they set about the process of applying for birth certificates, passports and visas.
‘The players are currently training like lunatics and have taken to it like ducks to water,’ Pádraig shared, ‘They’re very, very good.’
The coach accelerated his players’ GAA knowledge by showing them matches via GAA+.
