Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See and GAA club Rome Hibernia join forces to mark Jubilee of Sport.
Ireland’s unique sporting heritage will be on show in Rome this weekend with displays of Gaelic Football, Hurling and Camogie to mark the Vatican’s Jubilee of Sport.
Rome Hibernia, a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club based in the Italian capital, will showcase Irish sports in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See.
GAA president Jarlath Burns will travel to Rome to participate in the programme of events which is also supported by Gaelic Games Europe.
The programme begins on Friday 13 June when Rome Hibernia hold an open training session with Chris Collins, head of operations for Gaelic Games Europe and former Derry GAA coach, at the Stadio delle Tre Fontane at 19.00.
The next day, Saturday 14 June, Rome Hibernia will participate in the Jubilee Sports Village in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo before joining gathered athletes and sports fans on a pilgrimage to the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Leo XIV will preside over a special Mass for the Jubilee of Sport in St Peter’s Square on Sunday 15 June.
The Jubilee of Sport is just around the corner! Take a look at Rome Hibernia GAA’s programme for this weekend! pic.twitter.com/WYOloHCBsn
— IrishEmbassy HolySee (@IrlEmbHolySee) June 10, 2025
Ambassador of Ireland to the Holy See Frances Collins said in a statement: “We are delighted to partner with Rome Hibernia GAA and Gaelic Games Europe to mark the Jubilee of Sport, and moreover to demonstrate the sense of community, hope and inclusion that local GAA organisations like Rome Hibernia represent to so many both in Ireland and across the globe”.
Ambassador Collins added: “The community which Rome Hibernia has created here in Rome is a vibrant and very tangible expression of the universality of sport which as the late Pope Francis said “extends across borders, language, race, religion and ideology; it possesses the capacity to unite people, together, by fostering dialogue and acceptance.”
Niamh Ryan, club representative of Rome Hibernia, said: “Taking part in the Jubilee of Sport is a significant moment for our club and for Gaelic Games Europe. It reflects how much Gaelic games have grown and the strong, welcoming communities they continue to build across Europe. For many abroad, the GAA is a place to find your footing and stay connected to home. That is clear in our own team, which includes players from Ireland, Italy, the Middle East, North America and beyond. Sport brings people together and we’re proud to represent that on one of the world’s most important stages.”
Full information about the Jubilee of Sport, scheduled on 14-15 June, can be found on its official website while for further details on the Rome Hibernia Jubilee programme of events, follow Rome Hibernia on Instagram and Facebook @romehiberniagaa
