Saturday marked a first for the GAA Provincial Council of Britain with the association enjoying its Annual Gala Dinner in the heart of British government at Westminster.
For the first time ever, GAA dignitaries including President Aogán Ó Fearghail, his successor John Horan, director general Páraic Duffy, Ulster secretary Brian McAvoy and Irish Ambassador Adrian O’Neill, took their places among more than 100 Gaels from across Britain in the Members’ Dining Room in the House of Commons.
The event was hosted by Bessbrook native and Labour MP, Conor McGinn. The lifelong gael and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ireland is heavily involved in the GAA in England and is founder and President of a north London based Gaelic Football team, Éire Óg.
Speaking ahead of the gala dinner, Mr McGinn, who is the son of former Sinn Fein councillor Pat McGinn, said,
“It is a great honour as a lifelong Gael to host the first ever GAA event here in parliament.
“The GAA in Britain has been a home from home for the countless young men and women who have emigrated to Britain over the years. It also provides the chance to second and third generation Irish who were born in Britain to express their identity through these games.”
Mr McGinn also highlighted that both Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy – two of the game’s most well-known stars – were based in England and “drove the GAA and Irish cultural revival in London”.
Attendees at Saturday’s lavish dinner were presented with a special postcard print of `The Men Who Made Home Rule’, by William Drummond Young, featuring Charles Stuart Parnell and Archbishop Croke.