Benelux GAA Tournament Draws 270 Players from Across Region

On Saturday 30 May 2026, the Gaelic Sports Club of Luxembourg (GSCL) hosted the Benelux GAA Tournament, the third round of the Breagh Benelux Football Championships, bringing together sixteen Gaelic football teams from the Benelux region and Germany.

The tournament took place at the Stade Boy Konen in Luxembourg-Cessange and the Emile Bintner Stadium in Luxembourg-Gasperich. The women's competition featured six teams playing in a single group, with the top two teams meeting in the final. In the men's tournament, two groups of six teams competed for places in the semi-finals, where the strongest sides from each group faced one another for a spot in the final.

Ireland's Ambassador to Luxembourg, Jean McDonald, attended the tournament and highlighted the role of the Gaelic Sports Club of Luxembourg within the Irish community. Speaking to Chronicle.lu, she said: “The GAA club is really at the heart of the Irish community in Luxembourg, as is the case in so many countries across Europe and throughout the world. What's so brilliant here today, on a very hot day, is to see so many people turning up not only to play, but also to provide all the support that's needed. There are so many volunteers setting up stands, working in the medical tent and providing food and drink for everybody.”

Asked which team she was supporting, Ambassador McDonald added with a smile: “I have to support Luxembourg. I'm very proud to support Luxembourg.”

The host teams reached the finals in both the women's and men's competitions. Luxembourg A reached the Ladies Cup final but ultimately fell short against Brussels, who secured a 3:08 (17) to 1:04 (7) victory.

In the Ladies Shield final, a combined Maastricht, Nijmegen, The Hague and Luxembourg B side defeated Leuven and Luxembourg C by 6:06 (24) to 4:01 (13).

The hosts enjoyed greater success in the men's competition. Luxembourg A defeated a combined Maastricht, Nijmegen and The Hague side 2:10 (16) to 0:03 (3) in the Men's Cup final to claim the tournament title.

“It was very far from easy. Every match today was very difficult,” said Luxembourg A team captain Gary Healy. “The team we played in the final was the only team we lost to during the group stage, so we knew it was going to be tough. The score doesn't justify how hard the guys fought. It was a well-fought victory and I think we will celebrate appropriately tonight.”

Healy also described Gaelic football as a sport that combines elements of football, basketball and rugby. He highlighted the strong social aspect of the game, noting that players regularly meet both during and outside tournaments, creating a strong sense of camaraderie, particularly among Irish expatriates living away from family and friends.

In the Men's Shield final, Leuven A defeated Luxembourg Masters/Aachen 3:02 (11) to 2:03 (9). Luxembourg B also celebrated silverware, overcoming Leuven B/Düsseldorf 2:06 (12) to 0:04 (4) in the Men's Plate final.

Chronicle.lu also spoke with Tony Bass, Chairperson of GAA Benelux, who said the tournament brought together nearly 270 players from thirteen clubs across the Benelux region, with some participants travelling from as far as Hamburg. He noted that the event formed the third of four rounds in this season's Breagh Benelux Football Championships, with the final round scheduled for September.

The tournament concluded with an awards ceremony for the winning teams and individual award recipients, followed by an opportunity for players, volunteers and supporters to socialise and network.