Gaelic Games Europe is delighted to welcome Brittany Ferries as a key travel partner ahead of the 2026 World GAA Games, with Ireland set to host a major international celebration of Gaelic games this July.
The World GAA Games will take place in Waterford from 13th to 17th July 2026, bringing together teams from across the globe in Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, ladies football and handball.
Europe will be the strongest represented international unit of the GAA at this year’s Games, sending 43 teams from a worldwide total of 111. That means European teams will make up 39% of all teams competing, underlining the remarkable growth of Gaelic games across the continent.
France will lead the European delegation with 17 teams, followed by Central East Europe and Iberia, each sending nine teams. A further six composite European teams will feature players selected from across multiple regions, while Benelux will be represented by two teams. Europe will also have a strong presence in handball, with three of the seven worldwide handball teams coming from the continent.
Official sponsors of Brittany GAA – Brittany Ferries
The partnership with Brittany Ferries comes at a particularly exciting time for Gaelic Games Europe, as clubs across France, Spain, Portugal and beyond prepare for a summer that will showcase both the competitive strength and the cultural reach of Gaelic games in Europe.
One of the people helping to build that momentum is Derry footballer Anton Tohill, who is taking part in Gaelic Games Europe’s International Player Exchange Programme. Tohill will spend two months in Iberia supporting clubs and schools across the region, travelling via Brittany Ferries to Bilbao before visiting Galicia, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Marbella, Porto and Lisbon. His work will include coaching through Spanish and engaging with players and communities ahead of the World GAA Games.
His journey also highlights the growing importance of Brittany Ferries’ Ireland–Spain connection. With direct sailings from Rosslare to Bilbao, the route offers a practical link between Ireland and one of Europe’s fastest-growing Gaelic games regions. For clubs in Galicia, Catalunya, Madrid, Valencia, Málaga and beyond, the connection is more than a travel option – it is a visible bridge between Irish sport and the communities now helping Gaelic games flourish across Iberia.
Tohill’s involvement follows the success of Armagh footballer Rory Grugan’s previous exchange to France, where he coached Gaelic football through the Irish language. Together, these initiatives reflect Gaelic Games Europe’s wider commitment to growing the games through coaching, cultural exchange and local-language development.
Speaking about the opportunity, Tohill said it would be “fantastic” to experience the culture of Spain while trying to make an impact through Gaelic football, adding that the growth of the game in places such as Galicia — where many players are local rather than Irish-born — is especially exciting.
That growth will be visible in Waterford this July. Iberia will send nine teams to the World GAA Games, with strong representation from Galicia, Catalunya and Team Iberia. Spain alone now has more than 1,100 registered Gaelic games players, reflecting the rapid development of the sport across the region and the strength of the links between Ireland and northern Spain.
France will also travel in significant numbers, with 17 teams representing Brittany, Gascony, Neustrie, Siroc, Alsace and the wider French Gaelic games community. With Brittany Ferries supporting two Gaelic football teams in Brittany, the partnership brings a natural connection between the growth of the games in France and the journey to Ireland.
Christophe Matthieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries, said:
“We are proud to support the GAA World Games and to assist teams travelling to Ireland to compete this summer, including those we are directly supporting from Brittany. Gaelic games are growing strongly across France and Spain, and as we sponsor two Gaelic football teams in Brittany it’s fantastic to see so many communities coming together through sport. We are delighted to help connect these teams with Ireland for what promises to be a fantastic international celebration of Gaelic games.”
For many teams and supporters, travelling by ferry offers a practical and more sustainable way to reach Ireland, with the flexibility to bring sports gear, luggage and equipment. Brittany Ferries’ Ireland–France and Ireland–Spain routes, including the direct Rosslare–Bilbao service, will provide an important link for teams and supporters making their way to Waterford.
The World GAA Games have become a flagship event for the international growth of Gaelic games, bringing together Irish-born players, non-Irish players, long-established clubs and emerging communities from around the world. For Gaelic Games Europe, the 2026 edition will be a landmark moment.
With 43 European teams preparing to travel, Europe’s presence in Waterford will be one of the clearest signs yet of how far Gaelic games have come on the continent — and how much further they can go.
