Sport
14 November, 2025
Games nurture Gaelic spirit
CLUB from across Australia are converging on Cairns for the seventh edition of the Australasia Regional Gaelic Games on Saturday 15 November.
The seven-a-side Gaelic football tournament at Watson’s Oval, Manunda will combine competitive sport with a festival of Irish culture.
Last season, visiting teams include Flinders O’Neills (SA), Geelong Gaels, Gold Coast Gaels, Na Fianna Catalpa (WA) and Young Melbourne (VIC).
They competed alongside local sides Townsville Wolfhounds, Four Mile (Port Douglas) and hosts Cairns Chieftains, a club quickly establishing itself in the region with a focus on fostering Gaelic games in North Queensland.
Held annually since 2017, the tournament caters to the growing number of men’s and women’s teams in regional areas, including squads with mostly non-Irish-born players, reflecting the sport’s expanding appeal across Australia.
Cairns Mayor Cr Amy Eden and Member for Cairns Michael Healy MP are confirmed to attend and will officially welcome the teams and spectators.
Australasia Regional Gaelic Games president Tom Burke said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to bring the regional games to Cairns for the first time.”
“The growth of Gaelic football in regional Australia has been phenomenal and this tournament is a fantastic showcase of that,” he said.
“We look forward to a day of fierce competition and great camaraderie.”
Secretary Sean Garvey said the club was “looking forward to welcoming everyone to beautiful North Queensland for another thrilling day of Gaelic football and a festival of Irish culture in Australia”.
“We are particularly excited to see the continuing increase in local AFL players getting involved, as the skills are so transferable.”
The tournament promises a day of celebration, showcasing sport, culture and the strong ties that bind the Irish community in Australia.
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