Derry city is primed and ready to welcome the fourth - and largest, instalment of the eagerly anticipated 2023 FRS Recruitment GAA World Games. The city centre will be awash with colour, energy, excitement, and a tangibly electric atmosphere will be bubbling when all 93 teams march from Bishops Gate, down Shipquay Street finishing up in Guildhall Square for the opening ceremony.
A big screen will be in place in Guildhall Square, where members of the public will be able to view the spectacle while still soaking up the atmosphere.
The parade itself will kick-off at 6.30pm, and all members of the public are warmly invited to observe from the streets, to give our visiting athletes, many of whom will be visiting Ireland for the first time, the incredible Derry welcome they deserve. They will be joined by juvenile members of their "twinning" partners - Derry GAA, LGFA and Camogie clubs, with whom they will share a special cultural evening throughout the week in almost every club in the county.
The Colmcille Pipe band will accompany the athletes as they proudly make their way through the heart of the city and ensure that the 2023 FRS Recruitment GAA World Games opens in emphatic fashion. The people of Derry are actively encouraged to come out in force to create a vibrant ambiance throughout the city, and to help deliver a memorable and stunning visual spectacle.
Once the entourage arrives in Guildhall square, there will be a wide variety of entertainment on offer on stage for the remainder of the evening - combined with important ceremonial activities to officially launch the Games for 2023.
Gemma Bradley from Radio 1 will be the MC for the event, where she will welcome ‘Four Men and a Dog’, Ulster University traditional band ‘Brosna’, as well as the North West Carnival Samba band.
The 2023 FRS Recruitment GAA World Games will involve some 93 teams across the four codes of Gaelic Football, Ladies' Football, Hurling & Camogie descending on Owenbeg to earn the right to take the field in Celtic Park on finals day on July 28th. Teams are divided into two divisions – International and Open. For the first time ever, the majority (over 70%) of players will be international.
With the vast majority of Derry clubs involved, everyone in the Oakleaf County is encouraged to take part and help make this a truly memorable and historic event, with a community-led feel throughout. It's a unique opportunity to put Derry on the map and create an iconic experience for the thousands of visitors from all over the world that they will cherish for a long time to come.
The GAA has moved beyond catering only for the community in Ireland. It has spearheaded the creation of a far-reaching, passionate, diverse affinity that lives within people from radically varying backgrounds – boasting over 500 GAA clubs worldwide. This July in Derry, we celebrate that growth, that sense of community, and the pride that comes with it. This is the FRS GAA World Games for 2023. Be part of it.
