GAA World Games: International teams parade in Derry

Teams from Australia, Canada and the Middle East are taking part in the GAA World Games

Teams from across the globe have descended on the north west for the first GAA World Games since the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 1,500 players from 93 teams will be taking part in the four-day sporting event.

Teams from Australia, Argentina, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East are taking part.

A team parade made its way through Londonderry on Monday evening before the first throw-in.

Games will be played at Owenbeg, near Dungiven, with the finals taking place at Celtic Park in Derry.

Teams from across the globe will compete in games across the four codes - hurling, men's football, women's football and camogie.

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Ronan Sheehan is the chairperson of Cáirde Khmer GAA club, which was set up in Cambodia in 2017.

"What started as maybe five or six Irish ex-pats has no turned into 50-plus Cambodians playing GAA," he said.

Phanouch Touch from Cambodia says GAA is 'a beautiful sport'

"You can go to Kilkenny and you won't find them kicking a football. So for us to get it going in Cambodia is a bit surreal."

Phanouch Touch has been playing GAA in Cambodia for five years.

"It's good for me to keep fit, make friends and, at the same time, play a beautiful sport," he said.

"Coming to Ireland to play home games and meet all the local people here is amazing for me."

The competition has previously been held in Dubai, Dublin and Waterford.

Members of France's GAA team were among those in the parade on Monday evening

Speaking to the BBC's The North West Today, spokesman Micky Quigg said organisers of the FRS Recruitment 2023 GAA World Games were very excited to host the competition in Derry for the first time.

"There's a real excitement to get this back up and running because this is the first time we have had the games since Covid-19," he added.

Mr Quigg said Derry was hosting the largest number of teams ever to have taken part in the competition.

"The teams are split into two competitions - the international competition is for native teams, for players in teams born and raised in the likes of Canada and Australia, then the open section is for Irish expats," he said.

Bagpipers led the parade of teams through Derry

"The international teams are actually being paired with a local club and the local club will put on a social and cultural evening for them on Tuesday night."

There would be music and refreshments and Tuesday's event "will help in creating lasting friendships", Mr Quigg predicted.

Admission is free to the festival of games in both Owenbeg and Celtic Park.

The BBC Gaeilge sport programme Ón Taobhlíne will be broadcasting live on Monday evening from the Opening Ceremony of the GAA World Games.

You can listen live on BBC Radio Foyle, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds.