View all upcoming events and club activities in our club calendar.

We're back training on Monday 30 January at Ian Galloway Park. You can find the full training schedule leading up to champs on our club calendar. A reminder that the New Zealand Championships will take place at Hamilton Marist RFC in Hamilton on the weekend of March 25/26. If you haven't done so already, now's a good time to look into flights/travel to Hamilton.
 

The first gameweek of our post-Christmas socials was cancelled due to last Wednesday's wet and windy weather. So we'll go again this Wednesday at Ian Galloway Park. Fixtures can be found through the link below.

Our post-Christmas finals day will take place on Saturday 11 February at Ian Galloway Park. We'll have our prizegiving that evening. Details are to be confirmed.

 

Who doesn't love a good sports day? Come over to Ian Galloway Park this Saturday 21 January for classic sports day activities, including a sack race, a three-legged race, tug o' war, a poc fada, and loads more! You bring your chilly bins with refreshments and we'll provide the craic!
 

 Three-legged race at the 2020 Sports Day.
 

After a two-year hiatus, compromise rules is back. Two teams will be made up between our women's footballers and Wellington AFL's women's players. Throw-in is at 11am on Saturday 28 January at Ian Galloway Park. Wellington AFL will also be hosting a sausage sizzle and a cake sale. So bring your friends, family and partners for support and stay for a post-match drink.
 

A gathering of people from the 32 counties of Ireland will take place at the Recreation Grounds in Queenstown on Saturday 28 January. Seven of our members will be representing their respective counties at the gathering: Keith Cleere, Wexford; Kate Coyle, Roscommon; Dan Doyle, Carlow; Peter Hayes, Tipperary; John McCabe, Cavan; Eoghan Rutledge, Dublin; and Ivan Ward, Cork.

Following the gathering, the traditional Lindis Pass Cup game between Queenstown and Cantebury will take place with our aformentioned players lining out on both sides. Best of luck to everyone travelling south for the gathering and the game. It's sure to be a great occasion. 

The rescheduled final game of the Morning Star Cup will throw in at the socials finals day at Ian Galloway Park on Saturday 11 February. Kāpiti Kōwhai and Wellington Kākāriki head into the final game with a win each. Kōwhai took game one of the series with a six-point win over Kākāriki at Ian Galloway on Friday 11 November. However, Kākāriki kept the series alive after a dominant 13-point win on Friday 25 November.

On Wednesday 28 December, festive indulgences were sweated off at a game between Maryland GAA and a Wellington/Hutt Valley legends team, held to celebrate the life of Eoin (Eoinie) Farrell who served both clubs with distinction. 

Played at TUS Midlands Sports campus, Athlone, it was a lively game throughout. Many of our players hadn't graced the field together in some time – or at all –, but they showed some early promise to take the lead. However, the hosts took command in the second half and strolled to a six-point win (2-19 to 4-7).

Huge thanks to Eoinie's close friend and ex-Wellington/Hutt Valley player John Murray for playing a big part in making the day happen and for coordinating our players for the match.

A big thank you also to former club President Eoghan O'Leary who organised presentations to Maryland GAA and to Eoinie's dad Tom. Big shout out to Siobhán Cotter for making sure a set of Wellington/Hutt Valley jerseys made the trip home and were available for the game.

Eoinie was a key member of our club during his time here in Wellington between 2011 and 2014. He left a massive impression on all he met and indeed the club as a whole. It is a credit to his memory that both teams had a large turnout of players and supporters.

Clockwise from top left: past and present Wellington/Hutt Valley players and Maryland players after the game; former club President Eoghan O'Leary (right) presenting a picture of Eoinie during his time at the club to Eoinie's dad Tom; (L-R) Maryland GAA Chairman, Tom Egan, Eoghan O'Leary, and Maryland GAA Secretary, Lee Moran exchanging pennants and commemorative trophies; the Wellington/Hutt Valley legends team before the game.
 

Kids Gaelic games return to the Kāpiti Coast and Lower Hutt after a Christmas break. Up the coast, Donal Kavanagh is leading the charge and sessions will be on Mondays, starting on 30 January. More details can be found on the Kāpiti Kids Gaelic Football Facebook page.

Lower Hutt-based sessions will start at Trafalgar Park from Sunday 12 February and will run for five weeks until Sunday 12 March. Keep an eye on the Kids GAA Wellington Facebook page for updates. 

Plans are also afoot to have all kids represented at the Wellington St Patrick's Day parade (details to come).

Our annual golf tournament is scheduled for Saturday 4 March at Manor Park Golf Sanctuary. We'll have more details leading up to the tournament, so mark it in your calendars for now.  

Over 50+ revellers – including many of our players and members – enjoyed Christmas day at the Wellington Irish community's spiritual home of 'The Treehouse'. A traditional Christmas-morning swim at Lyall Bay was followed by a smorgasbord of food and drink, music, and all-round great craic at what is now an established festive tradition for Irish expats in Wellington. Kudos to Treehouse hosts, including our own Cara Horisk, Jessica Walsh, and Ronan O'Malley.
 

 Christmas-morning swim at Lyall Bay.
 

This month, club member and Leitrim native Niall Heeran is running 50 miles (~80km) to raise funds for the GAA and the LGFA in his beloved home county. Last year, the 50 Miles Challenge saw Leitrim-ites(?) raise €176,000, smashing their €100k target. Halfway through January 2023, they have raised €50k. So go on, show your support to Niall and 'Lovely Leitrim' by donating through the link below. A boy, Niall.