Thurles is to become the host for the International Hurling Festival 2012 which will take place on Friday 13th July and Saturday 14th July 2012. The festival will coincide with the Munster Hurling Final weekend with the Munster Final being held on the Sunday 15th July. Players and fans from Ireland and all over the world will descend on Thurles for this weekend Festival.
The GAA, Thurles Sarsfields GAA Club, Shannon Development and other regional partnerships and bodies have organised the two day event to serve up a feast of hurling activity with clubs and teams competing for a range of cups and silverware culminating in the Munster GAA Senior Hurling Final on 15th July (venue TBC).
Speaking at the official launch of the event Liam Ó Néill of Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, said, “The International Hurling Festival of events scheduled will really add to what is always an exciting weekend for hurling enthusiasts, the occasion of the Munster Senior Hurling Final.” Liam went on to say, “It is hugely encouraging to see the number of clubs from our overseas network involved in the hurling festivities and I have no doubt that the organising committee, host club, Thurles Sarsfields and all the players and officials involved will derive massive satisfaction from an initiative which has the potential to occupy a place in our calendar on an annual basis. ”
John Enright, chairman of the organising committee said, “The festival is an effort by the Thurles Sarsfield club to aid the development of hurling as an international game while at the same time stimulating the local economy by attracting teams and visitors to the area. Hurling is unique to Ireland and has a huge largely un-tapped potential to boost tourism to our country in these difficult financial times.”
The European Hurling and Camogie Championships Finals will take place on Saturday 14th July. Teams from Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain amongst others will compete over the course of the day to become the 2012 European Champions. The festival will also showcase the International Camán Abú Tournament for Social And Recreational Hurling which just shows how hurling is diversifying and is encouraging more people to play it.
This festival should be a great success and a welcome boost to the Thurles economy. It is especially appropriate given that Thurles is the European Town of Sport 2012.
For a full list of events and more information visit thurlessarsfields.gaa.ie and justplay.gaa.ie.
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