Former Liam Mellows hurler and Salthill-Knocknacarra footballer Mark Barrett will represent Italy at the GAA World Games in Waterford this July.
Italy will send two teams made up of players from Rome and Milan to the GAA World Games, competing in both the International category and the Open category. Barrett, despite continuing to play both football and hurling, has been selected for the Italian GAA football team competing in the Open category for Irish-born players at the tournament.
Barrett has played for Italian side Rome Hibernia GAA for the past two years. He juggles his day job as a primary school teacher in Rome with being heavily involved in the club’s thriving youth programme. The Salthill native leads coaching sessions and helps to develop the next generation of Gaelic football and hurling players in Rome. The programme gives children the opportunity to learn the skills of Gaelic games in a fun, inclusive and supportive environment.
The Galway man will fly back home to compete for Italy at the five-day GAA festival between July 13 and July 17. The World Games will see 2,000 players and support staff descend on SETU Waterford. The event will open with a parade to John Roberts Square and opening ceremony on Monday, July 13. The finals are down for decision at Walsh Park on Thursday, July 16, with the closing ceremony on Friday, July 17 in the iconic Apple Market.
The World Games is a triennial festival of Gaelic games attended by teams from all over the world. This year’s event will be the largest on record, with 114 teams confirmed, including squads from Europe, the United States, Africa, South America, Canada, Britain, Australasia, Asia and the Middle East.
