Children from war-torn Gaza arrive in Ireland to play football

Photo: Gaza Action Ireland

Gaza Action Ireland (GAI) have brought a group of children, aged between nine and fourteen, from the Al Helal Football Academy to Ireland for the second year in a row. Last year, children from the Academy came to Ireland to play football and charmed everyone they met, including President Michael D. Higgins. Commenting on the trip, GAI coordinator Zoë Lawlor explained that the team will play football all over the country:

"As the trip was such an uplifting, joyous experience, we are doing it all again this year."

The children, who all hail from Al Helal in Gaza City, are due to arrive in Dublin early tomorrow morning and will play matches in Dublin, Leitrim, Kinvara, Cork and Limerick. Their arrival has been delayed due to ongoing problems with travel permits, but a GAI representative says the team are now firmly on their way and in winning form:

"I thought we'd have to cancel their matches... So I asked and the response was: we are very eager to play right away and we will win!"