Chris Hazzard, the Sinn Féin Member of Parliament for South Down in the north of Ireland, led a delegation from two local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs in his constituency to visit China in March.
Local newspaper The Down Recorder said it was “a cultural exchange visit which has been described as ‘an experience they will cherish forever’”, adding: “Members of Drumaness GAC and St John’s GAC are now back home following a very special St Patrick’s [Day] cultural exchange visit to the Far East.”
The delegation included 30 players, coaches and officials from the two clubs and Hazzard, who is also a Drumaness GAC member, “said it was a ‘fantastic privilege’ to lead a delegation of Down Gaels to showcase the very best of what the GAA has to offer across China.
“He said from Huangshi and Wuhan in the… province of Hubei, and finishing off in the megacity of Beijing, the delegation visited schools, universities, Chinese civic society organisations and various cultural and sporting clubs.
“‘The delegation also visited some of China’s national sporting facilities, including the iconic ‘bird’s nest stadium’ in Beijing and the National Ping Pong Training Centre where we were put through our paces by the next generation of Olympic champions.’”
He thanked all the individuals and organisations who helped make the delegation possible, including the Confucius Institute at Ulster University, Down GAA County Board, Beijing GAA, the AJC Group, JJ Donnelly Menswear and the Breedon Construction Group.
Drumaness GAC chairperson Damien McEvoy said: “We were completely blown away by the hospitality, kindness and generosity of the Chinese students, teachers and organisations we met throughout China during our visit. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m especially delighted a great group of young people from Co Down were able to have such an extraordinary experience.”
St John’s GAC chairperson Mary Boyle described the trip as a “fantastic opportunity” for club members to profile everything that is good about the GAA and “our community, games and culture to inquisitive minds more than 5,000 miles away in China. From putting on GAA training for school pupils in Hubei, playing Beijing GAC under the lights in China’s capital, to climbing the Great Wall with new friends from Drumaness GAC, this was truly an amazing experience that we will cherish forever.”
The following article was originally published in the Down Recorder. You can also follow the delegation’s progress around China on the Facebook pages of Chris Hazzard MP, St Johns GAA and Naomh Cholmaín Droím an Easa Drumaness GAC.
A delegation from two local GAA clubs travelled to China recently for a cultural exchange visit which has been described as “an experience they will cherish forever”.
Members of Drumaness GAC and St John’s GAC are now back home following a very special St Patrick’s cultural exchange visit to the Far East.
The delegation was led by Drumaness GAC member and South Down MP Chris Hazzard and included 30 players, coaches and officials from the two local clubs.
Mr Hazzard said it was a “fantastic privilege” to lead a delegation of Down gaels to showcase the very best of what the GAA has to offer across China.
He said from Huangshi and Wuhan in the rural province of Hubei, and finishing off in the megacity of Beijing, the delegation visited schools, universities, Chinese civic society organisations and various cultural and sporting clubs.
“The delegation also visited some of China’s national sporting facilities, including the iconic ‘bird’s nest stadium’ in Beijing and the National Ping Pong Training Centre where we were put through our paces by the next generation of Olympic champions,” he said.
“In their meticulous planning and delivery of GAA training sessions, the delegates from Drumaness and St John’s were a real credit to their clubs, county and country.”
The MP has thanked all the individuals and organisations who helped make the delegation possible, including the Confucius Institute at Ulster University, Down GAA County Board, Beijing GAA, the AJC Group, JJ Donnelly Menswear and the Breedon Construction Group.
Drumaness GAC chairperson Damien McEvoy said it was “such a privilege” to travel to China to promote the skills, ethos and values of the GAA “and share what it means to our community here in Ireland”.
He continued: “We were completely blown away by the hospitality, kindness and generosity of the Chinese students, teachers and organisations we met throughout China during our visit.
“It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m especially delighted a great group of young people from Co Down were able to have such an extraordinary experience.
“I have no doubt it will help broaden their horizons as they continue on with their studies and plot out their careers in the years ahead.”
Damien added: “A huge thank you to everybody who made this unforgettable trip possible from everybody at Drumaness GAC.”
St John’s GAC chairperson Mary Boyle described the trip as a “fantastic opportunity” for club members to profile everything that is good about the GAA and “our community, games and culture to inquisitive minds more than 5,000 miles away in China”.
She continued: “Crucially, the visit also gave our members the opportunity to experience Chinese culture and traditions. It was a truly unique exchange that will stay with us forever.
“From putting on GAA training for school pupils in Hubei, playing Beijing GAC under the lights in China’s capital, to climbing the Great Wall with new friends from Drumaness GAC, this was truly an amazing experience that we will cherish forever.”
Mary added: “We are extremely grateful to the Confucius Institute at Ulster University and local MP Chris Hazzard for extending an invite to our members to participate in this truly unforgettable delegation.”
I am from Vancouver,Canada and i want to say Northern Ireland and China got similar problems and the same enemy. China is helping to solve problems in all parts of the world. The people in Latin America and Africa can vouch for that. A Multi-Polar world is beginning to take shape.