Clare hurling and camogie stars are welcoming the decision to include the sports on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List.
Both sports have achieved the protected status, with focus now turning to international awareness of the games.
In October, a delegation from the GAA travelled to Paris to secure protected status for hurling and camogie.
That has now paid off, with today’s announcement seeing the games join Uileann Piping on the UNESCO list of protected Irish cultural activities.
The organisation has hailed it as ‘dating back 2,000 years and featuring strongly in Irish mythology, most notably in the epic saga of Cú Chulainn.’
Newmarket-on-Fergus and Clare camogie star Carol O’Leary feels today is an important step in helping hurling and camogie reach every child on this island.
The government will now commit to protecting the games and raising awareness of their importance overseas.
UNESCO’s ongoing gathering in Mauritius, where the announcement has been made to international delegates, is seen as the beginning of that movement.
Former All Ireland and All Star winning Clare hurler Jamesie O’Connor says it can play an important part of our tourism product going forward.
