Rome Hibernia GAA hosted Annaghdown GAA last weekend as part of Round 2 of the 2026 Rome Spring Series, welcoming a travelling party of 41 players made up of 19 ladies and 22 men to the Eternal City.
Annaghdown GAA, a proud dual club fielding both men’s and ladies’ teams since 1887, marked another milestone with the visit, which represented the third edition of the club’s European tour.
Having travelled to Cologne Celtics GAA in Germany over the previous two years, Annaghdown’s trip to Rome continued a growing tradition of overseas engagement and cultural exchange within the GAA community.
The Rome Spring Series is a five-week run of friendly fixtures designed to bring clubs from across Europe to face Rome Hibernia GAA, with a different opponent each week. Running across January, February, and early March, the series will see ten visiting clubs from six countries make the journey to Rome.
Each round is a standalone fixture, giving every team their own dedicated match weekend with no tournament pressure, no major organisational demands, and minimal overlap with other clubs.
Speaking after the weekend’s games, Rome Hibernia GAA Chairperson Gianni Goretti highlighted Annaghdown’s role in the creation of the series.
“Annaghdown really inspired the Rome Spring Series. They were the first club to reach out and express interest, and from there everything just skyrocketed. Once the idea was out there, other teams started getting in touch almost immediately, and suddenly we had clubs from across Europe keen to come to Rome.
“That initial conversation with Annaghdown helped turn a simple idea into something special’.”
The Spring Series is designed to offer exactly what the off-season should be: plenty of football and hurling valuable match practice, and an opportunity for visiting teams to enjoy a weekend away together. The format allows clubs to arrive, play, and experience Rome without the pressures typically associated with tournaments.
The Rome Spring Series continues over the coming weeks as Rome Hibernia GAA welcome further visiting clubs from across Europe, strengthening connections within the international GAA community and reinforcing Rome’s place on the European GAA calendar.
Rome Hibernia GAA caters to men’s and ladies’ Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie, and competes in the Central–East Region of Gaelic Games Europe.The club has gained international recognition, particularly within Irish media, following a historic audience with Pope Francis during which the club presented an O’Neills football as a symbol of heritage and goodwill.
In recent years, the club has participated in a range of exhibitions, demonstrations, and cultural initiatives, including collaborations with the Irish Embassy to the Holy See and Gaelic Games Europe to showcase Gaelic Games during the “Jubilee of Sport” in Rome. In 2025, these efforts included the presentation of a customised Rome Hibernia GAA jersey for the Jubilee to Pope Leo XIV.
The club continues to expand its sporting and cultural presence, with members selected to represent Italy at the 2026 GAA World Games in Waterford. Through its athletic achievements, community programmes, and international outreach, Rome Hibernia GAA stands as a distinguished ambassador for Irish sport and culture in the heart of the Eternal City.
