Up to 300 boys and girls from across Australia will participate at the Australasia Féile 2025 at Pat O’Hara Reserve, Perth this weekend, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March.
One of the largest youth Gaelic games tournaments outside of Ireland, it will see under-10 to under-17 players from five clubs/regions play in a two-day festival of games.
The Australasia Féile is modelled after Féile na nÓg, the annual youth Gaelic games tournament held in Ireland, and rite of passage for all Irish Gaelic games players. A core aim of Féile is to promote a philosophy where every player has the opportunity to participate, play and have fun.
In 2023, Féile came down under for the first time. Played in Adelaide, hundreds of children from across the country lined out, and an even larger cohort of players are expected in Perth this weekend.
Along with local clubs, Gaelic Games Junior Academy of WA and Na Fianna Catalpa, Brisbane Youths, Geelong Gaels Grasshoppers and Young Melbourne will make the journey west for 2025 edition. It’s a massive organisational effort, which GAA in WA President, Morgan O’Shea acknowledges:
“Féile would not be the same without the participation of teams from our other state Gaelic games bodies and we are cognisant of the efforts and sacrifices everyone has made to travel to our beautiful state and city.”
“I want to extend a warm welcome to all the teams and supporters from across Australia who will make the journey to Perth for this fantastic event”, says Morgan.
Victoria (right) and South Australia boys at the inaugural Australasia Féile in Adelaide, March 2023
Leading the WA with youth Gaelic games
Hosting these games is the latest milestone for youth Gaelic games in WA, who have led the charge with youth development in Australasia. 2012 was a landmark year for GAA in WA with the creation of the Gaelic Games Junior Academy of WA, aimed at promoting Gaelic games to children aged 4 to 12.
“This academy was the first of its kind in Australasia and has served as a model for other states, such as South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and across the Tasman in New Zealand, in developing their own youth programmes”, says GAA in WA Vice-President and newly minted Australasia Gaelic Games Youth Officer, Tom Murphy.
“The academy has been a huge success with numbers growing year on year. With the addition of Na Fianna Catalpa Youths in recent years, the youth structure in the state is up there with the best in Australasia.”
And one indicator of this success have been recent ventures overseas. In 2019, the junior academy made history by becoming the first Australasia team to compete at Féile Peile na nÓg in Ireland. The team recorded some great wins against strong Irish opposition, making it all the way to the semi-finals. A remarkable achievement against experienced players.
July 2024 saw WA players form the spine of the first Australasia team who attended Féile in Mayo, and went on a whistlestop tour around Ireland playing local teams.
Of course, while success and overseas trips are welcome, participation is paramount for these up-and-coming players.
And all involved in Gaelic games in Australasia are excited to see our young players compete in what promises to be a great event, highlighting the growing popularity and development of youth Gaelic games in Australasia.
Thanks to the DFA Global Games Development Fund, the WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and tournament sponsors Pipeline Technics, Eco Civils and PCH Civil and A1 Engineering for their tremendous support of Féile 2025.
Stay up to date with the tournament.
Tournament info – Australasia Féile 2025
