The Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, has announced a €500,000 grant to support the development of the Lancashire GAA Centre of Excellence at Broughton Park in Manchester.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Manchester City Council, and Broughton Park Rugby Club have partnered to deliver the state-of-the-art redevelopment. The project will establish a primary focal point for Gaelic Games in Northern Britain, supporting the year-on-year growth in player numbers across schools, clubs, and universities throughout the region.

Speaking ahead of the Northern Community Gaelic Games taking place at Broughton Park this weekend, Minister Richmond said: "I am delighted to announce a grant of €500,000 from the government's Emigrant Support Programme to the GAA for the development of a Centre of Excellence at Lancashire GAA. I had the honour of turning the sod on this major development last June when I visited for the 2025 Northern Community Gaelic Games. Our funding for this flagship project will support the GAA in providing a state of the art facility for Gaelic Games in the region and a new hub for the Irish community in the region for many years to come.

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"I have seen the central key role the global GAA network plays as a sporting community and social touch point for many of our diaspora abroad. Partnering on flagship projects like Broughton Park aligns with priorities set out in the Government's Diaspora Strategy and International Sports Diplomacy Strategy."

He added: "I look forward to welcoming the 2,000 players from more than 100 overseas GAA teams to Waterford next month for the GAA World Games."

GAA President Jarlath Burns welcomed the investment, stating: "The official opening of the new GAA facilities at Broughton Park in Manchester is another glorious chapter in the success story that is World GAA. We are enormously grateful for the support and assistance that we receive from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and it is a partnership that has allowed our network of international clubs to continue to be community hubs for our Diaspora.

"Next year the GAA's Provincial Council of Britain will celebrate its centenary. It will mark the occasion confidently looking to the future thanks to developments such as Broughton Park. It recognises the legions of Irish men and women who played our national games and celebrated our culture over many decades and will enable current and future generations to do the same."

Founded in 1926, Lancashire GAA oversees 12 clubs with participants ranging from nursery age to adult senior level, all of whom will utilize the facility weekly. To launch the new Centre of Excellence, the 2026 Northern Community Gaelic Games are being held on 12–13 June, with 60 school teams and 115 club teams scheduled to compete.