Northern Ireland

William and Kate first royals to visit a GAA club

The Duke of Cambridge tries his hand at hurling as part of his visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club in Galway yesterday. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA Wire
The Duke of Cambridge tries his hand at hurling as part of his visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club in Galway yesterday. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA Wire The Duke of Cambridge tries his hand at hurling as part of his visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club in Galway yesterday. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA Wire

WILLIAM and Kate yesterday became the first members of the British royal family to ever visit a GAA club.

The popular couple spent the final day of a three-day visit to Ireland enjoying a host of activities in Galway, including visiting Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club.

During the visit, the pair took part in training drills and a hurling shoot out with young members of the club.

Despite a troublesome start, both managed to finally hit the sliotar, each eventually scoring a goal.

The visit to the club was seen as a hugely symbolic move by the royal family's most popular members.

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire.
The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire. The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

Ten-year-old Fionn Molloy thought the duchess, a former hockey player, had a future in the game.

He said: "It was cool playing with them, I think Kate was better, she had powerful shots."

Speaking about the visit, club secretary Conor McGauran said: "Symbolically it's a massive deal for us. The royals have never set foot in a GAA club before. They're doing it in our club in Galway and in Salthill and Knocknacarra today. It's hugely emotional for us.

"It's history being made. Plain and simple. People have been in Croke Park before but they've never been in a GAA club before and I think it's a massive indication from the royal family about their hopes and intentions to connect even further with the community of Ireland, not just parts of Ireland or the hierarchy," he said.

The Duchess of Cambridge tries her hand at hurling as part of her visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club in Galway. Picture: Aaron Chown PA Wire
The Duchess of Cambridge tries her hand at hurling as part of her visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club in Galway. Picture: Aaron Chown PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge tries her hand at hurling as part of her visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club in Galway. Picture: Aaron Chown PA Wire

"This is more than just symbolic, this is them playing our national sport, this is them getting involved in a community-based organisation that's completely run by volunteerism, so to me it's a huge message of support for Irish-British relations."

Earlier in the day, the pair - whose arrival in Galway from Dublin by helicopter had been delayed for more than one hour because of fog - were given a preview of some of the arts and entertainment being featured during Galway's year as the European Capital of Culture.

During the visit, William showed off his juggling skills.

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic of Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 5, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Cambridge. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.
The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic of Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 5, 2020. See PA story ROYAL C The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic of Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 5, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Cambridge. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

Having put in a good performance with three balls, a fourth proved too much of a challenge with the duke responding: "I think I'll just stick with three".

They also visited Tig Coili, a family-owned, traditional Irish pub in Galway city centre, where they will meet local Galwegians who volunteer to promote the city and its people.

Outside, the couple enjoyed a walkabout, meeting members of the public gathered nearby.

The couple's public engagements in Galway came a day after William said he was optimistic a "shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous future" would ensure the "precious bond" between the Irish and the British was not broken.

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic of Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 5, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Cambridge. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.
The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic of Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 5, 2020. See PA story ROYAL C The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic of Ireland. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 5, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Cambridge. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.

Speaking at the Museum of Literature Ireland, at an event hosted by the Tánaiste Simon Coveney, William called on the UK and Ireland to work to maintain the bonds of friendship post-Brexit.

He told those gathered that "legal treaties are vital in underpinning the relationships between states" but "relationships between people are equally, if not more essential - especially between the people of our two countries, whose lives, histories and futures are so deeply intertwined.

"I am confident that friendship, understanding and a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous future will ensure that the unique and precious bond between our people is not broken," he said.

The duke also urged the UK and Ireland not to be "bound" by the wrongs of the past.