GAA World Games a resounding success for Waterford city

Thousands descended on Waterford last week for the 2026 GAA World Games, held in Waterford's SETU Arena.

Bringing over 2,000 players from 113 international teams, as well as their coaches, families, officials and supporters, this year's games were a resounding success for World GAA and Waterford.

This year's event created a record for the most teams travelling from across the globe to compete, with entry numbers roughly 20% higher than the last World Games, held in Derry three years ago.

Dooley's Hotel hosted a number of international teams during the tournament, including the Canadian LFGA team, the Mexican team, Middle Eastern team, Canada/Quebec team and a handful of members from both the Paraguay team and Éire Óg teams, alongside a host of spectators and fans.

Cian Holden from Dooley's Hotel media and marketing team told the Waterford News and Star it wasn't only through hotel bookings that the hotel benefitted from the games, saying: "Business would be good with people coming in, especially in the evening time. Especially on Monday, with people coming in after the parade, there was a good crowd coming in for food and that."

The crowds weren't only felt in the hotel but across the city: "There would be more around, especially after the games ended; people were all ending up in town, it seemed."

The Viking Hotel Waterford also hosted some international players, saying on Facebook: "It was a real pleasure for all of us at the Viking Hotel Waterford to welcome and host some of the visiting teams during the week. Seeing people from across the globe come together through the GAA is a reminder of what an amazing community it is, creating lifelong friendships and connections that reach far beyond the playing field.

"The event was a fantastic showcase of everything Waterford has to offer and with the glorious sunshine all week it couldn't have been a better backdrop."

During the event Susan Keaney, Killygarry native and manager of the New York Camogie team, told The News and Star she was having a great time, saying: "10 out of 10 for whoever has been organising it in Waterford, all the facilities have been fantastic. The food and everything has been great."

Susan and the rest of the women on the New York Camogie team stayed at the Woodlands Estate Hotel, which they said was great and had food that looked fantastic, even if they hadn't had much of a chance to try any.

Here for their very first World Games, and for many of the team, a first trip to Ireland, they enjoyed a light shopping spree in Waterford City on Thursday afternoon before their big win in Friday's final.