Irish GAA stars launch Uganda’s first handball alley and kickstart planting of one million trees

A group of 30 inter-county players, including Limerick's David Reidy, Mayo's James Carr, Cork's Saoirse McCarthy, and Galway's Connor Gleeson are in Uganda as part of the Plant the Planet project

Members of the Simba Wolfhounds GAA Club from Jinja, eastern Uganda, at the opening of the country’s first every handball alley. 

Irish GAA heroes touched down in Uganda this week to open the country's first handball alley, and to kickstart the planting of one million trees as part of a massive climate action mission.

The group of 30 top inter-county players - most holders of All-Ireland medals and All-Stars across hurling, camogie and Gaelic football - are in Uganda as part of the ambitious Plant the Planet project, a partnership between Self Help Africa, the Gaelic Players Association, and Warriors for Humanity. The initiative tackles climate change head-on while boosting food security for thousands of vulnerable families suffering because of the climate crisis.

Led by former Galway dual star, Alan Kerins, Plant the Planet has seen 160 GAA players raise €1.7 million and plant a staggering three million trees across Africa since it first started four years ago. Another million trees will be planted in the coming weeks. This year, for the first time, the project has branched out from Kenya into Uganda.

Among the travelling squad are Limerick’s five-time All-Ireland winner David Reidy, Mayo sharpshooter James Carr, Cork Camogie All-Star Saoirse McCarthy, and Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson. Throughout the week, the players will roll up their sleeves and work with Ugandan communities to plant trees and hit the huge one-million-tree target.

According to Alan Kerins the impact of the mission goes far beyond environmental benefits: “Every tree planted represents a livelihood. Families and schools who receive the trees will own them, and they’ll help farmers grow themselves out of poverty. Sport unites people across cultures, and this trip shows what can happen when everyone pulls together for a shared goal.” 

Mairead Cogan from Sligo; Alan Kerins former Galway dual GAA player and founder of Warriors for Humanity and Plant the Planet; Martin Mulkerrins World Handball champion from Galway; Ollie Fahy Musician; Aoife Ni Cheallaigh, Galway ladies footballer; David Reidy, Limerick All-Ireland medal holder and Ronan Scully, Self Help Africa, planting trees in Jinja, eastern Uganda.

One of the standout moments of the visit so far was the official opening of Uganda’s first one-wall handball alley in Jinja. The ceremony drew members of the GAA delegation, Irish handball stars Martin Mulkerrins and Eilish Owens, and legendary Kenyan-based Irish missionary Brother Colm, famed as the "Godfather of Kenyan running” for coaching Olympic champions.

The new alley is phase one of a major community sport and cultural hub being developed by Simba Wolfhounds, Africa’s only officially registered GAA club. Founded by Galway man John Walsh, the club now works with over 1,000 children across Jinja, giving them access to Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, and now handball. Walsh said the opening of the handball alley is phase one of a multi-use sports centre which will be equipped with a projector and sound system transforming it into an outdoor cinema and gathering space for the community.

On a visit to the new sporting facility, Ireland’s Ambassador to Uganda, Mags Gaynor, said the handball alley will deepen the mutual friendship and partnership between the two countries.

“Sport is a powerful bridge between Ireland and Uganda. This handball alley will be a shared space where people learn, connect and build friendships that cross borders. The visit of these top GAA players is an exciting milestone, and it’s wonderful to see such a thriving GAA community emerging here.” 

Former world handball medallist Martin Mulkerrins, now head coach at Texas A&M University, helped spark the vision for the handball project which, he says, has the potential to unlock huge opportunities for young Ugandans.

“More and more US universities are offering handball scholarships every year. There’s no reason young Ugandans can’t access these pathways if we build the right structures.” 

This week Mulkerrins will train local coaches to ensure the sport takes root.

Another highlight of the trip was the All-Star men’s and women’s match played on Ugandan soil against local players at Empower International Academy in Mpigi District, a historic first.

Each GAA player on the trip raised €10,000 to support the tree planting project and helping Self Help Africa’s climate-smart farming, conservation and community projects.

Galway Ladies footballer Andrea Trill called the experience “life changing”.

“The trees we’re planting will restore land, stop soil erosion, and help families build lasting sources of food and income. It’s powerful to know this work will benefit generations.”