It’s a landmark moment for Galway City Rapparees as the club prepares to compete in the Senior Men’s GAA Rounders Championship for the first time.
After securing the All-Ireland Intermediate title last September, the Rapparees now make the jump to the top tier, with their campaign beginning at home to Dublin side Limekiln on April 19th.
The club’s rise has been matched by recognition off the field. Ili Tuimauga was named an All-Star, while the club itself was honoured as Connacht GAA Rounders Club of the Year for 2025.
There’s a busy schedule ahead, with five Rapparees teams in action across Senior, Intermediate, and Junior grades, and close to 40 fixtures planned over the coming months. With mixed, men’s and women’s teams.
Locally, there’s also a unique Galway flavour to this year’s Junior Mixed Championship, with Rapparees, Athenry, and Clontuskert all drawn together in the same national group.
Club secretary Joe Naughton says the growth of the sport is clear to see:
“Rounders has grown massively over the last few years, especially here in Galway. There’s real excitement about stepping up to senior, but just as much about the local games and seeing more Galway teams competing at national level.
“We’d encourage anyone who might be thinking about getting back into sport to come along and give it a try.”
That opportunity comes soon, with the club hosting an Open Day on April 5th at 12pm in St Mary’s College, Galway City. The session is open to all, regardless of experience, and players can continue with their existing GAA clubs while playing rounders.
The club will also hold its annual awards night in Monroe’s on April 25th, celebrating a hugely successful period both on and off the pitch.
Galway Rapparees would like to thank Galway Sports Partnership for their continued support, as well as their main sponsors Kennys.ie — Galway’s own, bringing books, comics, and creativity to the world.
Further information is available on galwayrounders.com or via the club’s social media channels.
With a first season at senior level ahead, and participation continuing to grow, the Rapparees are entering a new phase — one that reflects both their progress and the wider momentum behind rounders in Galway.
