Teams from around the world have arrived in Derry for the first GAA World Games since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Over 1,500 players from 93 teams are taking part in the four-day sporting event.
Teams from Canada, Asia, Middle East, Australia, Argentina and Europe are taking part.
A team parade made its way through Derry city centre on Monday evening before the first throw-in.
Games will be played at Owenbeg, near Dungiven, with the finals taking place at Celtic Park in Derry.
Teams from across the globe will compete in games across the four codes – hurling, men’s football, women’s football and camogie.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane, Councillor Patricia Logue, greeted the teams at the Guildhall on Monday evening following a parade through the city centre.
She tweeted: “What an amazing atmosphere at the 2023 World GAA Games parade and opening ceremony in Guildhall Square! ❤️
“Good luck to all the teams, make memories to last a lifetime!”
Speaking to the BBC’s The North West Today programme on Radio Foyle, spokesman Micky Quigg said organisers of the FRS Recruitment 2023 GAA World Games were very excited to host the competition in Derry for the first time.
“There’s a real excitement to get this back up and running because this is the first time we have had the games since Covid-19.”
Mr Quigg said Derry was hosting the largest number of teams ever to have taken part in the competition.
“The teams are split into two competitions – the international competition is for native teams, for players in teams born and raised in the likes of Canada and Australia, then the open section is for Irish expats,” he said.
“The international teams are actually being paired with a local club and the local club will put on a social and cultural evening for them on Tuesday night.”
There will be music and refreshments and Tuesday’s event “will help in creating lasting friendships”, Mr Quigg said.
Admission is free to the festival of games in both Owenbeg and Celtic Park and all are welcome to come along.
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