Laois GAA and Laois Camogie clubs ready for Féile na nGael 2026

Laois will be at the centre of one of the biggest underage sporting events in Ireland when the 2026 John West Féile na nGael national and regional finals take place across Laois and Carlow this Saturday, June 20.

More than 200 club teams and thousands of young hurlers and camogie players will travel to venues throughout both counties for a packed day of national competition.

The 2026 Féile na nGael programme will include hurling and camogie competitions from Division 1 through to Division 6, along with several invitational competitions.

Laois GAA and Laois Camogie will both be strongly represented, with 20 Laois teams from 17 different clubs taking part across the various divisions.

Portlaoise, Camross and Clonad will each have representation in both hurling and camogie, while several other clubs from across the county will compete on the national Féile stage.

The event will also bring some of the leading underage club teams in Ireland to Laois Hire O’Moore Park and the LOETB Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise.

Féile na nGael Division 1 in Portlaoise

The Division 1 hurling and camogie competitions will be staged across Laois Hire O’Moore Park and the LOETB Centre of Excellence.

Although no Laois club will compete in the top-tier Division 1 competitions, Laois GAA will play a central role in hosting some of the best young hurlers and camogie players in the country.

The Division 1 hurling competition includes Lismore of Waterford, Naas of Kildare, Ballincollig of Cork, Na Piarsaigh of Limerick, John Lockes of Kilkenny and Oulart-The-Ballagh of Wexford.

Nenagh Éire Óg of Tipperary, Birr of Offaly and Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin will compete in another strong group.

Michael Cusacks of Galway, Dunloy Cuchullains of Antrim and Corofin Ruan of Clare complete the Division 1 hurling line-up.

The Division 1 camogie competition also features an impressive selection of clubs from around Ireland.

Newcastle West, St Colmans, Kilmaley and Erin’s Own will compete in Group 1, while Group 2 contains De La Salle, Thurles Sarsfields, Barryroe and Rathnure.

The hosting of the Division 1 Féile competitions is another major occasion for Laois Hire O’Moore Park and the LOETB Centre of Excellence.

Both Portlaoise venues will welcome players, management teams, families and supporters from across Ireland for a full day of national hurling and camogie action.

Four Laois teams in Division 2 hurling

There will be major Laois GAA interest in Division 2 hurling, with Portlaoise, The Harps, Borris-Kilcotton and Camross all taking part.

Portlaoise have been drawn in Group 1 alongside Ballinkillen of Carlow, Keady Lámh Dhearg of Armagh and Ballyduff of Kerry.

The Harps and Borris-Kilcotton will both compete in Group 2.

The two Laois clubs will also face Navan O’Mahonys of Meath and Liatroim Fontenoys of Down.

Camross are in Group 3, where they will meet Mount Leinster Rangers of Carlow, Kevin Lynch Hurling Club of Derry and Clonkill of Westmeath.

The Division 2 hurling competition will be hosted in Borris-in-Ossory and Kilcotton.

With four Laois clubs involved, there should be strong local support throughout the day as the teams aim to qualify for the knockout stages.

All Féile competitions will be completed on the one day, with teams progressing from their initial groups into Cup, Shield and Plate competitions.

Strong Laois GAA presence in Division 3

Laois will also have a considerable presence in Division 3 hurling.

Barrow Gaels and Park-Ratheniska/Timahoe have both been drawn in Group 1 alongside Burt of Donegal and Athleague/Tremane/Oran of Roscommon.

Castletown will compete in Group 2 against Ballyhaunis of Mayo, Naomh Eoin of Carlow and Éire Óg Carrickmore of Tyrone.

St Fintan’s Mountrath are in Group 3 with Burren Rangers of Carlow, New York and Carnew Emmets of Wicklow.

The inclusion of New York gives the 2026 Féile na nGael competition an international dimension and highlights the worldwide reach of Gaelic games.

The Division 3 hurling games will be held at the Carlow GAA Centre of Excellence in Fenagh.

Division 5 hurling hosted by Clonad GAA

Four Laois clubs will compete in Division 5 hurling, with all games taking place at Clonad GAA.

Clonad-Trumera and Rathdowney-Errill have been drawn together in Group 1.

They will be joined by Bagenalstown Gaels of Carlow and Feakle Killanena of Clare.

Abbeyleix and Ballinakill will both compete in Group 2 alongside Naomh Moling of Carlow and Kiltormer of Galway.

Having two Laois clubs in each group should ensure plenty of local interest and support throughout the competition.

Clonad GAA will also play an important hosting role, with players and supporters from Laois, Carlow, Clare and Galway travelling to the venue.

Mountmellick and St Paul’s in Division 6

Mountmellick and St Paul’s will represent Laois GAA in Division 6 hurling.

St Paul’s have been drawn in Group 1 with Setanta of Carlow, St Vincent’s of Westmeath and St Finbarr’s of Derry.

Mountmellick are in Group 2 alongside Kildavin/Clonegal of Carlow, Setanta of Derry and Laochra Óg of Cork.

The Division 6 hurling competition will be played at Mountmellick GAA grounds.

The presence of teams from several different provinces will make the competition a memorable occasion for the participating players and host club.

Laois Camogie clubs ready for national Féile action

Laois Camogie will also be strongly represented throughout Féile na nGael 2026.

Naomh Eamann and St Brigid’s will both compete in Division 2 camogie.

Naomh Eamann have been drawn in Group 1 alongside Éire Óg Corra Choill of Kildare, Ballyduff Lower of Waterford and Bellaghy of Derry.

St Brigid’s will face Tullamore of Offaly, Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin and Geraldines Portglenone of Antrim in Group 2.

The Division 2 camogie matches will take place at Rathdowney GAA grounds and St Fergal’s College.

Banríon Gaels will be the Laois representatives in Division 4 camogie.

They will enjoy home-county advantage, with their matches taking place at O’Dempsey’s GAA grounds.

Banríon Gaels have been drawn alongside Annacurra of Wicklow, Denn Camogie Club of Cavan and Westport of Mayo.

Clonad will compete in Division 5 camogie at SETU Carlow.

They will face Britain, Inniskeen of Monaghan and Éire Óg Greystones of Wicklow.

Laois teams in the camogie invitational competitions

There will be further Laois interest in the camogie invitational competitions.

Camross will compete in the Carlow Town Invitational competition against St Munnas/Ringtown, Carlow Town and Kildavin/Clonegal.

Portlaoise will travel to Myshall, where they have been drawn with Nurney/Athy, Myshall and An Port Mór.

St Lazarian’s and The Harps are also set to feature in the invitational programme in Tinryland.

The participation of so many Laois Camogie clubs reflects the continued growth of the game throughout the county.

Laois referees and volunteers supporting Féile na nGael

Laois will also make a major contribution away from the playing field.

A total of 28 Laois referees are scheduled to officiate across the hurling and camogie competitions.

Host clubs, grounds teams, stewards, officials and volunteers will also play an important role in delivering the event.

Organising a competition involving more than 200 teams requires a major community effort, and clubs throughout Laois and Carlow have been working hard to prepare for the arrival of players and supporters.

Féile na nGael was first held in 1971 and has developed into one of the largest juvenile sporting festivals in Europe.

The competition provides young players with the opportunity to represent their clubs on a national stage and to compete against teams from different counties and countries.

For many players, Féile na nGael becomes one of the most memorable experiences of their underage sporting careers.

Laois GAA wishes every Laois hurling and camogie team the very best of luck in the 2026 John West Féile na nGael competitions.

We also extend a warm welcome to all visiting teams, mentors, families, referees, volunteers and supporters travelling to Laois Hire O’Moore Park, the LOETB Centre of Excellence and host venues throughout Laois.

Saturday promises to be a major celebration of underage hurling and camogie, with Laois GAA and Laois Camogie clubs proudly representing the county on the national stage.