Willibrord–Lazerian Cup
Old Leighlin v Luxembourg
Saturday, September 26th, 11am
Stade Gust Jacquemart, Luxembourg
From July to December of 2026, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. As mart of the programme, County Carlow has been paired with the nation of Luxembourg, with a number of events planned.
One such event in the Carlow–Luxembourg pairing will take place from September 25th to 27th, as the girls Gaelic football team from Old Leighlin will travel from Carlow to Luxembourg for “a weekend of football, friendship and cultural exchange” with the Luxembourg girls’ youth team.
The visit will also include a reception hosted by Ambassador of Ireland to Luxembourg, Jean McDonald, where the girls and club representatives will sign a Luxembourg–Carlow Friendship Charter. The Charter will have ambitions for both clubs to continuing their sporting and cultural relationship beyond 2026.
These several strong themes, including teenage girls representing their clubs and communities internationally; the visibility and continued participation of girls in sport; Gaelic Games as a means of bringing communities together – supporting Ireland’s Sports Diplomacy program; and a shared historical link through St Lazerian of Old Leighlin and St Willibrord of Echternach.
The event reflects the Presidency theme “Ní neart go cur le chéile — Strength with Unity” in a very practical and human way: young people from two countries meeting through sport and creating a friendship intended to last.
