Lisa Orsi remembered at World Games launch

Derry GAA chairman John Keenan says it is ‘an honour’ to host the GAA World Games in memory of a young Derry woman who tragically passed eight years ago.

Lisa Orsi was just twenty two when she took ill on a trekking trip to Indonesia. A few months earlier, she had been a member of the Singapore Lions Ladies Gaelic Football team that won the senior cup at the Asian Gaelic Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“I want to acknowledge the work and spirit of Dennis Orsi and his family and their role in bringing these games to Derry” said John Keenan at the launch of the 2023 event at Owenbeg yesterday. 

“When Lisa Orsi first travelled to Singapore to work as a physiotherapist she found a home from home among the local GAA club. Singapore Lions, with whom she played, became a family for Lisa. 

“The Global GAA community welcomed Lisa Orsi and now we in Derry GAA have the honour of returning that favour and welcome the Global GAA community to Lisa’s own county.

With 93 teams involved, all twinned with Derry GAA clubs, it is a huge logistical operation requiring months of preparation behind the scenes.

“We have been preparing for this since the announcement that our bid was successful. It’s getting close now and we are proud and excited to be involved,” said Keenan.

“For many it will be a chance to return home. For others it will be their first visit to Ireland and to our own county”

“It is a chance for all of us to demonstrate the ‘Live Life’ philosophy of the Lisa Orsi Foundation and celebrate the diversity and community values on which our association is based.

The 2023 FRS Recruitment GAA World Games take place between July 24th and July 27th at Owenbeg, with the finals being played at Celtic Park in Derry City on July 28th 2023.