London GAA homeward bound with Aer Lingus Regional for historic

London GAA homeward bound with Aer Lingus Regional for historic final

Airline charters plane to fly team home for London GAA's first ever Connacht Senior Football Final

The London Football Team to fly from London Southend Airport on Saturday, 20 July
Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann in conjunction with London Southend Airport, is to fly the London GAA team home on a special chartered flight into Ireland West Airport Knock on Saturday, 20 July in advance of the team's historic first ever Connacht Senior Football final against Mayo on Sunday, 21 July. The team, their coaches and management will fly with Aer Lingus Regional to this historic final on a specially chartered flight from London Southend Airport to Ireland West Airport Knock. The game represents the first time London will play in a Senior Connacht Football Final and comes after a season which has seen London GAA overcome both Sligo and Leitrim to make the final. 2013 has been an historic and epic year for the team, which saw them win their first Connacht Championship match since 1977, when they overcame Sligo on London's home turf at their Ruislip grounds. This was followed by a draw with Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon and finally victory for London over Leitrim, by a single point, in a nail biting game on 30 June last.

The team will now play hot favourites Mayo in Elverys McHale Park, Castlebar. London GAA's full panel of players represents over 20 counties in Ireland, adding to the uniqueness, in GAA history, of this year's Connacht Final. Aer Lingus Regional operates three daily return services between Dublin and London Southend Airport. Speaking at the announcement, Sean Brogan, Interim CEO, Aer Arann said that the airline is keen to support London GAA in bringing the team home from London Southend Airport to Ireland West Airport Knock. ‘The GAA has always been pivotal in linking Irish communities around the world. This is particularly true in London where many of our best footballers are based and playing with London GAA. At Aer Lingus Regional, with our scheduled flights from the UK and France, we too play a small part bringing families and friends together'.

We're delighted to be able to support the GAA in bringing the London side home from our newest London hub, London Southend Airport. We wish all involved the best of luck and we look forward to welcoming the London GAA team on board.'