Cork connections to strong in new Éire Óg GAA Club in Perth

The beauty of the Gaelic Games community is in its ability to reach locations right across the globe.

This is very much in clear evidence in the Cork connections with a recently formed GAA club in Perth in Australia.

Cork native Susan Mitchell was part of a group of people who helped set the wheels in motion in the formation of Éire Óg GAA, located in the northern suburbs of Perth earlier this year. 

Susan has Gaelic Games steeped in her family, as she is the granddaughter of the 1942 Cork All-Ireland hurling winner Charlie Tobin.

Éire Óg GAA club in Perth was founded in January 2026 by a group of people who wanted to bring the GAA to Perth's northern suburbs.

The club initially started with a shared idea and a Facebook page. Within four months, they had a name, a club and teams competing across all four codes.

“At the end of 2025, a small group of us came together with a simple but ambitious idea, to establish a GAA club in the northern suburbs of Perth,” Mitchell told The Echo.

“The aim was clear from the very beginning, to grow the GAA in this area, strengthen our community and create something that would bring people together under one banner.

“More than just forming another club, the vision was to build a community-focused organisation in the Joondalup and northern suburbs area that people could genuinely feel part of.

“In January, we held our first meeting, where we formed the initial steering committee.

“The responsibility placed on this committee was significant. Our task was to establish a club from the ground up, field teams for the 2026 season and put in place the foundations for long-term success.

“We wanted to do more than simply field one or two teams. From day one, the ambition was to become a true one club, embracing all codes of the GAA and planting that flag early by fielding across all four codes at the 7s tournament.

Hard yards

“To achieve that, we established several subcommittees with one shared objective, to build a functioning club from effectively nothing in what can only be described as an incredibly short period of time.” 

Looking back now, Susan feels that it is hard to believe what has been achieved in just a few months in the development of Éire Óg GAA in Perth.

“An enormous amount of work has taken place both on and off the field.

There have been sleepless nights, stress, countless meetings, endless messages, and a huge amount of personal time sacrificed by many people.

"But seeing what this club has become already, every bit of effort has been worth it.” 

Overall, Mitchell and all involved in the club are excited for the journey that lies ahead over the coming months and years.

“We are also laying the foundations for the future through the development of a junior academy, with the goal of training the next generation and bringing young families into the heart of the club.

“We are more than just a sports club. We are a community. We are building our own identity, our own culture and our own legacy.

“The future for Éire Óg is incredibly bright and I am excited to see where the next chapter takes us.” 

Further information on Éire Óg GAA club in Perth can be found by here.