Palestinian GAA players are refused visas to visit Ireland

A group of young GAA players from Palestine have been refused visas to visit Ireland this month.

Visa applications for 47 members of GAA Palestine were rejected seven days before their visit was due to begin.

GAA Palestine said it was "deeply disappointed" with the refusal decision and would "immediately" appeal.

"Our Irish visa applications for the GAA Palestine summer tour has been refused by the Irish immigration service," the organisation said in a statement on Instagram on Wednesday.

"Our hearts right now are with the 33 young hurlers and 14 mentors who are so looking forward to being welcomed to Ireland next week. Against all odds we’re doing all we can to make this tour happen. We’re not giving up hope."

Sinn Fein said it was "incomprehensible" a resolution could not be found to address any issues with visa applications.

People Before Profit described the visa rejections as an "utter disgrace".

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said it operated "a rule-based visa system" with each application "decided on its own merits".

"Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete," he told The Irish Times.

"It is important to note that when minors are seeking to travel to Ireland, a visa officer must be satisfied that the children are travelling in the company of their parents or an appropriate guardian.

"Documents such as birth certificates and consent letters are regularly requested to establish the relationship between a child and the adult they are travelling with."