President Michael D Higgins has welcomed a decision by UNESCO to add hurling and camogie to a cultural heritage list.
The list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity covers practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills and instruments recognised as part of cultural heritage.
President Higgins said: "I warmly welcome the decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO to give global recognition to the ancient Irish games of hurling and camogie.
"This decision is a global acknowledgement of the unique cultural significance of this part of our national culture, and of the important role gaelic games play in Irish society.
"It is, too, a tribute to the gaelic sports associations, whose work and volunteering ethos form the beating hearts of so many communities all over the island of Ireland, and further afield, as gaelic games are now played on every continent.
"Most of all, UNESCO’s decision highlights yet again that team spirit, respect for skill excellence and creativity are at the heart of Irish society, and that our cultural heritage is worth protecting and celebrating.
"We can all, on our shared island of Ireland and all of the Irish abroad, be very proud of our native sports, and of our international reputation for creativity; a reputation which is greatly enhanced by our sportswomen and men, and by the countless volunteers who have passed their love of hurling and camogie on to the future generations."
Culture Minister Josepha Madigan said she is "delighted" at the recognition.
I am delighted to announce the international recognition of #hurling by @UNESCO today @officialgaa @OfficialCamogie @IRLOECDUNESCO pic.twitter.com/g4NlYoFo6N
— ??Josepha Madigan (@josephamadigan) November 29, 2018
The sport joins other recent inductees, such as traditional Korean wrestling and the reggae music of Jamaica.
A delegation from the GAA travelled to Paris in October in an effort to secure the status.
One of those was the director of games, Pat Daly.
He said at the time: "You have a World Heritage site like Newgrange, that would be recognised by UNESCO.
"That is a site, it exists, you can see it and it is a permanent reality. What we are talking about here is intangible cultural heritage. It is stuff that gets passed down through the medium of hurling.
"Things like identity, the generation of social capital, things like cultural diversity, the propagation of holistic lifestyle and decent value systems. That is the kind of world you are in to here.
"I suppose the case we are making is that hurling has been around a long time, it is pretty much unique to Ireland.
"It is a distinctive game and if you mention hurling in this country it is pretty much tied up with Irish identity and everything that goes with that."
"Intrinsic part of Irish culture"
UNESCO describes hurling as "a field game played by two teams which dates back 2,000 years and features strongly in Irish mythology, most notably in the epic saga of Cú Chulainn.
"It is played throughout the island of Ireland, particularly in more fertile agricultural areas, as well as overseas."
"Players use a wooden stick (hurley), similar to a hockey stick but with a flat end, and a small ball (sliotar), with the aim being to use the hurley to strike the sliotar and hit it between the opposing team's goalposts."
"Hurling is considered as an intrinsic part of Irish culture and plays a central role in promoting health and wellbeing, inclusiveness and team spirit.
"Today, the skills are promoted and transmitted through coaching and games in schools and clubs.
"As the custodians of Hurling, the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Camogie Association, both volunteer-led organisations, play a central role in transmitting the skills and values associated with hurling."
Uileann Piping was also added to the list last December.
