Mayo players amongst GAA stars planting trees and leaving a legacy in Kenya

The universal language of sport built bridges that spanned cultures and thousands of miles, when a group of some of Ireland’s best known GAA stars travelled to Kenya with Self Help Africa - including Mayo’s Lisa Cafferky, Danielle Caldwell, Fiona McHale, Matthew Ruane, as well as Gaelic Players’ Association CEO and former Mayo star Tom Parsons.
Their trip was part of the Plant the Planet Games initiative to plant one million trees and raise awareness of the impact of climate change on some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
The week-long journey included showpiece exhibition matches in Nairobi between the visiting stars and Kenyan Premier League football team AFC Leopards, as well training sessions for the visiting players with some of Kenya’s elite long distance runners, and visits to Self Help Africa projects in the country.
The visiting group - which included hurling, Gaelic football and camogie players - planted trees during their visit to local communities, and were the special guests at a reception hosted by Ireland’s Ambassador to Kenya, Caitríona Ingoldsby.
The players met Ireland’s missionary priest, Brother Colm O’Connell who has been described as ‘the godfather of distance running in Kenya’, and visited non-profit ball manufacturer Alive and Kicking, and projects being run by Irish charity, Brighter Communities Worldwide.
The Plant the Planet Games were organised for the second successive year by former Galway dual player Alan Kerins’ Warriors for Humanity, and the trip was also supported by the Gaelic Players’ Association, and sponsors Optimum Nutrition. Team gear for their trip was sponsored by McKeever Sports and match day sustainability sponsor were Kerry Group.
All-Star footballer Danielle Caldwell said of her Plant the Planet Games experience: “It’s been the most incredible trip, you could say life-changing, it’s been so good. The work being carried out by Self Help Africa can’t really be put into words.”
Fiona McHale said: “It’s been the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. Self Help Africa, the work that they are doing, not just from Ireland, we’ve met other members of Self Help Africa - it creates more sustainability, having members of the team from the local communities and that’s an important part of what they do out here. It’s been amazing.”
Reflecting on the week, Alan Kerins said: “It was another amazing Plant the Planet Games, from the match in Nairobi, tree planting with the communities in Iten, running with the Kenyan athletes, soccer matches against local communities, seeing the wonderful work that Self Help Africa do on the ground. That’s really special, tree planting with the communities. It dawned on
many of the players - this is the impact of our work. Meeting families who are going to benefit from these trees long after they are gone.
“Planting trees with children, who will reap the rewards of these trees. The sacrifices and the challenges of raising the money, it was all worthwhile. To see the connection between Irish and Kenyan people, it was very special. The players are exemplary role models. They should be very proud of themselves, and we should be very proud of them.”

The Plant The Planet Games GAA players have collectively fundraised to plant one million trees with Self Help Africa and leave a legacy for generations. To support the players’ fundraising efforts and make a donation, visit: https://www.idonate.ie/event/PlantthePlanetGames2023