Gardaí have launched an investigation after an alleged assault of a referee at an underage GAA match in Co Clare. The alleged incident took place during an Under-15 match in Kilrush, Clare at around 8.40pm on Monday night. Officers said a man, aged in his 50s, and a teenage boy both sustained injuries following the alleged incident. Footage shared across social media shows a group of people on a pitch before an injured referee is picked up from the ground and helped away. Gardaí have
said they are aware of the footage circulating on social media and assured that investigations are ongoing. Clare GAA Chairman Kieran Keating condemned the incident, describing the alleged assault as a “bitter step backwards”. He told RTE: “We have a great cohort of referees in both codes in our County and over the past number of years we have driven the message of ‘Respect for the Referee’, with the aim of retaining and recruiting the increasing number of referees we need for our growing schedule
of games. “Thus, it is a bitter step backwards when any mentor, player, parent or supporter commits any infraction upon a referee, and particularly a physical assault of the nature reported upon in this case. “We have had many years without any such incident and it is very disheartening to all of us who love our games that this would happen at an underage game, or any game, in Clare in 2026.” Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct
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Gardaí, investigation, alleged assault, referee, Kilrush, Clare, Under-15, GAA, social media footage, Kieran Keating, Respect for the Referee