Family from Northern Ireland receives papal blessing while wearing Gaelic football jersey
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Eoghan, Áine, and Edel Quinn from Castlederg, Northern Ireland, met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in August and received a papal blessing.
Eoghan wore his Tyrone GAA jersey to the meeting, hoping it would bring luck to his team. The family had been unexpectedly seated in the front row at St Peter's Basilica and were surprised to have a personal interaction with the Pope, who shook their hands and inquired about the jersey’s origin.
This wasn’t the Pope’s first encounter with Tyrone GAA colours. In November 2025, Aidan Gallagher threw a jersey with “Leo 14” on the back to the pontiff. After the meeting, as the family was escorted through the crowd, supporters shouted “Up Tyrone!” acknowledging their team affiliation. The trip held added significance for the family because Edel Quinn, the mother, has Multiple Sclerosis. The family, who regularly attend mass, viewed the experience as particularly special given her health.
They continue to reflect on the surreal nature of the encounter as ordinary citizens from a small town meeting a global religious leader.
