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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Paddy Tierney

Brilliant video of former Iraqi refugee hurling at Stormont goes viral

A clip showing an Iraqi refugee hurling against the walls of parliament buildings at Stormont has been viewed over 100,000 times.

Abood Al Jumaili, also known as Bonnar Ó Loinsigh, was meeting a group of MLAs to discuss his cross community work.

Earlier this year, Mr Al Jumaili was appointed by Dublin GAA and their sponsors AIG as their first ever Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador.

Read more: Armagh vs Tyrone: Orchard men can perform in big Championship games insists Oisin O'Neill

A member of the St John’s Ballinteer club in Dublin, Al Jumaili also delivered a powerful speech in Croke Park back in 2020 when Headquarters hosted the Muslim celebration of Eid Al Adha.

Born in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Al Jumaili came to Ireland back in 2008 when he was nine years old and immediately fell in love with hurling.

His social media videos include a clip of him hurling in the grandstand at Leopardstown racecourse outside Dublin.

When at Stormont on Wednesday morning, he took a hurl and a sliotar out to the steps and began hurling against the walls of parliament building.

He posted the clip on social media earlier today (Thursday) and captioned the video: “ At lunchtime, it was a sin not to go out and hurl! #Hurling against the walls of #Stormont . Now that’s lovely hurling!”

Mr Al Jumaili told Belfast Live: "Because of my diplomatic and ambassadorial work, it can be hard sometimes to attend training.

"I have the hurl with me to puck around at lunchtime to maintain my touch and accuracy. I used to do that all the time in school."

The clip has been viewed over 100,000 times have has been shared by a number of high-profile GAA personalities including Derry GAA legend Joe Brolly.

Read more: Enda McGinley’s exit 'surprised' Antrim players says skipper Peter Healy

Read more: Antrim vs Kerry: Joe McDonagh winners should gain All-Ireland SHC status says Darren Gleeson

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