The universal language of sport built bridges that spanned cultures and thousands of kilometres, when a group of some of Ireland’s best known GAA stars travelled to Kenya with Self Help Africa - including Kerry’s Aislinn Desmond, Fionan O’Sullivan and Stefan Okunbor.

.

.

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.

Fionan O’Sullivan said: “What a journey I was lucky to be a part of and share with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. The work being carried out by Self Help Africa, Warriors for Humanity and Brighter Communities Worldwide can’t really be put into words. A huge thanks to Alan Kerins, Tom Parsons and everyone at the Gaelic Players’ Association for the chance to be involved.”