More Than Football: Team EOPD Ireland Heads to Ray Kennedy Weekend 2026

EOPD Ireland’s football team is travelling to Denmark this weekend to represent Ireland at the Ray Kennedy Weekend 2026, taking place in Aalborg and Gistrup on 5 and 6 September.

While there will undoubtedly be plenty of football, competition and hopefully a trophy or two along the way, the Ray Kennedy Weekend represents something much bigger.

The event brings together Parkinson’s football teams from across Europe and celebrates the power of sport to connect people, build friendships and create community. For those taking part, it is an opportunity to stay active, meet others with shared experiences and be part of an international movement that continues to challenge perceptions of what it means to live with Parkinson’s.

For Team EOPD Ireland, the weekend also sends an important message: Parkinson’s does not get to decide what a person is capable of.

A diagnosis does not mean giving up the things that bring joy, purpose and connection. Through sport, participants challenge stigma, push back against outdated perceptions and demonstrate that people living with Parkinson’s can continue to live active, meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Over the course of the weekend, Team EOPD Ireland will join teams from across Europe for football, friendship and international camaraderie. New friendships will be formed, stories and experiences will be shared and there will no doubt be plenty of laughter and good-natured competition along the way.

For EOPD Ireland, this is what events like the Ray Kennedy Weekend are all about. They highlight the importance of staying active, connected and involved, while creating opportunities for people with Parkinson’s to come together and support one another.

We are incredibly proud of every member of Team EOPD Ireland for representing both our community and Ireland on an international stage.

We wish the team every success and hope they have a memorable weekend in Denmark.