When we look at a jersey, what do we see?

If it’s a giant SPORTS DIRECT logo in boot cut jeans, its probably someone from Cork.
Today, GAA shirts and jerseys in general have evolved far beyond mere support for your favourite club; they’ve become a distinct form of communication and a cultural shorthand. They speak about where we’re from, who we support, and increasingly speak to what our values may be (let those who don’t own a Fontaines D.C. Bohs jersey cast the first stone…).

Thanks to our new partnership with McKeever Sports, we are delighted to have a new jersey to represent us both on and off the field. Today we unveil the the new Vienna Gaels GAA Club jersey for 2026/2027, designed by our very own Lorna Curran. Available for sale Sunday 26th of July in The Long Hall at our Jersey Launch Night (It’s also the All-Ireland Men’s Football Final)!

Background & Process

We wanted the design to be distinctly our own, steering clear of standard Irish county lookalikes or twee Irish imagery that would evoke a Carrolls gift shop. Our goal was to acknowledge the centuries-old connection between Ireland and Austria. From the 12th-century Irish monks who founded Vienna’s Schottenstift to the celebrated “Wild Geese” who entered Austrian service after the Flight of the Earls (even hosting the first-ever recorded St. Patrick’s Day celebration outside of Ireland in 1766); our diaspora’s history here is vast. By blending the proud red and white of Vienna and Austria with the green of Ireland, and incorporating a classic collar, the design looks back to these historical ties while avoiding any overtly imperial imagery. We looked at Vienna’s rich baroque and Jugendstil past, as well as the imagery of Red Vienna (such as the shapes and textures present in the architecture of Karl-Marx-Hof). We even considered Vienna’s contribution of ISOTYPE – which gifted the world with an enduring universal language that continues to impact society today.

I’m happy to say that Lorna did so many explorations and variations on these many themes during our discovery process that we probably have jersey concepts to last us the next decade at least! However, it was on the themes of architecture, diaspora, displacement, identity and religion that we narrowed our focus. On a call with myself (Shane), Fergal and Lorna we discussed our initial mood board, bouncing ideas off one another, and discussed findings that Saint Virgil (himself named Feargal), the bishop of Salzburg in the eighth century, was an Irish monk and scholar. Additionally, the still widely venerated Saint Coloman, who was the first patron saint of Austria & is buried in the monastery in Melk, was an Irish pilgrim. This train of thought and (perhaps surprising) ecclesiastical discussion (I’m sure Thomas Croke was mentioned at one point) led us to the iconic roof of Stephansdom as a source of inspiration. It itself an icon of Vienna’s skyline and identity, consisting of 230,000 colorfully glazed tiles.

Thanks to Lorna’s skill and creativity, along with input & support from Dylan, Fergal and Elisa, these ideas and concepts were transformed into our new jerseys. We hope these serve as tribute to the deep roots of the Irish in Austria & the rich heritage of Vienna Gael’s 25 year history here in this great city.

About Our Designer

Lorna Curran hails from the border counties of Donegal and Tyrone in Ireland and graduated from Ulster University, Belfast, with a degree in Textile Art, Design and Fashion. Since moving to Vienna in 2021, she has been working as a Fashion Buyer while also becoming an active member of the Vienna Gaels community, first as a social member and later as a player on the Ladies’ Football Team. When the club set out to create its new 2026 football jersey, Lorna was the natural choice to bring the vision to life. Drawing on her creative background and professional experience, she designed a jersey inspired by the colours of both home nations: the red and white of the Austrian flag, the emerald green of Ireland, and the iconic mosaic roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. The result is a modern, elegant design that is both subtle and distinctive, created to suit all players, all occasions, and all genders while proudly reflecting the Vienna Gaels’ unique Irish-Austrian identity.

Lorna can be reached at lornacurran3@gmail.com and is available for consultation on all things fashion.