Zack Moradi

We were delighted to welcome Zack Moradi to St John the Baptist BNS. Zack is a Kurdish-Irish hurler, author, and public speaker known for his inspiring journey from a refugee background to playing inter-county hurling in Ireland. He was born in a refugee camp in Iraq to Kurdish parents who had fled conflict in the region. His family moved to Ireland in 2002 when he was around 11 years old, settling in County Leitrim. In Ireland, he learned English and was introduced to Gaelic games, eventually developing a passion for hurling. He went on to play for the Leitrim GAA senior hurling team.
One of the highlights of his sporting career came in 2019 when he helped Leitrim win the Lory Meagher Cup at Croke Park, scoring a crucial point in the final. Beyond sport, Moradi is also known for writing his autobiography Life Begins in Leitrim: From Kurdistan to Croke Park, speaking about immigration, integration, and refugee experiences,
promoting diversity and inclusion within Irish sport and society. His story is often highlighted as an example of how community sports like Gaelic games can help newcomers integrate and build a sense of belonging in Ireland.