Some of the biggest names in Irish sport will come together at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow on Monday, 24 August, when the annual Hurling for Cancer Research charity match returns for another evening in support of cancer research.
Hurling for Cancer Research 2026 will bring together current inter-county stars, All-Ireland winners and some of the most recognisable figures from Irish sport for a match that has become a fixture on the summer sporting calendar.
Among those confirmed to take part are hurling and camogie standouts TJ Reid, Patrick Horgan, Noel McGrath, Ashling Thompson, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh, Walter Walsh, Grace Walsh, Darragh O’Donovan, Brian Hayes, Lee Chin, Joe Canning and Austin Gleeson.
The line-up will also include sporting figures from outside hurling. Dublin football star Con O’Callaghan, former Mayo footballer Conor Mortimer and former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Hunt are all set to join the action in Carlow.
Ashling Thompson will make a particularly significant appearance. Fresh from Cork’s recent All-Ireland camogie success, Thompson will return to an event she has supported since its early years and will become the first woman named in the starting line-up for a Hurling for Cancer Research match.
The charity fixture was founded in 2012 by horseracing figures Jim Bolger and Davy Russell. Since then, it has raised €1.9 million for cancer research through the Irish Cancer Society, giving the event a purpose that stretches well beyond the sporting contest itself.
Its appeal has also come from the unusual mix of players it attracts. County rivalries are put aside for the evening, with leading figures from different sports sharing the same field and giving supporters an opportunity to see familiar sporting names in a very different setting.
Noel McGrath, a four-time All-Ireland winner who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2015, has been among those to underline the importance of continued investment in research. The event’s fundraising has helped support work aimed at improving treatment and survival outcomes for people affected by cancer.
Patrick Horgan is another long-standing supporter of the fixture, with the Cork legend returning to a game that has developed its own distinctive atmosphere. The occasion has traditionally offered families the chance to see sporting personalities up close, with players also meeting supporters and signing autographs after the match.
The emphasis will remain firmly on the cause, but the competitive instincts of those involved are unlikely to disappear once the teams take the field. The unusual combination of county rivals, sporting legends and stars from different codes is part of what has made the fixture so popular.
Supporters will also be able to support the fundraising campaign through participating stores nationwide, with donations and ticket information available through the event’s official promotional material.
The main match will begin at 7.30pm on Monday, 24 August, at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow.
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