Meath GAA secretary stranded in Dubai after missile alerts

Hayestown man and Meath GAA County Secretary Ciaran Flynn has described the “surreal” experience of being stranded in Dubai after missile alerts disrupted flights in and out of the United Arab Emirates over the weekend.

Ciaran travelled to the Middle East last Wednesday to officiate at the GAA’s Senior Hurling League finals, accompanied by two other referees.

His father, Francis, is also with him on the trip, having travelled out as his guest, and the pair had spent time sightseeing before the competition began.

The competition concluded on Saturday, but just minutes after the final whistle, events took an unexpected turn. Ciaran said there was a sudden silence overhead followed by a loud bang, prompting many people to run into the stadium as trophy presentations were quickly wrapped up before officials and players left the venue.

“We were due to fly home around half two this afternoon,” Ciaran told the Meath Chronicle. “But just after the competition ended, we began to hear the distance and the clatter of bangs. Around midnight on Saturday, all our phones went insane with emergency broadcasts.”

The alert, issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior, advised residents and visitors to seek shelter indoors due to incoming missiles.

Staying on the 25th floor of his hotel, Ciaran, his father and other guests made their way to the lobby as a precaution. Some remained there overnight as intermittent explosions were heard.

“You could hear them, the clatter of them,” he said. “After about an hour or two it settled, and we went back upstairs, but there was more during the night and again into the morning.”

He described the sounds as similar to loud fireworks as missiles were intercepted overhead. Smoke was later visible from a strike on a warehouse approximately ten miles away, and a fire was also reported at the Fairmont Hotel in the wider area, though there were no reports of fatalities.

Flights were quickly affected. While one service departed Abu Dhabi for London earlier today, many passengers have been left stranded in transit since Saturday night.

Ciaran and his colleagues remain in their hotel, following official guidance to stay indoors and await further updates. UAE authorities have indicated that hotel accommodation will be covered for stranded travellers.

Parts of the private sector were advised to work from home as a precaution, and Ciaran said reactions among residents varied, with some remaining in hotel lobbies overnight while others returned to their rooms once the immediate alert passed.

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and GAA officials have been issuing updates via social media, and support has been forthcoming from both at home and abroad.

A history teacher at St Ciaran's Community School, Ciaran admitted his academic interest in warfare offered some perspective during the crisis.

“The UAE has the Patriot missile system, similar to Israel’s Iron Dome,” he said. “I actually think we’re probably one of the safest places in the world to get attacked, if that makes sense. The technology here is incredible — I think about 99 per cent of missiles have been intercepted.”

Back home, his wife Rachel is waiting anxiously for news of when they might return.

“She’s minding the two dogs and waiting for us. We like to think we’ll be safe, we can’t control it, so there’s no point sweating it.”

Despite the tension, the refereeing team had covered over 27,500 steps during Saturday’s competition before the disruption unfolded, with Ciaran describing the standard of hurling on display as excellent.

“It’s definitely a trip we won’t forget anytime soon,” Ciaran reflected. “Hopefully it’ll end well.”