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More than ever the GAA is going global. With the growth of the World Games and new clubs popping up wherever two or three Gaels are gathered, the Association has never been stronger outside Ireland, offering a home from home for Irish abroad and new sporting opportunities for the communities where they find themselves. And, wherever the GAA is, O’Neills are, proud to be associated with new and established clubs worldwide. Here we present a focus on five of our partners worldwide.
Connemara Gaels has long been one of the first posts of call for the Irish emigrant landing in Boston. Given the name of the club and its history it has a particular resonance for folk of Galway and Mayo stock. Founded in 1961 the club is one of the oldest in the US.
The Gaels won the North American Football Championships in 1973 and they have a fair few Boston championship titles under the belt. The Club was founded in Doggins pub in Southie and have built a strong reputation. This year they fielded at Senior, Junior A and Junior B, the first time they had three teams. The seniors lost out to eventual winners Wolfetones in the championship semi final whilst both junior teams lost to Donegal. It was a decent year from the club. Among their claims to fame Connemara Gaels played host to Séan Óg de Paor and Declan Meehan in 1997. The following season both lads were central to Galway GAA lifting Sam Maguire.
Singapore Lions are one of the largest GAA clubs in Asia with over 300 players, and were founded in 1997. The application and commitment involved with representing the Lions is unique with every game an away game. Last year the Singapore Lions won the men's and ladies championship at the Asian Games.
This month forty young people from GAA clubs in Derry have been given the travel opportunity of a lifetime in memory of Singapore Lions member Lisa Orsi who died last year. Lisa was a devoted Gaelic footballer and a member of the Lions club and passed away tragically while travelling.
The young players, male and female, will have the adventure of a lifetime when they set off for China to participate in the 21st Fexco Asian Gaelic Games tournament in Shanghai.
The Clann na hOman GAA club was founded in 2003 in Muscat. The club has always been a welcoming club and over the years has fielded players from every continent. Even though the numbers of Irish players has increased dramatically over the last few years they still draw players and supporters from across the globe.
Recently the club has introduced hurling to Oman for the first time and they have a thriving juvenile section. Both the men’s and women’s teams will be competing in the Middle East Senior League. With the addition of new recruits both teams are optimistic. Clann na hOman have also hosted and competed in the Middle East Hurling league.
This last week has seen teams from Kuwait, Saudi and Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi converge on Muscat for the Clann na hOman 2016 Gaelic Football Tournament at the Sultan School in Seeb. The Gaels of Oman are very much part of thriving Middle East GAA scene.
Marist Rangers is a GAA Club based in Auckland which was formed in 1976 by the late Paddy Somers and originally played as Mount Roskill Rangers. The name changed to Marist as many of the players came from Marist Rugby Clubs.
Famous former players include Bernie and Sean McCahill who played rugby for New Zealand and Ireland respectively. Another former great Zinzan Brooke played 58 tests for the All Blacks. According to the club website, his legendary 47 metre drop goal against England in the semi final of the 1995 World Cup was a direct result of his gaelic football days with Marist!
Today they can’t boast of as many All Blacks but they compete in Men’s and Ladies Football, Hurling and Camogie competitions. The club has also competed in regional New Zealand competitions such as the Wellington 7s in 2013.
The Michael Cusack’s GAA Club was founded in 1988 by Seamus Clancy, Kevin Malone, Aidan McDermott, John Petty, David Fahy, and Noel Canavan (all hailing from the Banner County) and Eddie McGrath Maloney from Limerick.
Prior to that, Padraig Pearse’s had won the 1987 NSWGAA Football Championship with Seamus Clancy, Henry O’Leary and David Fahy playing on that winning Pearse’s side. During the 1987 off season, following the influx of new emigrants it became clear there were enough players for two teams at Pearse’s and the Cusack’s Club was born, taking its name from the founder of the GAA. Red and White were chosen as the club’s colours in a nod to Seamus Clancy’s home club – Corofin.
Initially the club consisted of just a men’s Football team, but hurling was introduced in 1989, ladies Gaelic in 1991, camogie in 2006, and men’s Junior B in 2009. Cusack’s growth from strength to strength has marked it as one of the real successes of the growth of the GAA worldwide.