Gaelic games

For the video games, see Gaelic Games (series).
Gaelic games are present across the world. This sign in Sorrento, Italy, advertises that Gaelic games are shown in the bar.

Gaelic games (Irish: Cluichí Gaelacha) are a set of sports played worldwide, though they are particularly popular in Ireland, where they originated. They include Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball and rounders. Football and hurling, the most popular of the sports, are both organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Women's versions of hurling and football are also played: camogie, organised by the Camogie Association of Ireland, and ladies' Gaelic football, organised by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. While women's versions are not organised by the GAA (with the exception of handball, where men's and women's handball competitions are both organised by the GAA Handball organisation), they are closely associated with it but are still separate organisations.[1]

Gaelic games clubs exist all over the world.[2][3][4] They are Ireland's most popular sports, ahead of rugby union and association football.[5] Almost a million people (977,723) attended 45 GAA senior championships games in 2017 (up 29% in hurling and 22% in football on 2016 figures) combined with attendances at other championship and league games generating gate receipts of €34,391,635.[6]

Gaelic games are designated within the primary school curriculum as requiring "particular consideration."[7] They were showcased at the Château de Vincennes during the 2024 Paris Olympics, the first time Gaelic football and hurling had featured at an Olympics since 1904.[8]

  1. ^ Moran, Mary (2011). A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie. Dublin, Ireland: Cumann Camógaíochta. ISBN 978-1908591005.
  2. ^ "Infographic: The number of GAA clubs in every county in Ireland and every continent around the world". Joe.ie.
  3. ^ "'Give it a lash' – Ugandan GAA club takes off after co-founders inspired by YouTube highlights". Irish Independent. 16 November 2022.
  4. ^ "How two friends set up a GAA club in Uganda after seeing matches online". The Irish Times. 16 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Gaelic games remains Ireland's most popular sport". RTÉ Sport. 26 January 2021.
  6. ^ "GAA gate receipts up 13%, annual revenue up €5m and attendances increase by 24%". the42.ie. 31 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Primary School Curriculum: Physical Education" (PDF). Government of Ireland. 1999. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2021. Gaelic games should be given particular consideration as part of the games programme.
  8. ^ "Gaelic games demonstration to take place in Paris as part of sporting festival at the Olympics". hoganstand.com. 31 July 2024.