THE GAELIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

On November the first in the year 1884 a man named Michael Cusack founded the Gaelic Athletic Association. Founding this association was the greatest thing that could have happened to Irish sport.

The seven founding members were Michael Cusack, Maurice Davin, John Wyse Power, John McKay, J.K. Bracken, Joseph O'Ryan and Thomas St. George McCarthy. From 1884 onwards the G.A.A. just went from strength to strength.

From then onwards every county in Ireland has been involved in the competitions organised by the G.A.A. The largest competitions being the All-Ireland Football and Hurling Finals. These finals are held in Croke Park, Dublin each September.

We all know that Irish sport wouldn't be as far as it is today only for the G.A.A.

The Game Of Hurling.

Hurling is one of the fastest and most skilful field games in the world. It was played long before the coming of Christianity. It taught young players the value of skill, courage and fast reactions.

The earliest written record of the game is contained in the Brehon Laws of the 5th century. Sentanta was the first great hurling hero. This caused such concern that the Statutes of Kilkenny banned the game. The 18th century was known as the Golden Age of hurling.

The founding of Cumann Camogaiochta in 1904 coordinated the revival of hurling and the spread of camogie - the female version:

Both teams are made up of 15 players:

1 Goalie : Prevents goals .
6 Backs :Mark opponents.
2 Midfielders : Act as a link between backs and forwards.
6 Forwards :Gain possession and score.

Hurling is played with a hurley and a sliotar. A hurling match lasts for 70 minutes.To score one point, you must hit the sliotar through the top half of the goal posts. To score a goal (3 points) you must hit the sliotar past the goalie into the goal. The All-Ireland Hurling Final is held in Croke Park every September.

Gaelic Football

Gaelic football is one of the world's most exciting sports, it is played by on average 75-80% of Irish people. This game requires stamina, strength, determination and a very high level of fitness. A Gaelic football team is made up of 15 players: 1 goalie, 6 defenders, 2 midfielders,and 6 forwards.

The rules for Gaelic football and Ladies football differ in a few cases. Ladies are permitted to pick the ball off the ground, men must toe-peck the ball from the ground. Shoulders are not permitted in the ladies' game whereas they are in the men's.

There are two types of scores in Gaelic football a goal (3 points) or a point. A goal is scored by putting the ball under the crossbar, a point is obtained by kicking the ball over the crossbar.

Each year all 32 counties of Ireland compete in a knockout competition, divided up into their provinces. The four provincial champions play each other e.g Ulster champions play Connaught champions and Lenister champions play Munster champions.the two winners then play each other for the right to be called All-Ireland Champions and receive the G.A.A.'s most prestigious trophy - The Sam McGuire Cup.

Written By: Maeve Joyce, Claire Cunniffe, Bernie Kelly, Deirdre Cornley, Jenny Flanagan, Zoe Gaynor,Aishling Falon, Patricia Solan.