Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the games played?
When does the season run?
What is the GAA?
Are injuries common?
Is it co-ed?
Are there any professional leagues?
Why do people play?
Who plays?
How can I get involved in watching the games?
How can I get involved in playing?
What is the greatest prize in Gaelic Games?

Where are the games played?
Gaelic Games are predominantly played in Ireland. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the local championship games are played in Boxer Stadium at Balboa Park, San Francisco at weekends. The North American finals are played in different cities on different years. In 2004 they were played in Boulder Colorado. In 2003 they were played in Chicago. The North American Finals are always played over the Labor Day weekend.

When does the season run?
The local GAA season runs from April through August. April is when the teams start to recruit and warm up with some light training sessions. May sees the start of the St Patrick's Cup, a warm-up tournament with smaller teams and more relaxed rules that help the teams to get warmed up for the proper championship. In Ireland, the inter-county All-Ireland championships run from May through September. The club All-Ireland championship runs through the winter and the finals are played on St Patrick's Day.

What is the GAA?
The Gaelic Athletic Association is the governing body of the Gaelic Games of Hurling and Gaelic Football. It also governs such games as Rounders and Handball. It is a totally amateur, non-profit, community-based organisation whose remit includes the promotion of Irish culture as expressed through sport, poetry, song, dance, and music.

Are injuries common?
No. Believe it or not, you are more likely to be injured in a game of soccer than in a game of hurling because of the higher likelihood of a collision of the lower legs in soccer. Physical contact in gaelic games is limited to a shoulder-to-shoulder charge with the player in possession of the ball. Your training in hurling will consist mostly of learning how to protect yourself. Helmets can prevent head injury, but your stick is your main means of self-preservation.

Is it co-ed?
There are some co-ed games at underage level in certain age groups depending on participation levels. There are no co-ed competitions at adult level, at least not yet!

Are there any professional leagues?
No. Although the All-Ireland championships look like major professional events, the only reward that the players get is the honour of winning. It is this that makes the GAA such a unique organisation. It remains free of the corrupting influence of out-of-control players' salaries and transfer markets.

Why do people play?
GAA club and county teams represent their local community. It is the honour of representing one's community that spurs people on to play, and the fact that the players on a team represent the area in which the team is based means that the following is loyal and fanatical. At local club level, people play for various reasons. They play because it is fun, it is a sociable activity, it is a challenge, to improve fitness and health, and for recognition for their achievements.

Who plays?
Our games are mostly played by Irish people, including some who are brought out from Ireland for the summer - mostly students. There is a growing contingent of American-born players who really are the future of the Association in the United States. Two of our clubs, the Celts and the Sons of Boru, are mostly made up of American-born players. We are keen to get more American-born people into our games.

How can I get involved in watching the games?
Go to the online subscription form. Submitting that form will send an invite to your email address that will ask you to join our electronic mailing list. During the season, weekly emails are sent out to inform the public about upcoming fixtures and previous results. We are respectful of your inbox, we don't send much more than one email per week, and we definitely do not pass your email address on to third parties.

How can I get involved in playing?
It depends on your level of skill. If you are a total beginner, go to our contact page and use the form to send us a request for more information and we will discuss your needs. If you are an experienced player, go to our clubs page and have a browse through the websites of the local clubs to see what suits you.

What is the greatest prize in Gaelic Games?
The most prestigious prizes in Gaelic Games are the inter-county All-Ireland Championships. For football the prize is the Sam Maguire cup. In Hurling it is the Liam McCarthy cup. These two finals are Ireland's equivalent of the Superbowl, and the two All-Ireland finals are huge national occasions. They are attended by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and the Irish President, as well as any visiting VIPs and foreign dignitaries who may be in the country at the time.