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Gaelic Games Europe
Irish:Cumann Luthchleas Gael na hEorpa
Nickname(s):GGE
Province:International unit
Ground(s):Sportspark West,
Negenputruwe 1-5,
6218 RA,
Maastricht,
Netherlands
County colours:  Blue   Yellow
Website: County board website
Regular kit

The European Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association ( Irish: Cumann Luthchleas Gael na hEorpa) or Gaelic Games Europe is one of the international units (outside of Ireland) of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), and is responsible for organising Gaelic games in continental Europe. Gaelic Games Europe is also responsible for the European Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies' Gaelic football teams which compete every three years at the GAA World Gaelic Games.

The first evidence of Gaelic games in Europe dates back to a hurling match in 1774 in Belgium, [1] various games were played across the continent after that with their frequency increasing in the late 20th century.

While sporadic attempts were made to form clubs and organise competitions, the first four clubs were organised into a 'County' Board at a meeting in 1999 organised by Joe McDonagh, the then president of the GAA. Since then, growth has resulted in over 100 clubs spread across 24 countries, catering for over 5,000 players who play camogie, hurling, men's and ladies football and handball competitions.

The European County Board (ECB) changed its name to Gaelic Games Europe at the Annual Convention in Leuven (Belgium) in November 2016.

Structure

Eileen Jennings (Chp) & Tony Bass (Sec) at 2007 European GAA Convention in Budapest

Gaelic Games Europe governance structures are based on a volunteer culture. [2] Any member can submit a motion to their club's annual general meeting suggesting new policies, amendments to an existing policy or propose changes to the playing rules. If approved, the motion is discussed at the Gaelic Games Europe Annual Convention. [2]

Each club can send delegates to the annual convention which is the main decision making body for Gaelic games in Europe. [2] At the convention, delegates discuss issues, decide on motions and elect people to serve on committees. [2]

Two members of European clubs have been recognised for their long service and dedication to developing Gaelic games. Mary Gavin, who founded Den Haag GAA club in 1979 and was involved in the establishment of the European Board in 1999, received a GAA Presidents Award in 2013. [3] The Camogie Association also named their World Gaelic Games trophy in her honour in 2019. [4] Tony Bass, a GAA administrator and referee, was secretary of Cuala GAA club and served on various Dublin GAA county and Leinster Council committees before moving to the Netherlands and establishing the Maastricht Gaels club in 2004 [5] [6] was recognised with a GAA President's Award in 2021. [7] [8] [9] Bass has been GGE chairperson, secretary, development officer and represented Europe on the GAA Central Council and at multiple GAA, LGFA and Camogie congresses. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Regions

Clubs across Europe are assigned to a "region". Each region elects a "Regional Committee" which is responsible for organising competitions and developing Gaelic games in their area. The GGE Management (MC) or European (EC) Committees may delegate other tasks. Regions elect one EC representative each and are also represented on many sub-committees. There are five regions, Benelux, East and Central, Iberia, North West and Nordics, two of which are divided into "sub-regions".

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Minister for Sport in Ireland Jack Chambers signed a statement that Russian based athletes and administrators should be banned from participation and representation internationally. [16] Almost all sporting organisations within Europe have adhered to this policy. [17] Support for this policy was reaffirmed in February 2023 by the new Irish Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne, who stated "Pending an improved situation in Ukraine, I urge the sports movement to stay the course and continue to exclude those that are not respecting such important instruments in the international sporting landscape as the Olympic Truce.” [18] Despite this, Russian based teams and administrators enjoy full membership of Gaelic Games Europe. In the aftermath of controversial comments regarding war crimes in Ukraine [19] by a Russian based administrator of Gaelic Games Europe, the GAA issued a statement that the comments were made “in a personal capacity and do not reflect the views of the GAA”. The administrator however remained a member of management committee of Gaelic Games Europe.

As of 2023, the regions are:[ citation needed]

Regions Sub-regions Counties in region
Benelux — Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany (western lander)
Central-East — Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany (eastern & southern lander), Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland
Iberia Andalucía Gibraltar, Andalusia, Portugal
Galicia Galicia
Central rest of Spain
Nordic — Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden
North-West Bretagne Brittany
Federal Channel Islands, rest of France

Competitions

Competitions formats

In GAA terms 'Europe' comprises all of continental Europe (excluding Ireland & Great Britain) with great distances between each team, so Gaelic Games Europe has various competition formats.

Luxembourg in Euro Gaelic Football Cup 2022

Since 2006, men's and ladies football competitions have been played on a regional basis. Teams play in regional competitions and may also enter European Football Championships. Some regions also have their own competitions (e.g. Brittany, Galicia).

Many of the regional competitions use a system of 'rounds' (also called 'tournaments') spread over a number of months with 3-5 rounds being the norm in regional football championships. Each round is competed in a single day with teams playing a single round-robin group or multiple groups followed by knock-out style play-offs (e.g. quarter & semi-finals) and a final which determine the ranking of every team present on the day. Teams are awarded points (25 points for the winner, 20 points for the runner-up, etc.) which are added to those accrued in other rounds to determine the competition winners for that season.

All men's (11-a-side) and ladies (9-a-side) teams may enter the European Football Championships which is a one-day event, usually in October. Teams are seeded into different grades (Senior, Intermediate and Junior). Each team plays 3-4 group games before progressing to the play-off stages of a Championship, Shield & Plate competition depending on their results.

The 'Premier' championships are for 15-a-side teams in men's and ladies' football and are organised on a 'knock-out' basis - as is usual in GAA championships with 60 minute games - played over a number of weekends or a tournament format at a suitable 15-a-side GAA pitch. Winners then represent Europe in the All Ireland Club Championships. [20]

The European camogie and hurling championships are played by teams (9-a-side) from across Europe who compete together over five 'rounds' in various cities between May and October annually.

Other matches such as internationals (which have featured France, Italy, Germany, Galicia and Brittany) are also played, along with national 'Cup' competitions confined to teams in a single country e.g. Finland, Germany.

Every three years, a variety of camogie, hurling and ladies/men's football teams from Europe compete in the GAA World Games in both Irish-born and Non-Irish categories.

Gaelic football (men)

Euro Gaelic Football Cup

Year Host city Country Winner Runner-up Third place Fourth place
2017 Düsseldorf   Germany[ citation needed] Brittany Germany Netherlands
2018 Lorient Brittany[ citation needed] France Galicia Brittany Gascony
2022 Pontevedra Galicia [21] Luxembourg France

Senior Championship

European Senior Football Championship (11-a-side)
Founded2001
Title holdersCumann Warszawa (2nd title)
First winnerParis Gaels
Most titlesDen Haag (4 titles)
GSC Luxembourg team v Amsterdam GAC, Berbourg, April 2011
Year Winner Runner-up
2023 Cumann Warsaw Nantes Don Bosco
2022 Madrid Harps Cumann Warsaw
2021 not played due to pandemic
2020
2019 Madrid Harps Cumann Warsaw
2018 Amsterdam GAC Cumann Warsaw
2017 Cumann Warsaw GSC Luxembourg
2016 GSC Luxembourg Jersey Irish
2015 Paris Gaels
2014 Belgium GAA [22]
2013 Guernsey Gaels Belgium GAA "A"
2012 Belgium GAA
2011 [23] Guernsey Gaels Den Haag
2010 Den Haag Paris Gaels
2009 Den Haag Paris Gaels
2008 Belgium GAA Paris Gaels
2007 GSC Luxembourg
2006 Den Haag
2005 Paris Gaels
2004 München Colmcilles
2003 Paris Gaels
2002 Den Haag
2001 Paris Gaels
European Intermediate Football Championship (formerly 'European Shield')
Founded2006
Title holdersHillerod (1st title)
First winnerMaastricht Gaels
Most titlesCopenhagen (3 titles)

European Premier Football Championship (15-a-side)

European Premier (15s) Football Championship
Founded2013
TrophyCroke Park Hotel Cup
Title holdersAmsterdam (7th title)
First winnerGuernsey
Most titlesAmsterdam (7 titles)
Year Winner Runner-up
2023 Amsterdam GAC Barcelona Gaels
2022 Amsterdam GAC Barcelona Gaels
2021 Amsterdam GAC Madrid Harps
2020 not played due to pandemic
2019 [24] Berlin GAA Belgium GAA
2018 Amsterdam GAC Eindhoven Shamrocks
2017 GSC Luxembourg Amsterdam GAC
2016 Amsterdam GAC
2015 Amsterdam GAC
2014 Amsterdam GAC
2013 Guernsey Gaels Zürich Inneoin

Ladies' Football

European Ladies Gaelic Football Championship
Founded2001
Title holdersBelgium GAA (14th title)
First winnerBelgium GAA
Most titlesBelgium GAA (14 titles)

European Ladies Football Championship

Year Winner Runner-up
2023 Belgium GAA Cumann Warsaw
2022 Belgium GAA Cumann Warsaw
2021 not played due to pandemic
2020
2019 Belgium GAA Cumann Warsaw
2018 Cumann Warsaw Belgium GAA
2017 Belgium GAA A Coruna
2016 Belgium GAA Holland Ladies
2015 Belgium GAA
2014 Belgium GAA
2013 Belgium GAA Holland Ladies
2012 Belgium GAA
2011 Belgium GAA Munich
2010 Belgium GAA
2009 Belgium GAA Paris Gaels
2008 Belgium GAA
2007 Paris Gaels
2006 GSC Luxembourg
2005 Holland Ladies
2004 GSC Luxembourg
2003 GSC Luxembourg
2002 GSC Luxembourg
2001 Belgium GAA

European Premier Ladies Football Championship (15-a-side)

European Premier (15s) Ladies Football Championship
Founded2014
Title holdersBelgium (4th title)
First winnerBelgium
Most titlesBelgium (4 titles)
Year Winner Runner-up
2023 Belgium GAA Ar Gwazi Gouez (Rennes)
2022 Belgium GAA Ar Gwazi Gouez (Rennes)
2021 not played due to pandemic
2020
2019 Belgium GAA/Holland Ladies (combined team)
2018 Belgium GAA/Holland Ladies (combined team)
2017 Belgium GAA / Munich Collmcilles (combined team) Holland Ladies
2016 Belgium GAA / Munich Collmcilles (combined team) Holland Ladies / Luxembourg (combined team)
2015 Belgium GAA Holland Ladies
2014 Belgium GAA Holland Ladies

Hurling

European Hurling Championship
Founded2002
Title holdersLuxembourg (4th title)
First winnerDen Haag
Most titlesBelgium (8 titles)

European Hurling (9s) Championship

Year Winner Runner-up Shield Plate
2023 GSC Luxembourg Belgium GAA Hamburg GAA Darmstadt GAA
2022 GSC Luxembourg Belgium GAA Hamburg GAA Belgium GAA
2021 not played due to pandemic
2020
2019 Belgium GAA GSC Luxembourg Hamburg GAA Darmstadt GAA
2018 Belgium GAA Dresden GAA Club Darmstadt GAA
2017 GSC Luxembourg Belgium GAA
2016 Belgium GAA GSC Luxembourg
2015 Belgium GAA Viking Gaels
2014 Belgium GAA Den Haag
2013 Belgium GAA Den Haag
2012 Den Haag
2011 Zürich Inneoin Den Haag
2010 Belgium GAA GSC Luxembourg
2009 Belgium GAA GSC Luxembourg
2008 GSC Luxembourg Belgium GAA
2007 Den Haag GSC Luxembourg
2006 Zürich Inneoin Belgium GAA
2005 Zürich Inneoin Munich Colmcilles
2004 Zürich Inneoin Munich Colmcilles
2003 Den Haag Zürich Inneoin
2002 Den Haag Zürich Inneoin

Camogie

European camogie Championship
Founded2008
Title holdersBelgium (11th title)
First winnerLuxembourg
Most titlesBelgium (11 titles)

European Camogie Championship

Year Winner Runner-up
2023 Belgium GAA Hamburg GAA
2022 Belgium GAA ('A') Belgium GAA ('B')
2021 not played due to pandemic
2020
2019 Belgium GAA Hamburg GAA
2018 Belgium GAA
2017 Belgium GAA GSC Luxembourg
2016 Belgium GAA GSC Luxembourg
2015 Belgium GAA
2014 Belgium GAA
2013 Belgium GAA Paris Gaels
2012 Paris Gaels Belgium GAA
2011 Belgium GAA Zurich Inneoin
2010 Belgium GAA GSC Luxembourg
2009 GSC Luxembourg
2008 GSC Luxembourg

Affiliated clubs

These are the 110 affiliated clubs (as of October 2023 [25]) located across 25 countries and organised into five "regions" (Benelux, Central-East, Iberia, Nordics and North-West) for competition purposes. Various "sub-regions" such as Brittany ( France), Galicia and Andalucia ( Spain) have their own competitions as well as playing in regional championships.

GAA Clubs in Europe
Club Colours Location Country
Benelux
Belgium GAA [26]    Brussels   Belgium
EC Brussels Youth Brussels   Belgium
Earls of Leuven    Leuven   Belgium
Cologne Celtics    Cologne   Germany
Darmstadt GAA    Darmstadt   Germany
Düsseldorf GFC    Düsseldorf   Germany
Frankfurt Sarsfields GAA    Frankfurt   Germany
Hamburg GAA    Hamburg   Germany
Gaelic Sports Club Luxembourg    Luxembourg   Luxembourg
Amsterdam GAC     Amsterdam   Netherlands
Eindhoven Shamrocks GFC    Eindhoven   Netherlands
Groningen Gaels    Groningen   Netherlands
C.L.G. Den Haag    The Hague   Netherlands
Maastricht Gaels    Maastricht   Netherlands
Nijmegan GAA    Nijmegan   Netherlands
Central-East
Vienna Gaels    Vienna   Austria
Salzburg GAA    Salzburg   Austria
Croatian Celts    Zagreb   Croatia
Prague Hibernians GFC    Prague   Czech Republic
Píobairí Strakonice GAC     Strakonice   Czech Republic
Rómhánaigh Augsburg Óg    Augsburg   Germany
Berlin GAA     Berlin   Germany
Dresden GAA Club    Dresden   Germany
München Colmcilles    München   Germany
Setanta Berlin GAA    Berlin   Germany
Stuttgart GAA    Stuttgart   Germany
Budapest Gaels    Budapest   Hungary
Sant'Ambrogio Milano GAA    Milan   Italy
Padova Gaelic Football    Padova   Italy
S.S. Lazio Calcio Gaelico    Rome   Italy
Bydgoszcz CLG Bydgoszcz   Poland
Cumann Warsaw    Warsaw   Poland
Éire Óg Wroclaw Wroclaw   Poland
Ascaro Rovigo Gaelic Football    Rovigo   Italy
Simbirisk Celts Ulyanovsk   Russia
Seamus Heaneys GAC Moscow   Russia
Moscow Shamrocks    Moscow   Russia
Slovak Shamrocks    Bratislava   Slovakia
Basel Basel   Switzerland
Geneva Gaels     Geneva   Switzerland
Midland GAC Solothurn   Switzerland
Zürich Inneoin    Zürich   Switzerland
Iberia
Gibraltar Gaels    Gibraltar Gibraltar
LX Celtiberos GAA Club Lisbon Portugal
A Coruña Fillos de Breogán    A Coruña   Spain ( Galicia)
Ártabros de Oleiros    Oleiros   Spain ( Galicia)
Barcelona Gaels    Barcelona   Spain ( Catalonia)
Gaelicos do Gran Sol Barcelona   Spain ( Catalonia)
Bilbao GAA Bilbao   Spain
Bráithreachas     A Estrada   Spain ( Galicia)
Irmandinhos     A Estrada   Spain ( Galicia)
St. Patrcks Gasteiz   Spain
Turonia Gondomar Fútbol Gaélico Gondomar   Spain ( Galicia)
Dorna GAA Illa de Arousa   Spain ( Galicia)
Herdeiros de Dhais Lalin   Spain ( Galicia)
Madrid Harps    Madrid   Spain ( Madrid)
Madrid Youths (only youths)    Madrid   Spain ( Madrid)
Malaga Malaga   Spain ( Andalusia)
Costa Gaels     Marbella   Spain ( Andalusia)
Auriense Gaelic Football Ourense   Spain ( Galicia)
Lune de Beltane Poia   Spain ( Galicia)
Estrela Vermelha    Santiago de Compostela   Spain ( Galicia)
Éire Óg Sevilla    Sevilla   Spain ( Andalusia)
Sitges Eagles Sitges   Spain ( Catalonia)
Orihuela Costa (OC) Gaels Torrevieja   Spain
Keltoi Vigo Vigo   Spain ( Galicia)|-
Sant Vicent GAA    Valencia   Spain ( Valencia)
Zaragoza GAA Zaragoza   Spain
Independiente FC Vigo   Spain ( Galicia)|-
Nordic
Copenhagen GAA    Copenhagen Denmark
Hillerod Wolfe Tones Hillerod Denmark
Odense GAA Odense Denmark
Viking Gaels Copenhagen Denmark
Dun an Esti Tailinn   Estonia
Helsinki Harps GAA    Helsinki   Finland
Oulu Irish Elks GAA    Oulu   Finland
Tampere Hammers Tampere   Finland
Reykjavík Keltar GAA Reykjavík Iceland
Oslo GAA    Oslo   Norway
Gavle GAA Gavle   Sweden
Gothenburg GAA    Gothenburg   Sweden
Luleå Gaels Luleå   Sweden
Malmö GAA    Malmö   Sweden
Stockholm Gaels    Stockholm   Sweden
North-West
Agen Agen   France|-
Azur Gaels    Antibes   France
Gaelic Football Club d'Arthon Arthon   France
Burdigaela Gaelic Football    Bordeaux   France
Gaelic Football Bro Leon     Brest   France / Bretagne
Clermont GFC    Clermont-Ferrand   France
Grenoble Alpes Gaels Grenoble   France
Gwenrann Football Gaélique    Guérande   France / Bretagne
Kerne Football Gaélique    Quimper   France / Bretagne
Pas-en-Artois (Killiennes) Pas-en-Artois   France
EGHB Liffré     Liffré   France / Bretagne
Le Mans Gaels Le Mans   France
Football Gaélique Le Havre Le Havre   France|-
Lorient GAC    Lorient   France / Bretagne
Lugdunum CLG    Lyon   France
Football Gaélique Mondeville Mondeville   France
Montpellier GAA Montpellier   France
Nantes Football Gaélique    Nantes   France / Bretagne
Niort Gaels    Niort   France
Paris Gaels    Paris   France
Provence GF     La Fare-les-Oliviers   France
Ar Gwazi Gouez    Rennes   France / Bretagne
GF Bro Sant-Brieg    Saint-Brieuc   France / Bretagne
Goélands Gaëlics St. Coulomb St. Coulomb   France / Bretagne
Strasbourg Strasbourg   France
Tolosa Gaels    Toulouse   France
Gwened Vannes    Vannes   France / Bretagne
Guernsey Gaels     Saint Peter Port Guernsey
Jersey Irish Saint Helier Jersey

References

  1. ^ O'Brien, Denis (2021). THE RISE OF GAELIC SPORTS IN EUROPE (published 5 May 2021). ISBN  979-8732147209.
  2. ^ a b c d "Gaelic Games Europe - Organisational Structures". Gaelic Games Europe. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Mary Gavin honoured with a President's Award 2013 by Liam O'Neill, President of the GAA". Gaelic Games Europe. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  4. ^ McCrea, Michael (29 July 2019). "Mary Gavin to be honoured at GAA World Games". Camogie Association. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  5. ^ Egan, Kevin (1 April 2021). "A thriving club and a European hub". GAA.ie. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Maastricht - The capital of European GAA". JOE.ie. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  7. ^ "GAA President's Awards - INTERNATIONAL AWARD – Tony Bass, Maastricht Gaels, The Netherlands". YouTube. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  8. ^ "PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR TONY BASS". Cuala GAA. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Oprichter Maastricht Gaels ontvangt award". Maastricht Sport (in Dutch). March 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  10. ^ Scally, Derek. "'Anywhere I've gone in the world there's been a Gaelic team'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  11. ^ "How GAA In Europe Is The Template For Its Eventual Return In Ireland". Extra.ie. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  12. ^ O’Connor, Colm (30 May 2011). "Far away fields are greener as GAA goes global". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  13. ^ Cusack, Ian (25 July 2011). "Is GAA ready to take on the world?". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  14. ^ Keane, Paul (28 February 2013). "GAA to get tough on abuse". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. ^ Fogarty, John (28 February 2018). "Bass stands by Congress CPA criticism". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  16. ^ "federation of irish sport statement on russias war on ukraine and sport". February 2022.
  17. ^ "Ukraine crisis: Which sports have banned Russian athletes?". BBC Sport. February 2022.
  18. ^ "Minister Byrne urges Olympic Movement to continue exclusion of Russia and Belarus from International Sport". February 2022.
  19. ^ "GAA officer repeats Russian claims of 'fake' hospital bombing victim". The Irish Times. February 2022.
  20. ^ Fogarty, John (24 January 2013). "European GAA bids to join Leinster junior championship". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Europe Gaelic Football Cup takes place in Galicia this weekend".
  22. ^ https://belgium-gaa.be/2014/10/20/belgium-gaa-are-european-champions-2014/
  23. ^ O’Toole, Fintan (3 November 2011). "Pan European Gaelic finals attracting over 350 players to Limerick". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  24. ^ Berlin GAA Claim European Title
  25. ^ Clubs lists by country
  26. ^ Kelly, Seán (11 May 2010). "Gaelic games reveal Euro stars". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 February 2022.

External links

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