The 2001 Asian Gaelic Games returned to Phuket, Thailand over the weekend of 1st to 3rd June.

Over 200 members of the Irish Community in Asia & friends of Ireland travelled to the tropical resort of Phuket to join in the event which has grown to become the largest Irish sporting event in Asia.  Every county in Ireland (and a few in the US and Canada...) were represented.

Teams travelled from Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore & Taiwan.  Even Thailand fielded a team assisted by Irish people based elsewhere in the region including Australia, China, Korea & Malaysia together with a team of Asian Exiles now based in Ireland.

The main competition was seven-a-side men's and ladies Gaelic Football.  There was also an exhibition hurling match. 

Charity:

The Ireland Fund of Japan generously agreed to act as Patron for the event with the aim of promoting the work of the Ireland Funds in Irish Communities in Asia and to encourage the establishment of other Ireland Funds in the region. 

For the first time ever, the event raised a substantial amount for charity - two projects were supported, one in Thailand and one Ireland-based charity too.  The Thai charity was represented by Father Joe Maier whose "Human Development Centre" in the Klong Tey suburb of Bangkok has been nominated as the designated charity in Thailand.

The Games:

Phuket 2001 was another good year for Japan GAA.  More dodgy t-shirts with matching caps and the Toucan still intact, they swept all before them to beat Singapore again in the Final.  The Hong Kong Ladies were proving a tough nut to crack as they did the 3-in-a-row.  Taiwan Celts scooped the Men's Plate.