| 2007 - Singapore |
|
SGL welcomed almost 600 participants to the Lion City, from 15 different clubs with over 40 teams participating over 2 days of Gaelic Football and Hurling. This year saw the emergence of three new clubs in SE Asia - Orang Eire, Viet Celts & Thai GAA. The Opening Ceremony was hosted by the Embassy of Ireland, Singapore. Ireland's Ambassador to Singapore HE Richard O'Brien was delighted to welcome Seamus Howlin, Chairman of the Overseas Work Group of the GAA. Former Tánaiste Dick Spring together with the Irish Ambassadors to Japan and Vietnam - Brendan Scannell & Brendan Lyons were also in attendance. While Micheál himself was unable to join us we were lucky that his son, Cormac O'Muircheartaigh acted as MC for the evening at which the draw for the main competitions was announced. Saturday and Sunday's Games at the Polo Club were played through the hottest weekend of the year in Singapore - with temperatures topping 35 degress - but the participants did not let that deter them and the quality of the football was the best yet at the AGG. One of the highlights of the games was the first outing of the Singapore Cubs - who showed their adult counterparts how it is done. The Charities for the 2007 games were the Special Olympics Singapore and the Hope Foundation. During the course of the weekend we ran a Lucky Draw and and used sales of the games t-shirts & programmes to raise over S$6,000. The Derek Brady cup returned to Hong Kong in 2007 - with the winners once again displaying their class with victory over the hosts in the Final. Dubai Celts beat Singapore B to take the Plate with a last minute goal & the men's Bowl went to Hong Kong D'exiles. In the Ladies Competition the Dubai Celts Ladies once again were champions with a hard fought victory over Seoul Gaels in the Final. Japan Ladies won the plate & Taiwan the bowl. 2007 saw the first ever Hurling Cup played at the AGG. Singapore and Dubai led the charge on the Hurling with Dubai taking the first Cup back to the middle east to add to an impressive haul of silverware this year. To close the games with a bang - a beach party to end all beach parties was held out on Sentosa Island with each club suitably attired for the beach, where the Toucan was kidnapped by the hosts and the party went on until the very very wee hours. Below: Dubai Celts - Ladies Cup Champions Hong Kong GAA - DB Cup Champions Dubai vs. Singapore - Hurling Final Singapore Cubs
|
The 12th Annual Asian Gaelic Games were held at the Singapore Polo Club on the 23rd and 24th June, proudly hosted by the Singapore Gaelic Lions.
