The Arabian Celts GAA Club was set up in Feb 2008 in the beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain.  The players are based in Bahrain and the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

The Arabian Celts

Hong Kong will be the 3rd year in a row that the Celts have participated in the AGG.  The Celts have an impressive record to date:  Played 12, won 11.  In Penang in 2008 the Celts won 5/6 matches losing out narrowling to Dubai in the final of the B Cup.  In 2009 determined to make up for the loss the Arabian Celts arrived in Bangkok focused on winning the B Cup.  Day one saw 3 wins from 3 and Day 2 saw the Celts get their revenge over Dubai in the Semi final before beating Singapore Lions in the Final by the narrowest of margins in sudden death extra time.  Captain Johnny McFadden also picked up an All-Star award - the 1st for the club on what was a great night.  Only 4 of last year's squad remain so the Celts will have a new look squad in Hong Kong 2010.  Team manager, James Kennedy, has been pleased with the performance of the Team in the run up to the games and is quietly confident that the Celts will have a strong showing as they defend their title at the AGG 2010.

The Arabian Legends

Last year the Arabian Legends, managed by David Lloyd ended up as the surprise package of the tour reaching the Plate Final against Suzhou.  With 10 seconds remaining the Legends were leading by a point when Suzhou equalised with the last kick.  The Game went to sudden death extra time and Suzhou scored the golden point to send the Plate all the way back to China.  The success of the tour built momentum for the team and a month later the Legends won their first title beating Qatar in the final of the Middle East plate.

 

 

The Arabian CeltettesThe Arabian Celts Club is sending a Ladies Team to the Asian Gaelic Games for the 1^st  time in 2010. The Ladies Team was formed in October 2009 and made their debut in the Middle East games a month later winning 50% of their games. The Arabian Celtettes  made their Gulf Gaelic Games debut  in February 2010 and reached the Plate Final only to lose out narrowly to Dubai. Recently the ladies have competed in the Champions League  Gaelic tournament in Bahrain and although they will be missing some key players for the Hong Kong trip The Middle East Games is a real target this year.

 

Arabian Celts GAA Club make their markThe Arabian Celts recently donated a Club jersey to the GAA Museum at Croke Park and the jersey will be on display during the stadium tours  the with the other overseas kits from September onwards.The Arabian Celts also purchased a stone in the Stadium Walk at the New Aviva stadium home to the Ireland Rugby & Soccer Teams. The inscription on the stone read’s The Arabian Celts GAA Club, Bahrain & KSA, Backing Ireland all the Way.

So whenever you visit Ireland and travel to watch a match at Croke Park or the Aviva Stadium know that the Arabian Celts are by your side.

 Bon Voyage Pedro

The Arabian Celts would like to say Bon Voyage to one of the Club’s founding members, Peter Finnegan, who will be moving back to Ireland after the Asian Games. Peter was the 1^st Chairman of the Club, the current Treasurer and is also the Region’s 1^st representative on the Asian County Board. The Club would like to wish you good luck in your new adventure and know that there will always be a jersey for you at the Arabian Celts GAA Club.

 

Celts Abú

 

The Arabian Celts would like to thank our Sponsors Bahrain Duty Free, Aer Rianta Middle East International, Kentz Engineering, Mercury, SEPAM, Propel Consult, RCSI, ESBI & the Bahrain Irish Society for all their support in making this trip to Hong Kong reality.