| Personal Stories |
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As youngsters in Ireland many of us had posters of the All-Stars hanging in our rooms. I know I had them hanging with pride and of course hoping someday I would see my face on them, alas, that wasn’t going to happen but this year in Kuala Lumpur I achieved the next best thing – I got to drink some beers and hang out with many of the 2009 and 2010 All-stars. A big thank you is in order for the ACB and the Kuala Lumpur club. All the hard work and late nights paid off in a highly organized and well run tournament. Everyone I spoke with thoroughly enjoyed the day (and nights) and I would bet that many will be going back to Kuala Lumpur for a vacation soon thanks to the warm welcome. The weekend started off like many good weekends do, in the pub, where everyone got a chance to catch up for the first time since the AGG’s in September. I had planned a relatively light night of a bite to eat, a few pints, and then bed for the game the next day. Happily, it didn’t work out that way. First stop was the dinner and it was a great event, the craic was good and as the night went on and drink flowed it got even better. Next stop was Finnegan’s pub, which thankfully was not far from the hotel. The beers were ordered and everyone was enjoying telling their exploits on the fields from previous AGG’s, but I have to think a few may have embellished a little but they were great nonetheless. At around 1am, I wanted to call it a night – the old bones needed a good night’s rest with 2 games the next day, so I went to say my goodbyes to Davy Hayes and Mark Cummins but somehow they twisted my arm (forcefully I think) and I decided to stay a few more hours. Needless to say it was around 6am when we left the pub and stopped off for some curry (or something that resembled curry) on the way home. It was about 7am when I finally got to bed and though I knew the next day would be rough, sure it was worth it. The alarm went off way too soon the next day (or I should say the same morning) and I lumbered out of bed and looked across and in the other bed was a refreshed looking Taidgh Simpson ready for the days games. We rounded up the Seoul gang and wandered off for some breakfast and ended up eating a Subway sandwich which didn’t really taste like it was supposed to (or that could have been my taste buds or lack of). Anyways, we finished of the breakfast and headed back for the bus to the Royal Selangor club. We arrived at the club and were greeted with grass fields (halleluiah – we don’t have many in Seoul) and some warm weather. First up for the day was the International rules game, so with the head still hanging, I got changed and along with Mark and Taidgh went to play for the Aussies against a strong looking KL team. By the 2nd period I was regretting tell Pat Goram that I would play because I was dying, thankfully so were many of the other lads who stayed out late as well. Eventually, the Aussie team ran out winners and off we went to change into our brand new Asian All-star kits (thanks ACB). A bit of a warm up was done and with Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh seated in the press box, it was game on. Both teams were strong, with a healthy mix of old and young (though I do think we had the more experienced “old” team). The ball was thrown in and off we went. The first quarter went to the 2009 All-stars, who stormed out of the box and were well ahead by the time the whistle went. With some words of wisdom from the well aged Davy Hayes, we took the field for the second quarter with confidence. This time we took control and with the youthful Joe McGrath in the back and the graceful Davy up front we soon crawled our way back into the game and took the lead. At halftime, the 2009 All-stars were in turmoil, I could hear Mark giving instructions but with such a thick Dublin accent I don’t think any of the lads were paying much attention. The second half was controlled by the 2010 all-stars and despite the hangovers the lads kept going to the final whistle and were worthy champions. Time for a much needed rest and with the Asian ladies all-star game up next, it was beer and seat time. The ladies game was exceptional, a truly fantastic game to watch with some great running off the ball and superb skill on the ball. With a back bone of the Asian champions, Singapore, a few heroines from the Seoul Gaels and several other clubs such as Japan it was sure to be a great game and it was. The ladies put the men to shame and gave an exhibition game that was one of the best I have seen. They never stopped running and some fantastic scores were taken by both teams. Indeed, it was such a close game that the winning team won by a single point. Next up was the kid’s game and they put on a fine performance for the many cheering fans. The future is definitely bright for Gaelic in Asia as the teams had some great boys and girls from all nationalities playing. Goals were scored, points were missed, parents were screaming (I still had a sore head) but all in all the kids enjoyed playing in front of the growing crowd and having Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh comment on your game will be with them for a long time. The main event was last of the day and despite a few rain showers everyone was really excited to see the GAA All-stars perform. Having watched many of them on television this year in the pubs around Seoul, it was great to see them up close. On Friday night, I thought some of them looked a bit small for county football but once on the field I was badly mistaken – I know they didn’t grow that big in my day. After a few photo sessions and autograph signings the lads took to the field ready to showcase Ireland’s greatest game. We took our seats along the sideline with a beer in one hand and burger in the other; we were happy and recovered from the previous games. The game kicked off and for the next 50 minutes the fans were treated to fantastic football from some truly great footballers. They make it look so easy but of course we all know it is hard work, but the passing, control, and shooting was tremendous and the players gave the fans a feast of goals and skills. I think 19 goals were scored by both teams and the players were definitely enjoying themselves on the field. Despite some interruptions because of the weather the fans and players were in good spirits. After the game was restarted, one of the Asian all-stars (Quynh) from Vietnam got the opportunity to participate in the main game. This was a great gesture by the traveling All-stars and a great memory for Quynh and the travelling Vietnamese supporters. The game itself ended in a draw and the teams then had a penalty shoot-out. With some nice (and terrible ) penalties, it was all square with the 2009 team left with the last kick to win the game – up stepped Quynh, the Vietnamese All-star and he raised the onion bag with a great penalty. The 2009 All-star team won a great game of football and the fans I know were happy to have seen some brilliant football. After a few awards, everyone slowly made their way back to the hotels ready to take on the pubs of Kuala Lumpur one last time After a shower and a bite to eat, we made our way to Finnegan’s once more. The night started well with a get together for the Asian All-stars and the drink flowed quickly and often. After such an exhausting day it was good to sit down in the comfort of air-conditioning and enjoy the craic of many friends. Then the All-stars slowly started coming into the bar and the fun really started. It was great to have a drink with them, I had some great conversations with some of them – discussing football and trying to convince them to play for Seoul next year. Then Paraic called my name and Mark’s to have a drink off for the MVP – now I don’t drink very often and well Mark is a “good” drinker but that didn’t stop me from giving my best and what do you know – after a tie with the first bottle, another one appeared and I downed it before Cummins got half way through his (but he will tell you another story). Next up Ealga from Seoul and Becs from Singapore were up from a drink off for women’s MVP and Ealga was victorious – a great start to the night for the KL 5 from Seoul. The next few hours were a mix of singing, dancing, and conversations were great friends and fantastic footballers. I have to admit the end of the night was a bit hazy but since I did eventually end up in my hotel room – it was a great night. The weekend in Kuala Lumpur was a tremendous occasion not just for the football but for the advancement of the game here in Asia, the Asian County Board and the organizing committee from Kuala Lumpur should be very proud of the event and the performances of the Asian teams. Getting the opportunity to meet and talk with the GAA All-stars was for me a highlight of a very long year and one that I will not forget and will talk about for many years. It was always my dream to become an All-star but having my picture taking with Marty Clarke and some of the other lads is just as good – if I couldn’t be one then at least I could be next to one!!!! It may be a few years to the next trip to Asia but I think I will have to continue to play football and try to get invited to the next one because it was a fantastic weekend and an experience that for many will not be forgotten. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Hong Kong club for all the hard work and commitment that it took to put on such a fabulous weekend of fun, games, beer & sunburn. The hospitality we were shown at all times by all representatives of the Hong Kong club and the ACB was brilliant and it meant an awful lot to us. We will always be grateful up here in Dalian. Hope to see you all next year again. Barry Spillane On behalf of Dalian Wolfhounds GAA club I have played in the second Asian Gaelic Games in Manila and many more since then and the games have consistently gone up in terms of quality and competition and numbers participating. It has been a pleasure to have been part of the Taiwan Celts from the second year of the founding club of GAA in Asia and to carry on the spirit of the pioneering members of the club burning while they have long since left these island shores. This year we will as usual have just as much players of other nationalities as Irish on the team which definitely improves the overall athleticism and probably the skill too. In an improvement on previous years we look forward to being able to wear our prominently logo'd Taiwan jerseys with pride this year. We'll be trying to step it up from Bowl winners to Plate winners this year. Pete as Captain will lead the way to glory. To say Gaelic football is a “labor of love” in Thailand would be an understatement. Although Thailand has hosted the Asian Gaelic Games twice, they had never had a team represent the nation before I moved there in 2004. As you can well imagine the team did poorly but the craic was mighty! We scored within 10 seconds of our opening match but didn’t kick another point for the rest of the tournament. That didn’t seem to bother the rest of the team who were reliving the glories of Lan Kwai Fong and Dempseys. When we left Hong Kong we had promised ourselves that we would return to the Games the next year for the fun and to try and end our scoring drought. It took 3 years but Thailand returned to the Asian Games last year. The efforts of John Campbell with help from Derek Martin and myself provided us with enough players and the kit to ensure this version of the team was an improvement. other than our own individual performances we did not have a criticism of the weekend. I also have to say that the Gaelic footballs provided for us by the Puma lads Padraic Ellicott and Roy Bulfin were the most sought after artifacts at the Games. Hopefully Thailand will be a mainstay in the Asian Gaelic Games from now on. The Asian Gaelic Games have been a fantastic time due to the effort of everyone involved from the host nation to the teams we have played against or been asked to play for. In my opinion it is when the ex-pats and Irish culture are at their best in Asia. Thailand Abu! My first experience of the AGG was thankfully a winning one as part of the Singapore team in '99. I look back now at how the competition has changed and if I'm honest, that team (great though it was!) would probably not make a 'B' final today. That was my first year in Singapore and the support (and characters) of the Singapore Gaelic Lions certainly eased my transition to Asia. Following a series of injuries my playing involvement with the AGG was sadly curtailed but I re-emerged as the coach of the Singapore Gaelic Lionesses in 2005. To this day I still haven't contacted the police because we were without doubt robbed! This painful memory, however, does highlight how inclusive the AGG is. So many people will have had there first taste of Gaelic football/hurling, their first experience of coaching or of referring or of being on a club committee thru the AGG. It gets (and keeps) people involved, builds bridges with the local communities and provides a wonderful showcase for all that is great in Gaelic games. What would the Founding fathers have thought? As ambitious Michael Cusack and the other founders of the Gaelic Athletic Association were, did they ever envision a sliotar being pucked in Shanghai or a GAA kids program in Singapore? or me, moving from one of the regions smallest Irish communities in Taiwan to one of the largest in Shanghai, I see Asian GAA as a vital organ (maybe the liver!) for the extended Irish community in the region. I am very proud to be involved with such a dedicated bunch of volunteers who do so much for sport and intercommunity integration in Asia. My aging father still manages a chuckle every time I update him on my GAA exploits with the Beijing Banshees! And why wouldn’t he be bemused as well as amused! I had never played Gaelic football before coming to Beijing, and football was not a ladies sport way back when I was growing up!
Getting back in touch After 10 years as an expat, predominantly in Asia, my first experience of the Asian Games was the 2006 Games in Shanghai. I was extremely impressed by the whole event, met up with a few old friends, and was kicking myself that I hadn't known about it before ! Competition was fierce, men and women, some of the football was of a very high standard and great to hear the legendary Michael O'Muiraheurtaigh. And most importantly the craic was good. The Bangkok ThaiGAAs were formed on the back of this and we're looking forward to our second Asian Games in Penang in October. The club has brought together a lot of the Irish community and friends in Bangkok, mainly due to our social side. We enjoy support from the Irish business community and others, and on the work side you're always picking up useful business contacts within Thailand and overseas. It's also good to know that if you do travel within the region, whether for business or leisure, that most countries now have clubs and people you can contact for a run-around or even just local advice. Having now spent half of my life outside Ireland GAA in Asia has allowed me to get back in touch with my Irish identity and culture. When I went to Japan as a university student in 1999 I had never played GAA at home but was well up for heading to Singapore to support the Japan men's team in the AGG that summer. In the end us girls ended up playing to add enough numbers to have 3 ladies team competing that year.. and I never looked back since. In 2001 I moved to Japan to work and the Japan GAA became a really big part of my life. I always enjoyed our training sessions not just for the football but for the social side of it was well ;) One of the best parts of GAA in Asia is that it is open for everyone, you don't need to play it home, you don't even have to know what gaelic football is to start playing and become an critical player out on the pitch. Our ladies team was a mix of nationalities and one of the best things is watching someone who didn't even know what GAA was a few months ago to solo down the pitch during a game :D The AGG tournaments are great weekends, the football and competition is great on the pitch, but off the pitch the friendships made and fun had are just as important. One of the key elements of the AGG is that people who have left Asia travel back for the AGG to cheer on the sidelines or even to play. Now that I am living back in Ireland I made it back for the games in 2006 and am hoping I might get there again this year. I've never been part of anything like the AGG it's like a family reunion without the family Dear Michael Respectfully fr joe I suppose we all have our own memories or thoughts on the AGGs and coming into my 7th tournament its time to for me to reflect a bit about my own involvement. The Games are my sporting highlight of the year in Asia. I remember the first year I was involved, and calling home to tell the family and mates about it. To say there was a few moments of dead air on the line would be a bit of an understatement. Then there was the all too common, “Are you on the lash again? Get out of it, Football in Asia. G’wan.” When they were eventually convinced of the authenticity of my report they were quite supportive but still a little taken aback. That summer involved a lot of hardship. Lots of running on the hard dirt grounds of Seoul, too much time spent on the side of the pitch trying to purge myself of the overindulgences of the previous evening (some would say the previous 20 odd years) and two too many trips to the hospital. But, when the time came to head off to Phuket, there was great excitement. The Korean media were skeptical, to say the least, of our chances but The Unknowns, or the Upstarts depending on who you listen to, of Asian Gaelic Football went on to win the Derek Brady that year and continued on winning ways for the next 2 years. There was great pride to be had in being part of organizing a bunch of lads, and later lassies, playing Football in Asia. Apart from the Football, the main thing about the AGGs is the friends that you meet. Even though you may only see each other once or twice a year, the bond that only Football can give you makes sure that there is good craic and plenty of pints each time. And no matter how hard ye puck and hit each other on the field or how loud ye shout at each other, once that final whistle goes its important to be the first to bring up who is responsible for the first round that evening. I’ll leave it at that for now but I look forward to seeing old and new friends on the battle fields and in the pubs of Malaysia this October. Bringing GAA to Manchuria I never thought I would end up in the northeast of China teaching people how to play Gaelic football. I grew up near Kells in Co Meath and made the usual transition from high catches in the back garden with the da and brothers to playing underage with the local club. From the age of 8 till about 20 I did very little else apart from playing football with a wide variety of teams. The highest level I played was county minor with Meath in 1992 and that just about gave me a gutful of football. College life in Galway mercifully intervened and provided plenty of distraction and after the first year of college I became very much a “social player”. I had the unique honour of winning 5 Galway Junior C leagues in a row with St Michael’s in Westside. Advocates of strict amateurism will be appalled to hear that my participation came with free haircuts from Tom Nally on Shop Street.
The Kim Chi Kickers of GAAG '97 It should come as no surprise my memories of the occasion are now somewhat fuzzy for it took a team celebration hosted by the Irish Ambassador to Korea two weeks after the event to piece together some semblance of what exactly happened such was the entertainment both on and off the field of play. From the outset I’d like to let it be known that as our motley squad assembled on the afternoon of June 5th at Seoul’s Kimpo Airport I was very much under the impression I was only accompanying the Kimchi Kickers as one of three official fans (the others being yer man Shay from Unilever, and Yvonne, the wife of Alan Hobbs of Enterprise Ireland/IDA distinction), for I’d never in my life played Gaelic Football (the only preceding GAA recollection of note being when as an eight year old being forced to finish a dish of cold cabbage and ham in a dining room festooned by dazzling silver All-Ireland trophies and medals at the Tralee home of John Joe Sheedy, a former Kerry great) and hadn’t a clue about the rules. I’d also never been to the Philippines, and knowing well the band that called themselves the Kimchi Kickers this was one experience I wasn’t going to miss. You’d be forgiven for thinking that one and all had just came together at the airport, were given a rule book, a Kimchi Kicker sports shirt and directed toward the boarding gate. Nothing could be further from the truth. By the time the Kimchi Kickers assembled they were a well and truly oiled team. They (note at this stage I don’t use the word” we”) were comprised of dedicated FAS graduates, Aussie Rules fanatics from down under, in addition to a Canadian and the New Zealander goalkeeper, all of whom had been religiously practicing every Sunday for the previous four or five months. And training conditions were harsh indeed, sure there wasn’t even a decent GAA practice pitch to be found anywhere in Seoul, except those hard asphalt surfaces. And despite some queer looks of puzzlement from the locals as to what sort of ball game was being played by the ginger-haired foreigners with those green tartan hats, the Kimchi Kickers persevered with their training program under the wise, professional, and inspirational guidance of Alan. British Airways came in with a bit of sponsorship money, which made possible the fitting out of stylish on-and-off the pitch attire (as in navy blue polo shirts), which, in hindsight, must have been the attraction to join for the Kimchi Kickers two secret weapons Annie from Ireland and Sue from Korea. They’d remain secret until five minutes before the kick-off of the first match when an impassioned argument with the match officials and tournament organisers ensued. Our first win and a first in GAGG history: acceptance of a unisex team that would soon be taking on the might of Singapore GAA and Hong Kong GAA. It was also a committed and confident team raring to go, ready to do Korea proud, that arrived in Manila Airport, where we were bumped into Cathal, a friend from Donegal, on the first leg of a world backpacking trip, who wanted to see for himself what all the commotion was about. While promising he’d be Kim Chi Kickers loyal fan #4 it was lightheartedly noted his hiking boots were multipurpose. “You must be joking”, said he. And so to 8.00am back in the now full of life lobby of the Midtown, after less than three hours sleep. In the midst of all the cheery smiles, the hearty mix of Irish county, Australian and many imperceptible accents, the good –natured slagging and banter, as old friendships and bonds were rekindled among Gaels from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea, I had the first spine-tingling moment of many I’d experience over the next two days: Despite the euphoria and the sense of occasion everyone had a single-mindedness. They were here to emulate the spirit of Derek Brady and bring back the Trophy bearing his name to their respective country of temporary exile. It was a great moment to be Irish. By Niall O’ Reilly (
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