The Kim Chi Kickers of GAAG ‘97

It is eleven years ago since I hung up my Gaelic football boots. In point of fact, it’s also eleven years since I first put them on, although I’m having trouble recalling exactly what were on my feet as I played the position of goalkeeper for the Kimchi Kickers, the first team from the Republic of Korea to participate in the Guinness Asia Gaelic Games (GAGG), held at Manila’s salubrious Nomad Sports Club from June 6th to June 8th 1997.

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.

This year's games in Penang saw the ACB officially adopted Streets International as the nominated charity.

www.streetsinternational.org

Here's a message from Dubliner Daragh Halpin, Director of Development Southeast Asia

'I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your amazing response and words of encouragement following my brief explanation about the project on the opening evening of the games.

Now that the dust has settled and everyone has recovered I'm keen to follow up with each of team and encourage you to help create that 'living legecy' of young peoples lives being transformed as a result of Penang 2008.
  
As you will see in the attached information there are 2 sponsorship 'packgages' available. If you are from one of the larger club with 2 or more teams represented, you might like to consider one team opting for the 'Educational' sponsorship and the other for the 'Welfare' one etc. Either way it's going to make a fantastic difference to someone who would otherwise never have this chance at a better, brighter future.

 Streets international - Team Captain's Letter (97.5 kB)

 Streets international - Team Sponsorship Info Package (118.5 kB) 

I thank you all most sincerely for your generosity and support (and for a great weekend of sport & craic!)

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Daragh

--
Daragh Halpin
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This year the Asian County Board offered the first ever Asian All Star awards in the presence of the leading national GAA figures: GAA President Nicky Brennan, President-elect Sheamus Howlin and GAA commenting legend, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh

For a report on the Games from the Malaysian Star, downlad the press clipping here :  Malaysian Star AGG Penang (2.4 MB)