The All-Ireland Championships and National Leagues are the highlights of the GAA Calendar. With 32 Counties in Ireland, as well as London and New York from the Britain GAA Provincial Council and World Games taking part, there is plenty of competition in the four most popular sports of Hurling, Gaelic Football, Camogie and Ladies Gaelic. Both Club and County honours are to sought, and in the GAA the season is split into a National League usually playing over the Winter Months followed by the All-Ireland Championships, usually fought out over the summer. The All-Ireland Club Finals take place around St. Patrick’s Day, and the All-Ireland County Championships in September.

Gaelic Football

Gaelic Football is one of the four original GAA Charter Sports of 1884, and the most popular, played to the highest level throughout the 32 Counties as well as 14 Counties around the World. It is 15-a-side and Goals (worth 3 Points) are scored as well as Points (Over the Bar – worth 1 Point). it is organised like most GAA Games on a County, Provincial and All-Ireland basis with Club Competitions providing the bedrock of the game, and the best club players representing their counties. Within both Club and County Competitions there is the League (usually run over the winter months) and the Championship (usually run over the summer months).

Featured Image: Photo Contributor: Dirk Hudson (2020) 14th August 2020, Dublin, Ireland. Various county team jerseys hanging up in the players dressing room under the Cusack Stand in Croke Park Stadium, located in Jones’ Rd, Drumcondra, Dublin. [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/14th-august-2020-dublin-ireland-various-1800336604 [Accessed 26 July 2022]

The GAA World Archive is part of the Eirball.ie – Irish, North American and World Sports Archives

GAA Gaelic Football

Hurling

Hurling is an ancient Gaelic Irish Sport, and one of the four Charter GAA Sports of 1884. It is played with a Hurl or Hurley (stick) and a sliotar (ball) and is one of the fastest team sports in the world. It is 15-a-side and Goals (worth 3 points) are scored as well as points (over the bar – worth one point). It is organised on a Club and County basis like most GAA Sports and has County, Provncial and All-Ireland Championships. Within both Club and County Championships there is the Hurling League (usually run over winter) and the Hurling Championship (usually run over summer). There are about 12 Top Level (Division 1) Counties that play for the Liam McCarthy Cup, as well as the Joe McDonagh Cup (Division 2), Christy Ring Cup (Division 3), and Nicky Rackard (Division 4) and Lory Meaghar Cups (Division 5). Outside of Ireland there are 14 Counties that also play Gaelic Football and sometimes Hurling, with London, Warwickshire and Lancashire taking part in the lower levels of the All-Ireland Championships.

Camogie

Camogie is the ladies version of Hurling, with slightly different rules to suit them. It is also 15-a-side and is scored by either goals (worth 3 points) or points (over the bar – worth one point). It is played with a Camog (stick) and ball. It is organised, like most GAA sports on a Club and County basis, with County, Provincial, and All-Ireland Championships. The season is divided in both Club and County into a Camogie League (usually played over winter) and a Camogie Championship (usually played over summer).

The GAA World Archive is part of the Eirball.ie – Irish, North American and World Sports Archives

Ladies Gaelic Football

Ladies Gaelic Football, as its name suggests is the Ladies version of Ireland’s most popular sport, and can boast almost as much popularity, with 50,000 recently turning up at Croke Park for the Ladies Gaelic Football All-Ireland Championship Final. It is organised, like most GAA sports on a Club and County basis, with County, Provincial and All-Ireland Championships. The season is divided into a Football League (usually held over winter) and a Championship (usually held over summer). The scoring is similar to Gaelic Football, Hurling and Camogie, with a goal (worth 3 points) and a point (over the bar – worth one point). It is also 15-a-side like Gaelic Football, Hurling and Camogie.

The GAA World Archive is part of the Eirball.ie – Irish, North American and World Sports Archives

Colleges GAA

LGFA Higher Education Championship

Gaeltacht GAA

About Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta

Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta is an All Ireland Football Championship held annually since 1969 between Club sides from the Gaeltacht Areas of Donegal (Ulster), Galway and Mayo (Connacht), Kerry, Cork and Waterford (Munster) and Meath (Leinster). [Reference: 8]