"It is part of my identity"

Irish sport Gaelic football

01-11-2023 · Report

“Ladies, hurry up, run a lap. Actually, you should run one extra,” trainer Tony Bass grins at a group of latecomers. The rest is already warming up with a group of men.

Gaelic Football

Gaelic Games (or in Irish: na cluichí Gaelacha) is a collective name for various sports that originate in Ireland. Hurling (Camogie, for women) and football are the two flavours. Both sports cannot easily be described. Hurling is most similar to hockey due to the use of wooden sticks and a ball. However, this ball doesn’t just roll over the ground, but flies through the air and is even allowed to be caught and balanced on the stick. Football, on the other hand, is a mix of handball, basketball and football, a player may catch the ball and hold on to it, bounce it, ‘solo it’ (see box), pass it, or kick it. Also, where a game of hurling is more suitable for large flat fields, football can easily be played on a football or rugby pitch. Football is therefore popular across Ireland. There are two official pitches in Europe: in Rennes and in Maastricht. Student sports association Maastricht Gaels therefore offers both sports, but as there is a football competition planned, that is what the training session is for today.

Pounding

It is a large group, about forty people, the female portion being practically as large as the male. The sport is really not for wimps. The language spoken is English, with the occasional Irish accent. As far as nationalities go, there is a little of everything: Australians, Asians, Germans, and even someone who is (half) Dutch: Damian Hopley has an English father and a Dutch mother and he himself was born and raised in The Hague. A year ago, he moved to Maastricht for his studies. He discovered Gaelic Games at the Inkom. After the first training, he was sold: “It is an interesting game and I immediately felt welcome. Everyone can join in, whether you are experienced or not. Also, the experienced players like to help the beginners.” In the meantime, there is a lot of pounding going on among the men. It appears to be part of the game. Does that never lead to arguments? “No”, Hopley answers. “When the game is over, you shake each other’s hand and drink a beer together.

Identity

When the women are asked who is their most experienced player, they shout simultaneously: “Kira.” Blushing a little, she steps forward. Kira McDonnell was born and raised in Belfast. She learned about Gaelic football from a very young age. “For me, it is part of my identity. My whole family plays it.” But that is not the case for all Irish people. Even within Belfast, there is a division. “I am from the west of the city, where the sport is very popular, but there are people here from the east who have never played it,” she says. That is because, trainer Tony Bass adds later on, the east side of the city is predominantly protestant and there they want nothing to do with something that is so strongly connected to the Catholic (and Republic) people. McDonnell still plays for her team in Belfast, but the season has just ended there. That was in her favour; it is only starting here and now that she is in Maastricht for her studies, she can play this season. Does the low level of some players not bother her a little? “I used to play competitively, but that spoilt the fun. For me, team spirit is the most important and I love teaching new people. I actually appreciate it enormously that people are interested in Irish culture.”

Maastricht Gaels

The idea originated, completely in style, in an Irish pub in Maastricht. What once started as a civilian club with a number of people from Ireland, including Tony Bass, has since then grown to be a student sports association. Initially, only Gaelic football was played, but hurling was added later on. While Bass used to be quite competitive, he says, these days he finds the social aspect more important. He has seen friendships come about and love bloom. “There might likely be even two engagements soon,” he says with a wink.

Student athletes

In this series, Observant shines a light on student sports associations. This time, it is not the well-known sports such as football, tennis and hockey, but less well-known ones such as spikeball, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and Gaelic games. We will hear from both the athletes and the trainers.

Facts

Gaelic football is played with a ball that is slightly smaller than a football.
A team normally consists of fifteen players, but in Europe, it is eleven players with a standard line-up of 1-2-2-2-2-2.
The official pitch is 130-154 metres long and 80-90 metres wide.
The goals are almost the same as rugby goals, but the crossbar is a little lower. In addition, there is a net under the crossbar, as there is as in the case of football.
There are two ways to score:
1. In the net gives 3 points
2. Across the crossbar gives 1 point
The ball is kicked, passed, bounced, held onto, and soloed.
1. Soloing is a technique whereby the player allows the ball to drop onto the instep of the foot, then kicking it back into the hand.
2. A player may hold onto the ball for four steps. Then there is the choice: bounce (not two times in a row) or solo.
3. In order to pass the ball, it is ‘served’ as in volleyball or punched with the fist. Throwing with two hands is not allowed.
Shoulder contact is allowed for the men.