Gaelic Football returns to Bangkok

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After a short break for summer, players of the Irish sport Gaelic Football recommence training on Tuesday nights at NIST on Sukhumvit Soi 15. The sport, which is open to men and women, has been described as a mix between soccer, basketball and rugby and is a fast-moving ball game in which teams try to outscore each other by shooting goals (in the goal) and points (between the crossbars). The Thailand GAA oversee the fast-growing sport here in Bangkok.

The club is preparing for the Asian Gaelic Games (AGG), which is being held in Kuala Lumpur in October, and invites people who are looking for a fun sport or exercise to come down to a training session and try out this exciting sport.

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Gaelic football is a sport native to Ireland but has become hugely popular across South East Asia in the past 10 years. Described by many as a mix between basketball and soccer, the sport is the most popular ball game in Ireland, with attendances at All Ireland finals hitting 82,000. It has evolved in other countries where the Irish have made their home, most notably in Australia which it forms the basis of AFL. The sport, as played in Asia, is a fast-paced nine-a-side game that combines speed, dexterity and a lot of ball passing.

The Thailand GAA takes part in two main tournaments a year (the AGG in October and the South Asia Games in March), and the club is open to all who want to play an exciting sport for pleasure and fitness. The club hosts a men’s and a ladies’ team, with the ladies team being particularly successful against bigger opoosition in the tournament.s.

The club is not just for those from an Irish background; members come from all around the globe, with the US, the Philippines, Australia, the Netherlands, England and other countries being represented. The club also organises regular social events, in conjunction with the Saint Patrick’s Society and the Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Don’t be worried about not having played Gaelic Football before, the club is very welcoming to newcomers to the sport. Training takes places on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at NIST, Sukhumvit Soi 15. For more details, email [email protected] or check out the Thai GAA Facebook page.

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