NY Tyrone Senior Team 2011 at Gaelic Park, New York City. (Photo by Margaret Purcell-Roddy).

In today’s podcast GaelicSportsCast continues its series profiling GAA clubs in the New York region when looking at the New York Tyrone Gaelic Football club out of the Bronx.

NY Tyrone fields both Junior and Senior squads and while this year was a tough one for the juniors it was a magnificent year for the seniors who finished the league top of the table and reaching the championship game were just denied by holders NY Leitrim in OT.

The club has its eyes set very much on the future and here to tell us about that and the early years for NY Tyrone GFC is longtime club official and secretary, Seamus McNabb.

Listen here: 27:26

Founded just three short years ago, the club affiliated to the New York GAA Minor Board, set out from the start to broaden the scope of the player base beyond the Irish American community and introduce Gaelic football to mainstream America.

This strategy has worked wonders for the promotion of the sport in the region and to talk more about that and get an insight into Setanta’s beginnings, we speak today with founder member and Setanta GFC President, Jerry Padian.

Listen here: 29:04

Setanta GFC website: http://setantagaa.shutterfly.com/

Europe GAA since its foundation over a decade ago, with a half dozen teams, has seen phenomenal growth rate over the past few years with some 45 clubs participating across six regions in 12 countries at present, and, the hosting of the finals today in the European City of Sports, Limerick marks a homecoming for most and a new beginning for others.

The event throws in early today at the University of Limerick for the group stages with the finals of the Mens Football Championship and Mens Shield, and, Ladies Football Championship taking place later in the evening at the Gaelic Grounds.

There will be six teams (11 aside) in the mens championship with defending champions Den Haag again looking strong after taking Round 1 in Belgium, however, they will have to watch out for Guernsey who beat them at home on the Islands in Round 2 and both are tied on points going into today’s competition. Belgium who are in third spot will also have a say with the likes of Luxembourg, Spanish champions Valencia, and Stockholm battling it out for the minor placings.

In the ladies championship, unstoppable Belgium who have already secured their fourth title in a row, will nonetheless feature plenty of competition with 8 teams in action where Paris, Holland, Stockholm and Barcelona will be fighting it out for second and third places while the likes of Munich and the combo team of Niort (France)/Copenhagen and Swedish side Gothenbourg, will be battling for the remainder of the spoils.

In the biggest competition of the day the Mens Shield there will be 12 teams in action and like the ladies, Amsterdam by winning the first two rounds have already taken the title but there will still be plenty to play for in this very competitive event which features many non-Irish players. Teams such as Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Toulouse and Zurich/St Gallen will also be eagerly contesting for honours.

There will be some 350 players taking part in the competition with many European nationals kicking a ball in Ireland for the very first time while for other non-Irish from places like America, China, Columbia and Iran it will also be a very big first playing their new sport on Irish soil in this historic event.

(Watch out for results & full podcast report on the tournament).

Hosted in a different city each year, the Asian Gaelic Games (AGG) since its foundation 15 years ago has witnessed tremendous growth with this year seeing some 57 teams from 22 clubs congregate from as far away as Dubai, India, Malaysia and Mongolia for top honors and the sheer enjoyment of playing Gaelic Sports.The AGG is a 9-a-side  tournament featuring mens and ladies football, hurling with this year seeing the sport of Camogie taking its inaugural bow in this tournament.

This year’s three day event began on Friday, Oct 14 and here to tell us about all the competitions, the winners, and the task of organization is ‘Games Director and Seoul GAA Treasurer, Helen Cooke.

Listen here: 28:54

Queensland camogie team celebrate their history making feat after taking the first ever Australasian Camogie Championship at Gaelic Park, Willawong Brisbane on Saturday last. (Photo courtesy of Queensland GAA).

What a time it turned out to be for Queensland GAA both on and off the field at the Australasian Gaelic Games, Brisbane last week.

After the Biblical floods of last January that gutted the club house and destroyed playing facilities, it was nothing short of a miracle that last week the men, women, children and players from the GAA community at Willawong in Brisbane should have everything back in working order to host a very successful Kepplers 2011 Australasian Gaelic Games at Gaelic Park, Oct 2-8.

And, on the field of play Queensland GAA did themselves proud also when taking three of the four major trophies in a very competitive Australasian championships.

The week long tournament saw a return to the fold for NSW teams, however last year’s hosts from New Zealand could not make it on account of commitments with the Rugby World Cup taking place in their country.

Here to tell us about this year’s championships that saw many firsts, is Australasian and Queensland GAA Chairman, Seamus Sullivan.

Listen here: 24:14

It was a great trial of the New York ladies to be there at all as this was their third trip in six weeks across the Atlantic for the All Ireland series and the anguish felt by the team at the final whistle showed how much the competition meant to them.

In today’s podcast GaelicSportsCast gives you a full rundown on the game.

Stockholm Gaels mens and ladies teams with legendary GAA commentator, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. Mícheál who attended Europe Pan 1 commentated on both the mens and ladies finals. (Photo courtesy of Stockholm Gaels).

About this time in Europe each year, Gaelic sports enthusiasts are thick on the ground as it marks the beginning of the first round of the mens and ladies European football championship series.

All summer long in the six regions that comprise Europe GAA: North West Bretagne, North West, Iberia, Scandinavia, Benelux, and, East and Central, teams had been competing in mens football for places in the three Pan European Championship Final Rounds.

In the mens championship, regional winners and runner’s up get automatic qualification for the Pan Europe series and once the series begins the team leading the table at the end of Round 3 – which for the first time ever is being held at Limerick in Ireland this November  – will be crowned European champion.

The ladies European football championship format is a little different in that teams compete in 7 rounds across Europe – including the final three Pan Europe rounds – with table toppers all season, the victors.

Mens champion’s Den Haag are going for three in a row this year while Belgium ladies look unstoppable as they seek a fourth title in succession.

Last Saturday, the Pan Europe series began in earnest with Round 1 taking place at Leuven, Belgium.
Six mens teams lined up for Round 1 honours while a further 8 teams lined out in the ladies competition. In the mens Shield competition, which is pretty much open to all-comers, a fantastic 11 teams took to the field.

The usual suspects Den Haag and Belgium took the mens and ladies Round 1 titles respectively, while Amsterdam won out in the Mens Shield.

In this podcast we focus on the mens and ladies championship as we were unable to obtain a report on the Shield though results are given at the end of the podcast.

A very busy man last Saturday was player, coach of Stockholm mens and ladies teams, and Europe GAA PRO, Philip O’Connor, and, he spoke to GaelicSportsCast about the mens and ladies competitions at Leuven.

Listen here: 21:37

2011 Pan Europe 1 – Belgium Results

Tim takes us though all the championship games and finals we hadn’t touched on in Podcast 1.

18:29

San Francisco GAA had the honor of hosting this year’s Nationals where over three days from Sept 2-4 at their new facilities at Treasure Island, teams from all across America and Canada gathered for men’s and ladies’ football, hurling, and camogie competition in an impressive 95 games.

In Podcast 1 we look back on all the action with Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell and Canada GAA Secretary, John O’Flynn, who give their perspective on their respective regions and teams performances.

25:15

In Podcast 2 coming up later, North American GAA PRO, Tim Flanagan gives us a rundown on all the championship action.

2011 NACB Finals Results

The event is being hosted this year by San Francisco GAA at their new facility, Pairc na nGael at Treasure Island and over the next three days some 85 teams from all across America will be joined by their neighbors, Canada for a festival of hurling, mens football, ladies football and camogie.

In today’s podcast we take a look at the representation from Canada when talking with Canada GAA Secretary, John Flynn , and also chat with North American GAA PRO, Tim Flanagan about the event, the teams and what it means for participants.

Listen here: 20:19

When it looked like ‘Vincents had done enough and would win the day, a late flourish by ‘Mikes pushed the game to Over Time and from there the champions never looked back.

In the ladies championship decider, the crowd enjoyed another thrilling match that saw Durham edge out St Mikes by the minimum, while in the Intermediate mens final, Brampton had a comfortable victory over ‘Mikes.

Here to give us team line-outs, full results, and tell us all about the finals, as well as look ahead to Toronto’s first representation in decades at the North American finals this weekend in San Francisco, is Toronto GAA PRO, Ross McElhone.

Listen here:  18:24

The two senior football championship semi finals games went ahead, however, the last intermediate semi final was disrupted by the severe weather.

In the first senior semi, St Vincents upset Durham in one of the games of the year, while in the second Toronto Gaels were no match for 2010 champions, St Mikes.

The one intermediate semi final fixture played saw Brampton beating Toronto Gaels.

Here to give us all the details of the games is Toronto GAA PRO, Ross McElhone.

20:24

Toronto GAA Championship Finals
Sunday Aug 28, Centennial Park

Senior Football Championship Final
St Mikes v St Vincents

Ladies Football Championship Final
St Mikes v Durham

Intermediate Football Championship Final
St Mikes v Brampton

In football, the Donegal versus Galway game was a thriller as it went to Overtime with an impressive Galway side downing the champs by [23] 1-20 to [19] 2-13 in the end.
This is a fantastic result for the Galway club who now find themslevves back in a senior semi final for the first time in decades.
In the other quarter final another nailbiter saw 2009 champions, St Christopher’s edge out Wolfe Tones by the minimum on a scoreline of [14]1-11 to [13]1-10.

In the last round of the senior hurling championship meanwhile, Galway had a great win over Fr Tom Burkes by [22] 1-19 to [20] 0-20. The win forced a playoff game on Wednesday evening with the same pair again and it was Galway once more who came out on top to book their place in the semis.
There was something of a shock in the other hurling game with championship leaders, Wexford toppled by Tipperary [24] 3-15 to [15] 2-9 . A good start by Tipp cemented victory here and as both finished level on points at the top of the table a draw was made to see who would go directly into the final. Ironically, for Tipp it was Galway who were the lucky ones.

In the Intermediate final, Shannon Blues claimed victory when beating Mayo by [21] 4-9 to [9] 1-6.

Listen here to Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell fill us in on all the action.

The 8^th annual CYC saw some 100 teams in action at U8 through U18 from all across America, Canada, England and Ireland.
The first three days saw sunshine but finals day on Sunday saw rain yet it didn’t dampen spirits.

A significant development was the prominence of hurling and camogie during this championship with noticeable high skill levels and a good spread of winners.

New York hurling won titles at U8 and U14, with Boston winning at U10, San Francisco tops in U12 and St Jarlaith’s from Cleveland impressing with the U16 title.
In Camogie we had wins for Rockland, NY (U8), Boston U10 and San Francisco at U12 and U14.

The main events of the championship saw Premier football and hurling action with visitors Lancashire (UK) taking the Minor football title when beating New York by a point, while the Premier Minor ladies championship went to North America (NACB) who beat NY, also by the minimum.
In the Premier Football U16 final, New York had a comfortable win over NACB, however, N. America got their revenge with an impressive display in the Premier U16 hurling decider when ousting NY.

Elsewhere, regular football action saw good wins for Rockland at U8, U10, U12  in both boys and girls. In the U16 and U18 girls football finals, St Brigid’s of Chicago got the better of Boston.
Meanwhile, the Delco Gaels from Delaware impressed in winning the football U14 Boys A title; New York club St. Barnabas won U16 A, and Rockland took the U18 A championship.

There was tremendous atmosphere at all age level games for the four days with parents and relatives cheering on their teams and very much into the spirit of this growing North American GAA youth championship.

Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell contributed to report.
(No podcast with post).

McAnespies (red & white) accounted for Shannon Blues on Sunday in the final round of the regular senior football championship in Boston. They went unbeaten through the campaign and now prepare for the semi final. (Photo by Rory O'Donnell).

In Canton last weekend we saw the last spots filled for this year’s Boston Northeast GAA Senior Football Championship Playoffs.

Sunday brought the curtain down on the regular senior football campaign with five teams battling it out for four quarter final places.
Unbeaten Aidan McAnespies and second place Connamara Gaels were already through to the semis.

In mens senior hurling meanwhile, it was last chance saloon for bottom of the table Galway as they had to beat table leaders Wexford to have any hope of making a semi final place.

To tell us how it all panned out listen here to Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell.

14:06

Boston Northeast Championships Results, July 30-31, 2011

On Sunday we saw football league and defending champs, Michael Cusacks remain undefeated, while the big two in hurling ‘Cusacks and Sydney Shamrocks went at it once more.

In football, ‘Cusacks played Cormac McAnallens and came out on top by 4 points, while in the other championship clash, Penrith Gaels saw off Young Irelands by a single point. 
Penrith have been going well in the championship this year and with a game in hand over the rest of the field, they now lead the table.

The big clash of the weekend in hurling was between champion’s Sydney Shamrocks and their great rivals and recent league winner’s, Michael Cusacks. 
In the first round, ‘Shamrocks had beaten their rivals but it was ‘Cusacks who came roaring back on Sunday with a comfortable 8 point win.
In the other hurling match, Craobh Padraig routed Central Coast and the table now sees, Shamrocks and ‘Cusacks share the lead with Craobh Padraig next.

In the Ladies Football Championship, table leaders and champions, Central Coast are undefeated and remain the one’s to beat. On Sunday they had a comprehensive victory over second place McAnallens, while Clan na Gael edged out YI by the minimum.

Meanwhile in Camogie, McAnallens had a very good win over table leaders ‘Cusacks, while league and defending champs ‘Coast easily accounted for Clan.

Results NSW Champs, July 31, 2011

From as far back as the late 1880s, Chicago has had a long tradition of Gaelic sports being played in the area and today that history continues each week at Gaelic Park in the city.

This year looking to reach out to new audiences, a new website chicagogaelicsports.com was launched.

Complimenting the new iniatititve, American born Chicago GAA PRO, Greg Miller got a weekly web video cast of highlights of games off the ground with American players, Zach Hamilton and Tommy Dolan as presenters.

The progamme keeps track of the action each week and to find out more about the show, the people behind it and Chicago GAA these days, GaelicSportsCast spoke last weekend to Greg, Zach and Tommy.

23:54

Action from the Boston Galway versus St Christophers clash last Sunday at Canton. (Photo by Rory O'Donnell).

With this year’s Boston Northeast GAA Championship coming down to the wire as just two weekends are left before the ‘Playoffs, it was no surprise that we had some very competitive games last weekend with Galway footballers showing they could be a danger yet to one and all.

Lying in the middle of the table and having had come close on a few occasions, Boston Galway had a great win on Sunday over 2009 champs St Christophers.
Only a point separated them in the end with the winning score coming from Sligo countyman, David Kelly, whose arrival should be a big boost for the men in maroon!

Meanwhile in other senior football action Connamara Gaels held off Mayo, Kerry defeated Armagh Notre Dame while Wolfe Tones beat Cork.

In hurling action we had another thriller, this time between third place Tipperary and bottom of the table Galway.
A last gasp goal saw Tipp salvage a draw against a very lively Galway.

To find out the details of the action and to learn what it all means as we near the end of the regular season, GaelicSportsCast spoke earlier today with Boston Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell.

17:48

Boston Northeast Championships Results July 16-17, 2011

That competition saw its final round last weekend – the finals are in September - with Durham grabbing the top spot after their four point win over Toronto Gaels on Sunday. St Mikes secured the other top seed when finishing second to Durham in the league.

At the last round of the Intermediate Mens Football League, Brampton finished in pole position with St Mikes next. Meanwhile, the Ladies Football League continues at present.

Here to tell us about the final rounds, table positions, and the championship schedules is Toronto GAA PRO, Ross McElhone.

12:17

2011 Toronto GAA Mens Senior & Intermediate Championship Schedule

The prior week’s Round 2 games had seen wins in hurling for leaders, Sydney Shamrocks and Michael Cusacks, while in mens football there was wins also for last year’s winners and runners-up, ‘Cusacks and Clan na Gael respectively.

In Ladies football, Michael Cusacks and Cormac McAnallens were on song – with Central Coast getting a BYE game – while in Camogie Clan had a comfortable win over Craobh Padraig, but we saw a reversal of the recent league final result when newcomers ‘Cusacks this time did the business over Central Coast.

Last weekend’s senior hurling action saw a high scoring thriller between defending champions Sydney Shamrocks and Craobh Padraig, with ‘Shamrocks edging it by three in the end. Meanwhile, league champions ‘Cusacks had an easy win over ‘Coast.

In Mens football, Penrith Gaels had a good two point win over ‘McAnallens, while the ‘Clan and Young Ireland’s game ended in a draw. This week ‘Cusacks had the BYE game.

The ladies football action saw the all conquering ‘Coast put ‘Cuscaks to the sword with a win also for ‘McAnallens over ’Clan. YI had a BYE.

Finally in Camogie, ‘Cusacks had an impressive win over ‘Clan, while McAnallens shut out ‘Craobh Padraig.  ‘McAnallens had the BYE.

2011 NSW GAA Championship R2 & R3 Results

NOTE: Results posted when to hand from Sydney. 
Recent results kindly given by the Michael Cusacks club. 

There are six clubs in the Toronto area – St Mikes, St Vincents, Toronto Gaels, St Pats, Durham Robert Emmets, and Brampton Roger Casements. Two other clubs also participate in the Toronto GAA  season – Ottawa, along with Buffalo Fenians who play at junior level.

Since May, the mens and ladies football leagues have been up and running at Centennial Park in the city.

Durham and St Mikes lead the way in mens senior football with last year’s league champions, St Vincents – the oldest club in Toronto – in third spot followed by Toronto Gaels, Ottawa Gaels, St Pat’s, and Brampton.

In the ladies league four teams take part and so far Durham and St Mikes look like the ones to beat.

There isn’t any hurling or camogie leagues at present but that could be rectified soon as with the large number of immigrants pouring into the city, a new hurling club has been set up and there are moves also to get Camogie off the ground.

Here to tell us all about the clubs in Toronto and how teams are going in the league, with the championship around the corner,  is Toronto GAA PRO, Roscommon native Ross McElhone.

18:00

Boston North East GAA Chairman, John Farrell presents The Ladies Senior Football Championship Cup to Tir na nOg captain, Sinead Bannon. Sinead is a graduate of the Irish Sports Youth League. (Photo by Rory O'Donnell).

That storied mens football club in Boston, Aidan McAnespies is putting in one hell of a senior football campaign this year as with three rounds left to play before the playoffs they are the only team to remain unbeaten and lead the Boston Northeast Football Championship.

McAnespies had a convincing win over arch rivals Donegal over the weekend, while in other action St Christophers had a good win over struggling Shannon Blues.
Second place Connemara Gaels were held to a draw by Kerry, and Galway had an important win over Mayo.

In the final game of the three game series in the Ladies Football Championship, last year’s champions Tir na nOg proved too strong once more for Boston Shamrocks and as a result of taking three out of three, Tir na nOg are crowned 2011 champions.

In hurling meanwhile, Fr Tom’s beat Galway in a thriller on Saturday while on Sunday, Boston Wexford held on to beat Tipperary.

In Junior C Hurling action Portland beat Worcester to go top of the table.

Here to fill us in on the latest from Boston is Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell.

20:04

Boston Northeast Championships Results, July 9-10

NOTE: Watch for new weekly podcasts coming from Chicago and Toronto, Canada.

The scoreboard says it all! Can London win another...? (Photo by Declan Flanagan).

There’s an extra spring in the step of Gaelic sports followers in London this week following last Saturday’s terrific win over Fermanagh at Ruislip for the 1st Round of the All Ireland Footballer Qualifiers.

In this podcast, London GAA Chairman Tommy Harrell looks back on the occasion that saw London win their first football championship game in 34 years.

Also, reporter Coilin Duffy speaks with London player and Kerry native, Cathal O’ Sullivan about the team’s fine performances to date in the championship and of their forthcoming 2nd round qualifier clash with Waterford, Saturday week.

Meanwhile, club action in the Collins Cup Hurling semi finals over the weekend, saw Robert Emmetts with an emphatic win over Fr Murphys [23] 0-23 to [9] 1-06, while on Sunday in the other semi final, a thrilling battle saw last year’s league and championship winners, Kilburn Gaels edge St Gabriels by [18] 0-18 to [16] 0-16.

16:19

On the field, the European regional championships in football, hurling, ladies football and camogie competitions are heating up nicely, while excitement is also building ahead of the European County Board (ECB) preparing to send a hurling squad to the new International Junior C Hurling Tournament in Thurles on July 9.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, the best wine could be saved for later in the year as the 3rd Round of this year’s Pan European Mens Football Championship looks to have a home-coming of sorts when the city of Limerick is set to host the final round in early November.

Here to talk about that fantastic occasion, the new website and action on the field of play throughout Europe so far this season is new ECB GAA PRO, Philip O’Conner.

21:19

After last Sunday's cancellation, will there be blue skies once more at Mono Park for this year's league finals? (Photo by Mark McGuinness).

More bad weather has hit this years New South Wales (NSW) GAA schedule, as the league finals fixed for last Sunday had to be called off due to heavy rains.

Bad weather has plagued the GAA in Sydney this year as early in the season several weekends were lost to the elements while a couple of weeks ago the final round of the league was also scuppered due to heavy downpours.

The league finals are rescheduled for this Sunday and officials are hopeful that the Mono Park venue will be playable this time around.

Jerome at his first port of call, Melbourne, during his recent tour of Australia.

Well known GAA journalist and web video specialist, Belfast’s Jerome Quinn recently undertook an epic journey to Australia to discover what is life like for new and not so new Irish immigrants, and how Gaelic sports and the GAA is playing a part in life Down Under.

Over a three week period, Jerome visited the cities of  Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

He video documented GAA life for newly arrived immigrants and their host clubs; spoke to former Irish footballers on the verge of breakthroughs in Aussie Rules and explored life after the devastating floods earlier in the year for Brisbane GAA .

GaelicSportsCast spoke  in May to Jerome about the tour and his impressions of life and the GAA in Australia.

26:43

Since his return from Oz, Jerome has created a fascinatiing DVD of his tour, ’The Irish in Australia’, available @ jeromequinnmedia.com

In their first game in the new Junior C Northeast Hurling Championship Series at Worcester on Saturday, Massachusetts side Worcester, pictured here, edged out New Hampshire rivals, the Barley House Wolves.

In an action packed schedule of Gaelic sports at Canton, MA over the weekend, the upset of the four senior football championship games saw Shannon Blues record an impressive six point win over champions Donegal.

In the three other football clashes, league leaders Connamara Gaels beat Cork; Kerry got off to winning ways over Galway, while in a close contest, unbeaten Aidan McAnespies saw off St Christopher’s.

The first round of the Senior Hurling Championship took place on Sunday with a repeat of last week’s Sheehan Cup final between winners, Wexford and Fr Tom Burkes, and, it turned out to be another thriller with the teams ending all square.

The Ladies Senior Football Championship also got underway and pitted, in the best of five series, champions Tir na n’Og against Boston Shamrocks with the champs getting an easy win.

While in the new Junior C Hurling Championship at Worcester, which features mostly American players, local team Worcester had a narrow win over Concord’s, Barley House Wolves.

Here to tell us about all the action is Northeast GAA PRO and Boston GAA reporter, Rory O’Donnell.

22:57

Central Coast put an end to the run of the 2010 double League and Championship winners and they did it with room to spare as six points separated the sides at the final whistle.
In the other semi final last year’s double runners up, Michael Cusack’s booked their place in the hurling league final when having a comfortable 9 point win over Craobh Padraig.

Meanwhile, in the mens football league semi finals, double league and championship winners from last year, Michael Cusacks in a repeat of the 2011 championship final, enjoyed an 8 point victory over Clan na Gael. In the other semi final Cormac McAnallens had an easy win over Young Irelands.

In ladies football, 2011 double champions Central Coast continued their domination with a comprehensive victory over ‘McAnallens while it was a much closer affair in the other semi final with Michael Cusack’s edging out last year’s runners-up, Clan na Gael.

In the first Camogie semi final, in form league leaders, Michael Cusacks had too much for ‘McAnallens while in the other semi final, the top two teams from last year, Central Coast and ‘Clan battled it out once more.
‘Clan had got the better of their rivals in the league final last year but succumbed to ‘Coast later in the championship final, and on Sunday in another great battle, it was ‘Coast again who had the edge with a 7 point victory.

Bad weather continues to plague New South Wales GAA fixtures, as unlike the prior weekend when the last round of the league was cancelled due to poor weather, the games went ahead on Sunday despite further rainy conditions.
More rain is being forecasted for this week in Sydney and GAA officials are hoping the weather clears for the league finals at Mono Park on Sunday.

2011 NSW League Semi Final Results

That teaching and Irish connection still exists, and, the city’s tale took another twist recently when a group of Irish teachers came together to introduce Gaelic sports to the area when forming a GAA club, the Saint Gallen Bears.

The young club has been working very hard since their start the day after the All Ireland Hurling final last year and is already reaching out not only, to the only other Swiss club to the south in Zurich, but is also actively promoting Gaelic football and hurling to the local community in Saint Gallen.

The club recently played the first ever inter Swiss club football match on May 22 against their southern neighbours Zurich Inneoin in Zurich, and despite an obvious lack of experience they put in a great performance.

GaelicSportsCast spoke to the club’s secretary Monaghan native, Brian Clerkin, during the week of that historic match, about the Saint Gallen Bears club and its hopes for developing a solid footing for Gaelic sports in the Swiss Alps.

20:15

Happy faces all-round for Boston Wexford hurlers last Sunday after winning the 2011 Sheehan Cup at Canton, MA. (Photo by Rory O'Donnell).

The folks in Boston are getting plenty of value for money these days as there was more thrilling Gaelic sports action at Canton, MA over the weekend.

Two of the three senior football championship matches turned out to be crackers, while in hurling the final of the early season competition, the Sheehan Cup, produced an exciting come from behind win.
In that game, Fr Tom Burke’s looked to have done enough but Wexford came back with a late surge to take the cup by a single point.

In men’s football, unbeaten Wolfe Tones and Connemara Gaels played out a thrilling draw, while Shannon Blues edged out Mayo.
Meanwhile, champions from 2009, St Christopher’s got their season off to winning ways with an impressive performance over Armagh Notre Dame.

Here to tell us about all the action is Boston GAA reporter and Northeast GAA PRO, Rory O’Donnell.

15:19

Boston Northeast Division Championships Results & Table June 5, 2011