Gaelic Football Recruitment at Governor Stumpy’s
Just a reminder if you’re going to the big event known as the Celtic Block Party or Celtic Festival at Governor Stumpy’s today, that the Kansas City Gaelic Athletic Club (KC GAC) will have a presence there from 3pm.
This is a great opportunity for you to learn about the KC GAC and the Gaelic Games that they play.
You could of course just turn up a couple of hours earlier for their regular training session at Southwest High by 65th and Wornall at 1pm. You don’t have to play; you could just watch - you are in the neighborhood after all as it’s probably on your way to Governor Stumpy’s.
Another way to check out Gaelic Games and the KC GAC without having to run around unsure of what you’re doing, is to attend the very casual social hour at The Gaf when they show a couple of GAA matches at 6pm, this Tuesday, May 27, 2008. The KC GAC have already met a few times at The Gaf to watch Gaelic Games but those occasions were around lunchtime.
In fact as I write this I am watching Fermanagh against Monaghah live in the Ulster Football Championship and would hazard a guess that this is the game you’ll get to see on Tuesday. So I won’t ruin it for you and say anything - oh my word there’s a goal! Anyway, go and watch it, it’s a good game. Oh that is a glorious point!
At the Governor Stumpy’s festival you’ll get the opportunity to see a football used in Gaelic Football (round like soccer but a bit smaller, and panelled like a ball in volleyball), and also the stick and ball used in Hurling.
The stick is called a Hurley (or camán in Irish) and the ball is called a sliotar (in whatever language you’re speaking). The sliotar is kind of a baseball but with the seam turned out on the outside.
If you feel intimidated - don’t. Gaelic Football is very easy to play. In Kansas City I played it with my son every week for years. The ball is round. Kick it and catch it. There ya go.
Very much in its infancy I believe it’s important to give it what support you can. Actually doing things related to your culture is always more meaningful that just talking about your culture.
Keep an eye out also for the next issue of the Midwest Irish Focus for more about the recently formed Kansas City Gaelic Athletic Club. There was a visitor at the last training session.
See More on Gaelic Games:
• Dublin v Kerry
• Championship Sundays Like this
• Is Kansas City more Irish than the Cayman Islands?
• Irish Counties in Kansas City
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
We managed not to hit anyone with our football, though there was a narrow miss early on with the sliotar. We politely refrained from jabbing anyone with our hurls. We had a pretty good time and hoped we proved we are not to scary. Come play with us, you’ll like it. You’ll like us. We like you.