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OMG!!   Yes I was there!  What's more.  With the venue hidden down a secluded lane in a marshy and wooded area near Manchester Airport, I am shocked that this happened!  I may now contact Greater Manchester Police and ask if anyone has given a description of me just in case.  Not guilty I promise!

Anyway, an update on my plans.  Don't expect to make a trip over to Ireland this year.  For one thing I can't fly over at the moment because my passport is expired and renewal will take a few weeks.  When I do come over I am looking at making Cork my next irish destination.  Looks a nice place to visit for things other than Gaelic games.  While I was at that game, and alas crime scene, in Manchester.  The first hurling semi was taking place at Croke Park.  I avoided any knowledge of the result until I had time to watch it in full, on Tuesday.  Now please tell me, on a scale of 1 to 5 [1= waste of time watching, 5= nomination for all time classic] was Dublin v Cork a 4.7 or 4.8?  It was actually the first hurling game I have ever watched in full.  Somehow the code never appealed to me till now.  But after that, if its half decent football OR hurling happening in Cork and when I can get there for a weekend, I AM COMING.  I will also be keeping an eye on activity with London GAA, Warwickshire GAA and may adopt St.Baranabas of Nottingham as my local club. [I live only 35 mins from Nottingham, my paternal grandfather was born there and in a bit of family tree research we have had hints of connection to Irish immigrants two or three generations before him - there must be some reason I have always felt 'half at home' in both Dublin & Nottingham].

Soon after posting I realised my mistake.  And that it is a junior football not hurling game tomorrow.  This because on GAA website it is listed immeadiately under tomorrow's hurling semi's.  So no need to take a crash helmet?  I have to say I would be choosy about where in the ground I watched an hurling game from....I bet they hurt!

Anyway, when it says 'junior', it might be interpreted as an age group reference.  However, Am i right it actually means a second tier competition?  Like in Scottish Football where below the professional game clubs are designated as having senior or junior status, with the latter not allowed to play in the Scottish FA Cup while the former are.  But of course in the case of GAA the same teams, as in the counties, field all the different teams.

Whatever, looking forward to it.  Train times noted and on my way barring disasters.

OP here...

As if answering my prayers.  There is a Junior Hurling game in Manchester this Sunday between Lancashire & Cork.  The only place it's mentioned is gaa.ie.  Might nip over The Pennines and take a look.  Especially as there is something else I can do while that way.

Coming from Yorkshire I will of course cheer for CORK !!

And unbelievably GAA is still strictly amateur!  Long may it continue.  Manchester United, Chelsea et al aren't sports clubs anymore!  And it isn't just soccer that has sold it's soul.  That said.  I bet top GAA players cash in from an endorsement or personal appearance here and there. 

For trips over to Ireland.  I would rather pick out opportunities that get me over for the whole weekend.  Prefer 2 or 3 of them a year to 7 or 8 day trips.  Exceptional exceptions are possible though.  From where I live, there are 4 airports within 90 minutes with flights to Ireland.  As long as you have a few weeks notice, you can normally get a good deal.  Even if it is the airline that charge you to use the loo.  Little or no luggage, boarding passes printed at home etc..  Before now I have been unlocking my front door less than 100 minutes after the engines firing up for take off at Dublin.

Before anymore of that.  I do indeed want to learn the whole game from club to county to NFl/NHL ahead of next years All-Ireland Championship.  And it is fair to say looking in on London GAA will satisfy some of the agenda.  Then again, if someone can tell me the nearest club to Dublin Airport I might give it a whirl.  As sometimes I can get to Dublin cheaper than London.

Hi

I am writing this from Sheffield.  I have no Irish ancestors, as far as I know.  So my only reason for liking GAA is sheer envy of your games, though I find football the more settling on my eye.  And if millions worldwide can adopt Manchester United or Chelsea then why shouldn't I adopt an Irish county in GAA?  Well actually, I already have, but more on that later.  A few years previously, I have taken exploratory day trips to Croke Park and Casements - was a bit too nervous to say too much to reveal my broad Yorkshire accent - was I worrying needlessly?  However, from next year I plan to take up the hobby more seriously.  I will mainly be an armchair fan with plenty of GAA available through Premier Sports and BBC2 NI in the UK.  Then subject to how the fixtures fall and reasonable travel costs a few trips over to Ireland are ON for 2014.  As are trips to London GAA - as a means to supporting the game closer to my front door.

Hoping for your positive comments.

PS. If you like Chelsea or Man.Utd. fair enough.  I wouldn't cross the road to watch them, unless Portsmouth were the opposition.  Born in bred in Sheffield who else would I support