The untapped global potential of Gaelic games

[AZOffaly]

Very good. The coach would want to sort out that auld hand passing technique though 😄

[Eamonnca1]

Montana Grizzlies are two-in-a-row NCGAA national college hurling champions after defeating Stanford in today's final at Grizzlies Stadium in front of a crowd of about 500.

The following teams competed this year:

• University of California, Berkeley (Cal)
• Stanford University, California
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Connecticut
• Indiana University / Purdue University (joint team)
• University of Montana

Video here of the acceptance speech by Naoise Waldron, which I hope you can all view: https://www.facebook.com/5237447/videos/10106203875335943/

Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.848362278592060.1073741842.260506707377623&type=1

Coverage in the local paper: http://missoulian.com/sports/catch-all/montana-wins-second-straight-national-hurling-title/article_6e3c03f2-284e-5a40-ba33-8aa9f087f52d.html

Moves are afoot to get youth programs started in the region to build on the popularity of the collegiate team.

[Oraisteach]

Eamonn, you do amazing work, but now it's time to take your PR savior-faire on the road to sow the seeds of hurling.  You've got to be able to start a team at Notre Dame.  Big Irish connection, and a natural rivalry with Purdue/Indiana.  And also the Boston area, particularly Boston College.  Boy, it sure is easy to map out someone else's life.  Great stuff, Eamonn, and enjoyed seeing you on the TG4 show about the GAA in the US. Maith thu, a mhic.

[Eamonnca1]

Thanks.

We're working on Notre Dame, there is a potential startup there.

[Eamonnca1]

There were star-struck youngsters asking for player autographs after the match. True story.

[Any craic]

Here's a video report from San Diego GAA, opening with probably the coolest GAA video I have ever used! There's also hurling with the Celtic Cowboys who host the All Stars this year and Cusacks from San Fran who have the brilliant Barry John Walsh and are gunning for North American champions the Ulster Club this Summer..
http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2605150913-special-video-report-from-san-diego-/

[AZOffaly]

That brought back some memories Jerome. Great stuff. I played with Mick Ward out there in the late 90s. We played with Clan na Gael and won their first title, a North American Junior B We had 11 ex-county players on a 13 a side junior B team San Diego is a great spot. There's some characters over there involved in the GAA.

[Any craic]

Yes Mick is a great fella, his pub is the Ould Sod.

[AZOffaly]

Great spot. Spent many nights in there.

[Eamonnca1]

"The four of us stood in the dark for 10 or so minutes waiting for the gas to finish pumping. Graeme had a feast of chocolate trail mix, Will was slumped over, Dermot was saying something in Irish, and I was waiting for the caffeine to digest so I could start my 150-mile stint of straight driving. We weren't even close to Montana."

Read on for an inspiring account of Cal's epic journey to the national college hurling championships in Montana, and what it means to play in a jersey that represents an American university:

http://www.dailycal.org/2015/06/09/highway-to-hurling/

This article in the campus newspaper at Cal is one of the best GAA road-trip stories I've read in a long time.

[Any craic]

Here's a video report on the official GAA website from the ABCs in London.. http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/1107151108-2015-abcs-in-london-day-one-report/

[Any craic]

If you missed the Australasia GAA Championships documentary this evening on TG4, it is now available on the official GAA YouTube channel right here... https://youtu.be/Ki4pN8Yt7fI or just go to gaa.ie and it's there on the home page

[Any craic]

Here is a video report from the ABCs in London.. including Birmingham, Swansea, and many others in Britain GAA http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/1507150859-video-all-britain-championships-review/

[Any craic]

Bit of craic from Pittsburgh.. dizzy hurling..
http://www.the42.ie/dizzy-hurling-pittsburgh-2258199-Aug2015/
and here's a passionate American whose parents are from Ardara and Fanad...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72vEevzCLTQ&feature=youtu.be

[Eamonnca1]

Great stuff in there, Jerome. What does the number 317 represent though?

Here's my take on the CYC that we just had in San Francisco:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsSqENVZgHg