Sport on the peninsula is about to take an Irish turn.
Fifty teams from 15 countries will descend on Suwon for the Asian Gaelic Games this weekend.
After beating off proposals from Hong Kong and mainland China, this is the first time the games will be played in North Asia, something Seoul Gaels’ chairman Joe Trolan thinks will be a refreshing change.
“Normally we go to Thailand or somewhere where it’s hot and humid and sticky,” he says. “Here, it’s perfect weather for a sporting event.”
Trolan thinks that home advantage might also give the Korean teams an edge. The Seoul Gaels’ men’s gaelic football team have not won the tournament since the mid 2000s. The women’s team has been to three finals in the last four years.
“Unfortunately they’ve lost them all, but they’re due a win, and having it here will give them some extra strength and hopefully they can get over that hump,” Trolan said.
“On the men’s side the men won three in a row ― 2003, 2004, 2004 ― and then they’ve been to the finals and the semifinals but hopefully having it at home we can win it back.”
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A Seoul Gaels player tries to fend off her opponents from the Dubai Celts. (Seoul Gaels) |
Trolan expects a good turnout, with about 850 people going to the closing ceremony at the La Vie d’Or Hotel and Resort in Hwaseong, and tickets fast running out.
As well as football the games will have hurling and camogie competitions. Hurling is a traditional Irish sport in which players have sticks similar in some ways to field hockey, but the game is more physical and the ball can be played in the air.
Camogie is the women’s version of the same sport, and this will be the first camogie tournament in Asia.
Trolan said Singapore and China were both strong places in Asia for Gaelic football but that it was a growing sport in Korea. Seoul Gaels have been going since the 2002 world cup left stragglers behind not wanting to go home.
September’s Korean Gaelic Games were won by Seoul Gaels but there were new teams from Busan and Daegu.
“And it’s not just Irish people, we have a lot of Europeans and a lot of Koreans playing,” said Trolan.
“The teams in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, India all have local players on their teams.”
As well as players other local groups with Irish affiliates will get involved. Korean band Bard will provide some traditional Irish sounds at the opening ceremony and the Wolfhound Irish pub will be there to provide refreshments. Hyundai Motors also joined the main sponsors Fexco in supporting the event, as well as Korean companies, universities and the local government.
The event will also raise money for the Columban Sisters, a missionary group established in Mokpo in the 1950s who now help people with learning disabilities and run a home for single mothers and abused women. They also run literacy and other programs.
Before the opening ceremony Ireland’s deputy prime minister will join other business people for the Asian Pacific Ireland Business Forum on Friday at the Hyatt.
The opening ceremony takes place that evening at the IBIS hotel, before the games proper kick off at 8 the next morning at the Suwon World Cup Stadium complex.
For more information on where to see the games, schedules and details of the events visit http://www.2011asiangaelicgames.com.
By Paul Kerry (
paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)
