Ireland Alive!

Irish North American Games Come To Cleveland

By John O'Brien

Gaelic Football is a cross between soccer and rugby, a break-neck speed game of finesse, power, precision and passion.

It has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

As a very small boy, Sundays were spent at Gunning Park, watching Dad play with St. Pat's Gaelic Football Club in the Midwest Division.

The non-drinking crowd often came back to the house after.

Every summer, Irish students would come over for the summer for work, in landscaping, construction and anywhere else they could find it, play Gaelic, and live with a local Irish family to save money and gain life-long friendships.

Four or five students would stay with us each summer.

They were the brothers I never had.

In Gaelic Football, often simply called Gaelic, play is physical though fair; a rough and tumble game of stand up contact, but no tackling.

An H-bar style goal is used, with one point for kicking the ball over and between the bars, and three points for a goal, under and between the bars.

Other than the half that separates the two thirty minute periods, Gaelic is hi-speed and has no breaks in play for time outs, for rest or for penalty.

Fouls simply mean the ball is turned over to the other team, and play resumes in seconds.

Before I was even old enough to play myself, tweener years were spent at Tuesday and Thursday nite practice, catching balls gone true and balls gone inches wide.

For immigrant men far from home, it was the Irish social club, and the camaraderie was as natural and warming as the largest peat fire.

The whole family came out to home games, and many traveled on the buses and car caravans to away games in Pittsburgh, Detroit and Toronto.

Friendships formed, new comers were welcomed, future mates met and the Diaspora drew a little closer.

The North American County Board Championships are held each year over Labor Day weekend, in Irish powerhouses such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Next year, it's going to be a little different!

2013 bring the GAA North American County Boards to Cleveland.

It will also bring between eighty and 100 teams, more than 1,500 players and fans and more than $1.2 million dollars in economic boost ~ a reel Rock'n'Roll.

Cleveland has always been an area rich with Irish music and entertainment, dances, cultural connections and roots research.

Two Irish clubs and three Gaelic football teams cover the sports end too.

Hurling is the national sport of Ireland, similar to field hockey, but in the air, and even faster than Gaelic.

The woman's version of Hurling is called Camogie.

Just south of Cleveland, in Akron, the Akron Celtic Guards Hurling Club is challenging for supremacy with Irish-American adaptability, athleticism, passion and perseverance.

The Chairman of the Midwest Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is Mark Owens, a transplanted Irishman from Derry, who came here for work, married, is raising a family and is following in the steps of Irish sons for generations - getting actively involved.

Mark is also the president of local St. Pat's Gaelic Football Club, which competes with Division rivals Cleveland St. Jarlath's, Pittsburgh Celtics and Detroit Wolfe Tones.

The St. Pat's Club was founded in 1948 and has a long accomplished history in Cleveland.

Mark is the driving force behind Cleveland landing the 2013 Games and a leader in bringing Irish activities to St. Pat's home club, the West Side Irish American Club, including Quiz Pub Nites and Family Heritage classes, which include Irish language, dance, culture and history sessions.

The Gaelic language is more than 1,500 years old and Gaelic Football goes back even further.

The first recorded reference to Gaelic was in 1308, though modern rules are much younger, they were established in 1886.

The spirit of the Gael encompasses language and sport, but also values and respect for tradition.

Passing it all on has significant importance; revolutions were founded on it.

"Cleveland has a tremendous history with the Gaelic Games and the Irish community in general," said Owens.

"Having the National Games here will give us a great opportunity to bring awareness and our hope is that we can further develop the games here in the Cleveland area." David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission said:

"The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission is thrilled to support the Midwest Gaelic Athletic Association in hosting a successful tournament and welcome athletes and visitors from all across the United States to Cleveland.

"I am confident that everyone will have a first-rate experience here."

Besides Championship competition in Gaelic, Hurling and Camogie, several social events throughout the weekend are planned.

Cleveland hallmarks, Irish and Rock music, will also be featured at the games themselves, which are being held at Victory Sports Park in North Ridgeville, about twenty minutes west of downtown, and at numerous events and activities before and after the games each day.

GAA Central after hours for the weekend is the Kamm's Corner area (West 170th & Lorain Road, eight miles west of downtown Cleveland).

Kamm's is already an area filled with authentic Irish Pubs and live music venues, great restaurants and unique neighborhood shops.

Past and present, Kamm's is a neighborhood of Irish, safety forces, and vibrancy, with eclectic entertainment options, all within the crossroads.

"We are so happy to see the Gaelic Games are coming to Cleveland in 2013," said Steve Lorenz, Executive Director of Kamm's Corners Development Corporation.

"With our large Irish population in Kamm's Corners and St. Pat's Gaelic Football Club right around the corner, we look forward to seeing many of the athletes in our neighborhood after the games conclude each day,

"Our neighborhood has always been a home for the Irish and a welcome for guests. As they say, 'There are no strangers here, only friends we have not yet met'."

For more information, please visit www.clevelandsports.org or www.northamericangaa.com. If you would like to get involved in the games, either as a sponsor or volunteer, contact Mark Owens.