4,000km treks across Asia a world away from short spin to Dunhill GAA club

Week 9 (May 28th, 2014) When I started playing GAA at under nines and under tens game day, for me, meant a thirty minute trip in the back of my parents’ Honda Civic into Waterford City, a short spin to one of the nearby parishes or a stroll over to the local field at Dunhill GAA Club.

It took no more than a couple of hours to go there, play the game and get home just in time for Saturday evening mass. These days it more commonly means train trips across the Korean peninsula, quick hops across the East China Sea or, in the case of the Asian Gaelic games, 4,000km treks across Asia. Half a day of travelling, a day of games and another half a day travelling to get back just in time for work on a Monday or Tuesday morning.

In a couple of days thirteen men and four women will depart to Shanghai for our first international trip of the year. It will be our third time competing at the All-China games, having travelled to Beijing for the last two years. Having won the A competition in our first year but relinquishing the title twelve months later we are all hoping we can come away victorious this time around. Fortunately, the last set of visas arrived safely the day before Saturday’s training session and we are all ready to go. One unlucky player had already been forced to withdraw from the tournament however, due to a minor oversight of having less than six months left on his passport and failing to renew on time. Although many of us will be representing the club in China this weekend, it will business as usual, in Seoul, as those left behind get together for their regular Saturday training session.

Last Saturday, after training, it was back to our loyal sponsors, the Wolfhound Irish Pub, for our first big fundraiser of the year, a charity date auction in aid of the Sewol Ferry disaster, which, hit Korea on April 16th. Recovery efforts have been ongoing in the six weeks since the disaster with the current death toll at 288 and the bodies of sixteen people still missing. Thousands of people have been visiting a temporary memorial every day in the town where I live as people here try to come to terms with the tragedy.

Consequently, on Saturday night, I found myself on stage, in the unusual situation of selling myself off to a group of ladies with cash to burn. Five men and five women had been chosen for the Charity Date Auction with the winning bidder getting the opportunity to dance with their man or woman at the end of the night and possibly go on a date afterwards. Among the men who also went on stage were two Aussies, an American soldier and a Derryman. Each of us had to display a thirty second talent, in my case, some of my Irish dancing skills from when I was six years old. Despite the best efforts of some of us, me included, in showing what little talent we actually have, the audience were in a very generous mood and paid well over the odds on the night. We raised over two million Korea Won (€1400) which we hope will make a small difference in the lives of some of those effected by the ferry tragedy.

As for Gaelic football, it’s time to take out my passport and start packing my bags. Most of the team will leave on Friday evening while a few others, including myself, who did not get time off work, will depart early on Saturday morning. Before I go there is one final piece of important business to take care of. We have two days left to track down thirteen pirate costumes before Saturday’s themed dress night. Shanghai awaits! Seoul Gaels are going on tour once again.