Gaelic 7s set for Orient expression

THE 2004 Asian Gaelic Football 7s, sponsored by IrishAbroad.com, is to be held in Hong Kong this weekend, with at least 36 teams from 12 Asian countries participating in what is expected to be the largest Irish gathering in Asia.

More than 400 players will compete for the Derek Brady Cup, and in recognition of the growth of the event, the GAA are to send two senior referees to officiate at the event.

The Irish community in Asia has been a hive of activity, with committee meetings and training sessions, but this is as much a social as a sporting event.

“It has taken 6,000 miles for me to understand what the GAA means to me,” says Fergal Power, a member of the event’s organising committee.

“When you are 6,000 miles across the world and the nearest city or town of the same size is Shanghai, a two-and-a-half hour flight away from Hong Kong, the GAA becomes something different. For Irish people not living in Ireland, gaelic games offer Irish people the opportunity to preserve, promote and celebrate Irish culture and sport.

“This celebration is not only limited to Irish people, it now covers people from diverse nationalities and ethnic backgrounds who want to be a part of something Irish, have fun and play the game.”

Sponsor IrishAbroad.com is an Irish-based site with more than 170,000 registered members.