GAA goes global as South Korea gears up for Gaelic championships

AS the GAA basks in the glory of another successful All-Ireland final, the game continues to flourish outside these shores.

The 2011 Asian Gaelic Games, which caters for up to 700 players, will take place in Suwon, South Korea on October 14 and 15.

This is the 16th annual tournament and one of the biggest yet with over 60 teams from 27 clubs based in 15 Asian countries competing in football and hurling for the title of Asian Gaelic champions. This year will also see the first camogie competition and a team competing from Mongolia.

And it’s all been made possible due to the sponsorship of Guinness, ESBI, Kerry, PCH International, Enterprise Ireland and the FEXCO group.

The financial services company, which employs 1650 people across operations in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, was unveiled as the newest sponsor yesterday.

The tournament will also feature the fifth annual Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum where the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore will join leading business people in promoting opportunities for Irish exporters.