Meet the Cork native involved in world’s newest GAA club — in Cambodia

Cork native Conor Wall tells Colm O’Connor about the world’s newest GAA club — in Cambodia

Colm O’Connor: Cambodia wouldn’t strike us as a GAA stronghold, so how did Cairde Khmer about?

Conor Wall: While watching the 2017 All-Ireland football final in a bar in Siem Reap (a city in Cambodia) last year, three Irish expats formulated the masterplan to try to set up a Cambodian GAA team to enter the Asian Gaelic Games tournament in Bangkok later that year. Those three were Patrick Campbell (Cookstown, Tyrone), Jennifer Ryan (Bishopstown, Cork) and Derek Culligan (Ballydoogan, Sligo). After making some enquiries about Irish expats living in the country’s capital city, Phnom Penh, they contacted me and I agreed to join forces. Patrick and Jennifer recruited and trained the Siem Reap men’s and ladies’ Gaelic teams, while I recruited and trained the Phnom Penh men’s and ladies’ Gaelic football teams, as well as the hurling team.