Gaelic Games facts for kids

Gaelic games are exciting traditional sports played in Ireland. The two most popular ones are Gaelic football and hurling. These games, along with others like camogie, rounders, and Gaelic handball, are all managed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

In the late 1800s, Gaelic games were becoming less popular. But the GAA and a movement called the Gaelic Revival helped save them. Today, these sports are the most loved games in Ireland.

What are Gaelic Games?

Gaelic games are a group of sports that have been played in Ireland for a very long time. They are known for being fast-paced and needing a lot of skill. Many of these games are played on a large grass field with special H-shaped goals.

Gaelic Football

Gaelic football is the most popular Gaelic game. It is played by two teams of 15 players each. The game takes place on a big grass field with H-shaped goals at both ends.

The main goal is to score points by getting the ball through the goals. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Gaelic football mixes skills from soccer and basketball. It is a fast and exciting sport with a lot of action.

Ladies' Gaelic Football

There is also a version of Gaelic football played by women, called "ladies' Gaelic football." It also has 15 players per team and uses H-shaped goals. The rules are very similar, but there is less physical contact allowed in the women's game.

Hurling

Hurling is a very old stick-and-ball game. It has been played for over 3,000 years! Many people say it is the fastest field game in the world.

Like Gaelic football, hurling is played by teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass field. There are H-shaped goals at each end. Players use a stick called a hurley to hit a small ball called a sliotar. The goal is to hit the sliotar through the opponent's goals to score points. Hurling combines skills from sports like lacrosse, field hockey, and baseball. It is a very skilled and exciting game.

Camogie

Camogie is a sport that is almost exactly like hurling. The main difference is that camogie is played only by women. It is also a stick-and-ball game with 15 players per team.

The field and goals are the same as in hurling. Most of the rules are also the same. However, camogie has less physical contact than hurling.

Rounders

Rounders is a bat-and-ball game played in Ireland. There is a similar version of rounders played in England. It is the least popular of the Gaelic games managed by the GAA.

The game is organized by the Rounders Council of Ireland, which is part of the GAA. Rounders is quite similar to baseball.

Gaelic Handball

Gaelic handball is a game where two players use their hands to hit a ball against a wall. It is similar to American handball. Players from Ireland who play Gaelic handball often compete against players from the United States.

Images for kids

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  Gaelic games are played all over the world. This sign in Sorrento, Italy, shows that a bar advertises Gaelic games.

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  Footballers Aidan O'Mahony (from Kerry) and Eoin Bradley (from Derry) during a 2009 National League final.

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  Hurlers David Collins (from Galway) and Eoin Kelly (from Tipperary) playing in the 2014 National League.

See also

In Spanish: Juegos gaélicos para niños