Mobile Version  |  Register  |  Login
home  |  speak out!  |  content zone archives  |  "speak out!" archives  |  vote on it  |  soap opera  |  pub crawl  |  links  |  contact us  |  search  
 Follow us! 
Speak Out! - Gaelic Games
Notices
"Speak Out!" Home  |  Topic Listing  |  Post New Topic  |  Post Reply
Yesterday's HOT topics  |  Today's HOT topics
 |  Jump to:  
Topic: Gaelic football in Asia: Singapore take home the bacon (and cabbage)
An Fear Rua
(Editor)
Posted: 25-May-2012 20:21
Quote   Edit   Delete   Report Post   Post Reply
All-action Gaelic sports on show at Thai Polo Club

Last Saturday, May 19, saw teams from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Shanghai and Taiwan take to the immaculate playing fields of the Thai Polo Club to battle it out for the South Asia Gaelic Football Championship.

The Gaelic sports of football and hurling are the national sports of Ireland and not surprisingly, given the widespread Irish diaspora around the world, teams can be found from Dublin to Dubai and Beijing to Buenos Aires. Thailand’s own team, the Bangkok-based “ThaiGAAs”, were founded 5 years ago and, having previously played host to the All Asian Gaelic Games in Bangkok in 2009, last weekend welcomed teams from south east Asia (and a few other locations) to the Pattaya debut of this fast-paced, exciting sport.

The Thai Polo Club was in glorious condition thanks to Khun Akarin and his hard-working staff. The torrential rain that had visited Pattaya during the week stayed away and the games kicked off under blue skies.

160 players took part in the men’s and women’s tournaments and it was no surprise that Singapore, one of the powerhouses in the Asia-Gulf region, triumphed in both men’s and women’s tournaments. Malaysia were battling runners-up in both competitions, with the Thai ladies picking up the 3rd placed plate, and the Thai men, who had previously put up the display of the day against Singapore, losing out in the 3rd place play-off to the Viet-Celts thanks to a controversial goal.

Thailand did, however, come out on top in the “poc fada” hurling competition with Eimear O’Higgins and Shane O’Mahony hitting the winning sliotars (hurling ball).

The awards dinner was held in the recently refurbished Hall of Fame at the Hard Rock Hotel with the celebrations continuing throughout the night across Pattaya.

Special thanks to sponsors The Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce, the St Patrick’s Society of Bangkok and Laem Chabang based electronics company Wisetek, and to the management and staff of the Thai Polo Club and The Hard Rock Hotel.

Next up for the ThaiGAAs is the Asian-Gulf Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur 26-28 October. For more information on Gaelic games in Thailand check out www.thaigaa.com or email John at gaathailand@yahoo.com.

This article by John Campbell was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday May 25, 2012 (Vol. XX No. 21).


Thailand on the attack against Singapore B in the ladies Plate final


Singapore open the scoring in the ladies final against Malaysia.


Thailand on the attack against Viet Celts.


Malaysia charge down a kick in one of the preliminary matches.


The victorious Singapore men’s team. (Photo courtesy of Steve Murphy)


Thailand ladies receive the Plate trophy and their medals at the presentation held at the Hard Rock Hotel, Pattaya.


A point for high scoring Singapore.


Ladies Final. Malaysia (left) v Singapore. Challenging for the ball at the restart


The Thailand men’s and ladies teams
This message has been edited - 25-may-2012 @ 22:43
The Minstrel
(646 Posts)
Posted: 25-May-2012 21:47
Quote   Edit   Delete   Report Post   Post Reply
Fair play to them all, it's great to see.

Though I doubt the lads in the photo third from the bottom like being described as ladies.
cerebus
(3,258 Posts)
Posted: 25-May-2012 22:15
Quote   Edit   Delete   Report Post   Post Reply
Originally posted by The Minstrel:
Though I doubt the lads in the photo third from the bottom like being described as ladies.

The home of the Ladyboys, outside the Pale , allegedly.

jimmymahon
(1,699 Posts)
Posted: 26-May-2012 20:41
Quote   Edit   Delete   Report Post   Post Reply
Nice to see Gaelic games being played with palm trees in the background..
"Speak Out!" Home  |  Topic Listing  |  Post New Topic  |  Post Reply
Content Zone
‘We talk just like lions, but we sacrifice like lambs…’.
Whatever Happened to….
Anyone you know in your club?
Bin Tags Don't Make a County
‘Some a’ Dem’ Lads are only Dow-en for the Showers….’
Heavenly Hurling: How the Gods pass their time...
GAA Time and Real Time
Saint Patrick and the camogie princesses
Keats and Chapman at the Munster Final
Mass, the Mater, ‘The Dergvale’ and Mullingar…

More "Content Zone" Topics >>


Speak Out!

More "Speak Out!" Topics >>

There are 10,277 members signed up to anfearrua.com
All times are Dublin, Ireland. Always here... with the best in GAA discussion and comment! © An Fear Rua, 2000 - 2013
Bookmark AFR  |  Make AFR your home page About Us  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Use [ Top of Page ]