Gaelic football

Emmets vs Sarsfields at Golden Gate Park July 1892

Arbitre - Football gaélique

Gaelic football pitch diagram

Gaelic football ball on pitch

Scoring in Gaelic games - H shaped posts

Durham Gaelic football club player shoots

Gaelic football (Peil Ghaelach in Irish), commonly referred to as football or Gaelic, is an Irish team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kicking or punching the ball into the other team's goals (3 points) or between two upright posts above the goals for one point. Gaelic football is one of the four sports controlled by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the largest sporting organization in Ireland, with a significant following in Irish communities worldwide.

History

Gaelic football has deep roots in Irish history, with references to similar games dating back over 2,000 years. The modern version of the game, however, was codified in 1884 with the founding of the GAA. The organization was established to revive and promote traditional Irish sports. The first Gaelic football match under GAA rules was played in 1885.

Rules

The game is played on a field that is larger than a soccer pitch, with H-shaped goals at each end. The ball used in Gaelic football is similar in size to a soccer ball but slightly heavier. Players can carry the ball in their hands for four steps and can pass the ball by kicking or hand-passing (a striking motion with the fist). After every four steps, the ball must be either bounced or "soloed" (kicked back into the player's own hands).

A match consists of two halves, each lasting 30-35 minutes in club games and up to 70 minutes in senior inter-county matches. The team with the highest score at the end of the match wins.

Playing Field

The playing field for Gaelic football is a rectangular grass pitch that is significantly larger than a soccer field. It measures between 130 and 145 meters in length and 80 to 90 meters in width. The goals at each end of the pitch are similar to those used in rugby but with a net attached to the lower part, resembling a combination of rugby and soccer goals.

Popularity and Cultural Significance

Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Ireland in terms of match attendance and community involvement. The pinnacle of the sport is the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, which is held annually at Croke Park in Dublin, attracting significant national and international attention.

The sport also plays a significant role in Irish culture and identity, with clubs and teams at the heart of communities across the country. It is also a key part of the Irish diaspora's cultural activities in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

International Rules Football

Gaelic football has a close connection to Australian rules football, with the two sports having similar elements. This connection led to the creation of International Rules Football, a hybrid sport that features teams from Ireland and Australia competing against each other, combining rules from both sports.

See Also

• Hurling
• Camogie
• Gaelic Athletic Association
• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
• International Rules Football