IrishAbroad.com Asian Gaelic Games a success

The ninth IrishAbroad.com Asian Gaelic Sevens were declared a stunning success after a weekend extravaganza in Hong Kong which saw over 30 men’s and women’s teams take part in the seven-a-side competition.

The IrishAbroad.com Asian Gaelic Games is the single largest gathering of the Irish community in Asia and is gaining momentum and importance every year. This year, two referees from the GAA travelled from Ireland to officiate at the games. In true GAA style, the National Anthem was played and the Hong Kong Police Band then led the teams around the pitch at Aberdeen stadium. The newly appointed Irish Ambassador to China, Declan Gallagher, also attended and presented the winners with their trophies after congratulating them on such a great turnout.

Irish people from all over Asia gathered at Aberdeen Stadium in Hong Kong on Sunday to watch both men and women's GAA teams from over 12 different countries battle it out to reach the finals of the Derek Brady cup and Ladies' Cup.

The main winners were:-
Men Derek Brady Cup Winners - Korea | Runners up - Singapore A
Plate Winners - Japan A | Runners up - Hong Kong Island

Ladies Cup Winners - Hong Kong Wanchai (A) | Runners up - Singapore A
Plate Winners - Hong Kong Lan Kwai Fong (B) | Plate Runners up - Japan B

Many other teams, some known as the Hong Kong Dragons, Shanghai Saints, Singapore Gaelic Lions also participated.

The Asian Gaelic Games were founded by a group of Irish people in Taiwan in 1995 and the first event took place began in Manila in 1996. A few years later, the games moved to such far-flung places as Singapore and Phuket in Thailand before landing in Hong Kong for 2003 and 2004.

The event’s sponsors, IrishAbroad.com, said they were delighted to be associated with the games, adding that while the Games bring the Asian Irish community together through sport, IrishAbroad.com has been bringing the global Irish community together through the internet, since the site was founded in San Francisco in 1998.

Founder Bill Hanafin, whose website now reaches 170,000 registered members, said: "Having spent over 10 years in various places around the world, I know what is like to be an Irish person abroad. When Irish people meet all over the world, they love to find some sort of connection with Ireland, through Irish sport, Irish dancing, drinking in Irish pubs, and now through the rapidly progressing medium of the world wide web. We like to think of IrishAbroad.com as a virtual Irish pub where people can meet, share ideas and form lasting friendships."

Myriam Hooper, Operations & Website Manager of IrishAbroad.com, said: "The games are a great way for Irish people in Asia to come together and celebrate Irish culture and sport. It's has been a fantastic weekend for everybody concerned and IrishAbroad.com is extremely proud to be sponsors of the event."

Fergal Power, Chairman and chief organiser of the games, noted that the games were not exclusively for Irish people but both a family and international occasion. "This celebration is not only limited to Irish people, it now covers people from diverse nationalities and ethnic backgrounds who want to be a part of something Irish, have fun and play the game. Through this medium, there is no better way of promoting Irish sport and culture around the world."