Football and hurling in Malaysia at the Asian Gaelic Games in Penang.
Over 130 games of football and hurling are played at the 13th Guinness Asian Gaelic Games in Penang, Malaysia. The biggest tournament ever held in Asia has 32 teams with 400 players from 15 clubs travelling thousands of miles to take part.
The event is held over a weekend at the Polo Grounds at Jalan Sepoy in Penang. This is the first time the Asian Gaelic Games are being held in Malaysia.
Asia's newest GAA club the Penang Pumas are competing at the games for the first time. The team are based at the Penang Medical College and are entirely made up of Malaysian medical students who have all lived and studied in Ireland.
Penang Pumas, player Daniel Ruslam finds the physicality of Gaelic football difficult, while teammate Zaim Rashid enjoys playing because,
It's good to still keep the Irish connection.
For the Irish living and working in Asia, Gaelic Games provide more than sport, it is a link with home and a chance to express their Irishness on a foreign field.
Dubai Celts goalkeeper Niamh Malone has to take on her sister Bronagh Malone who is playing for Seoul Gaels. For Niamh Malone the Dubai Celts are like a family unit while Bronagh Malone says,
The Irish pull together, we’re from big families, so the more the merrier.
Gaelic Athletic Association president Nickey Brennan is attending the Asian Gaelic Games and is impressed.
It’s an incredible achievement; it just shows the influence Irish people have around the world.
RTÉ sports commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh is also attending the Asian Gaelic Games. He recently visited a training session in Singapore where over 80 people were taking part. He is impressed by the level of commitment shown,
Now how many counties in Ireland would you get that number training for their championships?
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 13 October 2008. The reporter is Margaret Ward.
