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Canada GAA
Nickname(s):The Maple Leaf County
Province:North America
Dominant sport:Gaelic football
County colours: Red  White
Website:County board website
Executive
Chairman:Matt Healy [1]
Secretary:Sean Harte [1]
Treasurer:Kimberly Budd [1]

Gaelic Games Canada (GGC), or the Canadian GAA (CGAA), is responsible for Gaelic games across Canada,[2] overseeing approximately 20 clubs.[3][4] It has the same status as one of the county boards of Ireland and is one of over thirty regional GAA executive boards throughout the world. The board is responsible for Gaelic football, hurling, camogie,[5] rounders, gaelic handball, and ladies' Gaelic football teams in Canada.

Gaelic Games Canada connects with three Gaelic games and cultural organizations: the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) & the Camogie Association (CA) whose headquarters are based in Dublin, Ireland.

One of the more important tournaments for Gaelic football in Canada is the annual Western Canadian Championship. In North American competition, Canadian teams compete in the USGAA Finals, hosted by the United States GAA, an annual Gaelic Games championship between qualifying clubs in North America. The Gaelic games involved include hurling, camogie, and Gaelic football. Internationally, Canada GAA has sent Canadian teams to the GAA World Games in 2016 and 2019.[6][7]

History

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See also: Shamrock Field and United States GAA

Gaelic games have been played in Canada since before the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in the 1880s, with some sources indicating that games of hurling were played in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1788.[8]

Since the formation of the American County Board in the 1950s, Canadian teams have competed alongside teams from the United States.[8] A separate and distinct Canadian County Board was founded in November 1987,[9] and represented upwards of 20 clubs within Canada.[3] The organization has since been renamed, "Gaelic Games Canada" (GGC).

In 2017, Jim Kelly, the Irish ambassador to Canada, said:

...GAA in Canada continues to grow and flourish, bringing together people of all backgrounds to learn and love our national games, to develop a deep sense of community, and to build a strong connection with Ireland.[10]

— Christopher Whan, "Eastern Canadian GAA Championships coming to Twin Elm rugby park Sept. 2", InsideOttawaValley.com (2017-08-28)

Organization

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See also: Montreal Shamrocks GAC and Toronto GAA
Hurling; Camogie; Men's Gaelic Football; Ladies' Gaelic Football; Gaelic handball; Rounders

The Canadian County Board of the GAA has overall control of GAA activities in Canada and organized into three divisional boards.[11] These boards, representing different areas of Canada, include the Toronto Board, Western Divisional Board and Eastern Canada GAA Board.[12]

Toronto Division (TGAA)

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Established in 1947,[13] the Toronto (or Central) Board covers teams in the Greater Toronto Area. Today, the Toronto Gaelic Athletic Association (TGAA) divisional sub committee organizes Gaelic games clubs and competitions in the Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal areas. As of mid-2020 this included 6 Men's Gaelic football teams, 5 Ladies Gaelic football teams, 2 hurling teams, 2 camogie teams and 3 minor programs.[13]

Western Division (WCGAA)

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Founded in May 2003, the Western Canada Gaelic Athletic Association (WCGAA or Western Division) covers Gaelic Athletics Activities in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Many of the clubs in the division have field both men's and ladies' teams.

Unaffiliated clubs in Western Canada are often invited to attend WCGAA tournaments, even though they are not affiliated with the division (e.g. Lethbridge Laochra, Seattle Gaels, Fort McMurray, Vancouver Irish, etc) or the GAA (e.g. Vancouver Cougars, Calgary Kangaroos, and Calgary Kookaburras Australian rules football teams).[citation needed]

The main competition in the Western Division is the Western Canadian Championship. Teams also play in local competitions, including the Alberta Cup,[14] which serves as a feeder to the Championship, and is hosted by the individual teams themselves.[15]

Eastern Division (ECGAA)

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The Eastern Division Gaelic Athletic Association (ECGAA) divisional sub committee, or Eastern Division, was established in 2014,[3] and covers eastern Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

The primary competition of the Eastern Division is the Eastern Canadian Championships. This competition was first established in 2014, and held in Newfoundland.[16] In 2017, youth games were included at the Championships held in Ottawa.[10]

Clubs

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See also: List of Gaelic games clubs outside Ireland

There are clubs in every province of Canada with the exception of New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon.

The following are the GAA clubs of the Canadian Gaelic Athletic Association, (CGAA):[17]

Eastern GAA

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Eastern Canada GAA[18]
Eastern GAA Divisional Board
Club City/Province Est.
Montreal Shamrocks[6][7] Montreal, Québec 1948
Les Patriotes de Québec
(Quebec City Patriotes)[7] 		Québec City, Québec
Halifax Gaels GAA[7] Halifax, Nova Scotia
Avalon Harps St. John's, Newfoundland
PEI Celts[19][16] Prince Edward Island 2015
Eire Og Ottawa GAA Ottawa, Ontario
Éire Óg Ottawa Hurling Club Ottawa, Ontario 2012[20]
Ottawa Gaels GFC[7] Ottawa, Ontario

Toronto GAA (Central Canada)

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Toronto GAA[21]
Toronto GAA Divisional Board
Club City/Province Est.
Durham Emmetts GFC Durham, Ontario
Michael Cusack Ladies GFC Toronto, Ontario
Roger Casement's GFC Brampton, Ontario
St Michael's H&FC[22] Toronto, Ontario
St. Pat's Canadians Toronto, Ontario 1968[23]
Le Chéile Camogie Club Toronto Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Gaels GFC Toronto, Ontario 1987[24]
Toronto HC Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Chieftains Ontario
St Vincent's GAA Toronto, Ontario 1959[25]
Clan na nGael HC Toronto, Ontario
Cuala Sarsfields Ontario 2020[26]
Durham Robert Emmets Ontario
Na Piasaigh CLG Ontario 2010[27]
Toronto Michael Davitts GAC Toronto, Ontario 2023 [citation needed]

Western Canada GAA

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Western Canada GAA[29]
Western Canada GAA Divisional Board
Club City/Province Est.
ISSC Vancouver GAA Vancouver, British Columbia 1974
Calgary Chieftains/Chieftainettes[30] Calgary, Alberta 1977
Red Deer Éire Óg[31] Red Deer, Alberta
Edmonton Wolfe Tones Edmonton, Alberta
ISSC Vancouver LGFA Vancouver, British Columbia 1993
ISSC Vancouver GAA Camogie Vancouver, British Columbia 2011
Fraser Valley Gaels[32] Vancouver, British Columbia 2014
JP Ryans Hurling Club (ISSC) Vancouver, British Columbia 2011
Cú Chulainn GAA Club Vancouver, British Columbia 2018
Vancouver Éire Óg GAA Club Vancouver, British Columbia 2018
Fort McMurray Shamrocks[30] Alberta
Edmonton Wolfe Tones[30] Alberta
Calgary Chieftains Alberta
St Finnian's British Columbia 2019
Winnipeg Trinity Manitoba
Regina Gaels Saskatchewan
Wolfe Tones Vancouver, British Columbia 2022

Tournaments

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Canadian tournaments

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Further information: Western Canadian Championship (Gaelic football)

Canadians who participation in Gaelic Games have a number of opportunities to compete at the local, provincial, and inter-provincial level, within Canadian borders.[citation needed]

These include the Western Canadian Championship, which is a tournament for Canadian Gaelic football teams.

The inaugural Canadian National Championships were held in Toronto in 2022.[33] Gaelic games, across all codes, were played at all levels. It was an all Vancouver hurling final when JP Ryan's defeated local rivals Cú Chulainn[33] whilst St Finnian's defeated St Vincent's in the Men's Football final.[citation needed] In camogie, Le Chéile Camogie Club came out on top after the 3rd and final game.[citation needed] ISSC Vancouver Ladies footballers came from 8 pts behind to defeat Toronto's Ladies Football Champions St Pat's in the ladies football final.[citation needed]

North American tournaments

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Further information: United_States_GAA § Competitions

In North American competition, Canadian teams compete in the USGAA North American Championships, hosted in America by the United States Gaelic Athletic Association (USGAA).

International tournaments

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Canada GAA has previously sent Canadian teams to the GAA World Games, including the 2016 Etihad Airways GAA World Games.[citation needed] For the 2019 Renault GAA World Games, thirty-four Montreal Shamrocks were selected to represent Canada. This competition was hosted in Ireland in July 2019.[7][6] It was the largest delegate from 1 club in Canada.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 2023 County Board
  2. ^ Murray, Robert (19 August 2013). "Shamrocks try their hand at hurling". Fort McMurray Today. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "World GAA - Canada". gaa.ie. Gaelic Athletic Association. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  4. ^ Lawlor, Damian (24 June 2020). "Milestone day for GAA clubs as pitches re-open". RTÉ.ie. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. ^ "What is Camogie?". montrealshamrocks.com. Montreal Shamrocks. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b c GAA (12 August 2019). "Renault GAA World Games - Canada GAA". youtube.com. OfficialGAA. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Gaelic football provides opportunity of a lifetime for three West Prince women". www.theguardian.pe.ca. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  8. ^ a b "USGAA History". usgaa.org. US Gaelic Athletic Association. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. ^ "About Us - GAA in Canada". gaelicgamescanada.com. Canadian Gaelic Athletic Association. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b Whan, Christopher (28 August 2017). "Eastern Canadian GAA Championships coming to Twin Elm rugby park Sept. 2". InsideOttawaValley.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Divisional". gaelicgamescanada.com. Canadian Gaelic Athletic Association. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  12. ^ Harding, Gail (31 August 2018). "P.E.I. women's Gaelic football team to play debut games this weekend". CBC News.
  13. ^ a b "About the Toronto GAA". torontogaa.com. Toronto GAA. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020.
  14. ^ "A piece of Ireland found in Red Deer". Red Deer Advocate. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. ^ Howlett, Trevor (30 May 2013). "Shamrocks bringing Gaelic football tournament to Fort McMurray". Fort McMurray Today. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Gaelic football/hurling Eastern Canadians takes place Saturday". www.theguardian.pe.ca. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Canada - Gaelic Athletic Association Clubs". gaelicgamescanada. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Eastern Division (ECGAA)". gaelicgamescanada.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  19. ^ Sinclair, Jesara (2 May 2016). "P.E.I.'s Gaelic Football Club, PEI Celts, win first game". CBC News.
  20. ^ "Éire Óg Ottawa GAA". eireogottawahurling.com. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Toronto Division (TGAA)". gaelicgamescanada.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Clean sweep for St Mikes in Toronto | GaelicSportsCast". www.gaelicsportscast.com. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  23. ^ "Around the World in 80 Clubs: St. Pat's Canadians, Toronto (#54)". JOE.ie. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  24. ^ "Around the World in 80 Clubs: Toronto Gaels, Canada (#58)". JOE.ie. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Club: St. Vincent's GAA Club". Gaelic Games Canada. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Watch: The new Toronto GAA club with roots in Cork and Dublin". Irish Examiner. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  27. ^ "Around the World in 80 Clubs: Na Piarsaigh CLG, Toronto (#53)". JOE.ie. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  28. ^ "ISSC Vancouver GAA". isscvancouver.com. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Western Division (WCGAA)". gaelicgamescanada.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  30. ^ a b c Howlett, Trevor (19 March 2013). "Shamrocks to offer second Irish sport". Fort McMurray Today. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  31. ^ "A piece of Ireland found in Red Deer". Red Deer Advocate. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  32. ^ McNulty, Chris (9 September 2017). "Former Letterkenny Gael Adam Moore captains Vancouver to North..." Donegal Daily. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  33. ^ a b Verney, Michael (5 September 2022). "Vancouver GAA club JP Ryan's land inaugural Canadian Championship". Irish Independent.
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