Gaelic games have been played in Canada since before the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in the 1880s, with some sources indicating that hurling games were played in St. John's, Newfoundland in the late 18th century. From the formation of the American County Board in the 1950s, Canadian teams competed alongside teams from the United States. A separate and distinct Canadian County Board was founded in November 1987, and now represents upwards of 20 clubs within Canada. In 2017, Jim Kelly, the Irish ambassador to Canada, said that the "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".
Organization
The Canadian County Board of the GAA has overall control of GAA activities in Canada and is organised into three divisional boards. These boards, representing different areas of Canada, include the Toronto Board, Western Divisional Board and Eastern Canada GAA Board.
Toronto Board
Established in 1947, the Toronto Board covers teams in the Greater Toronto Area. The Toronto GAA divisional board organizes Gaelic games clubs and competitions in the Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal areas, which includes 6 Men's Gaelic football teams, 5 Ladies Gaelic football teams, 2 hurling teams, 2 camogie teams and 3 minor programs.
Founded in May 2003, the 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. Other clubs are also invited to attend tournaments, even though they are not affiliated with the division,, or not affiliated with the GAA. The main competition in the Western Division is the Western Canadian Championship. Teams also play in local competitions, including the Alberta Cup, which serves as a feeder to the Championship, and is hosted by the individual teams themselves.
Established in 2014, the Eastern Division covers eastern Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and PEI. The primary competition of the Eastern Division is the Eastern Canadian Championships. This competition was first established in 2014, and held in Newfoundland. In 2017, youth games were included at the Championships held in Ottawa.
