Gaelic Games Europe


The European Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Gaelic Games Europe is one of the international units of the GAA, and is responsible for organising Gaelic games in continental Europe. Gaelic Games Europe is also responsible for the European Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies' Gaelic football teams which compete every three years at the GAA World Gaelic Games.
The first evidence of Gaelic games in Europe dates back to a hurling match in 1774 in Belgium, various games were played across the continent after that with their frequency increasing in the late 20th century. While sporadic attempts were made to form clubs and organise competitions, the first four clubs were organised into a ‘County’ Board at a meeting in 1999 organised by Joe McDonagh, the then President of the GAA. Since then, rapid growth has resulted in almost 90 clubs spread across 20 countries, catering for over 4,000 players who play camogie, hurling, men's & ladies football, handball and rounders competitions from Oulu near the Arctic Circle in Finland to Gibraltar beside the Mediterranean and from the tiny Channel Islands to big cities such as Moscow in Russia. The European County Board changed its name to Gaelic Games Europe at the Annual Convention in Leuven in November 2016.

Structures

Gaelic Games Europe governance structures promote inclusion, democracy and a volunteer culture. Every member is equal and every registered club can influence policies. Any member can submit a motion to their club's annual general meeting suggesting new policies, amendments to an existing policy or propose changes to the playing rules. If approved, the motion is discussed at the Gaelic Games Europe Annual Convention.

Annual Convention

Every club can send between two and four delegates to the Annual Convention which is the main decision making body for Gaelic games in Europe. Five official regions are also entitled to appoint one delegate each. Delegates discuss issues, decide on motions and elect Officers to serve on the Management and European Committees. Motions to change GAA playing rules, if approved, are then submitted to the Annual Congress of the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association or the Camogie Association which take place every year in Ireland.

European ('county') Committee (EC)

Meets at least four times per year in person and/or by video conference. The EC has responsibility for decision-making, approving regulations and overseeing policy implementation between Annual Conventions. All sub-committees and work groups report to the EC. There are 26 members, 21 are GGE officers who have responsibility for specific areas of work and 5 others who represent the clubs in their region.
MembersAppointment method
Chair; Vice-Chair; Secretary; Treasurer; Public Relations Officer; Coaching Officer; Development Officer Elected to Management Committee at Annual Convention
GAA Central Council Delegate; Asst.Secretary; Asst.Treasurer; Youth Officer, Language & Culture Officer and 'code' officers Elected at Annual Convention
Referee Administrator; Sponsorship Officer; IT Officer and Health & Well-being Officer Appointed by European Committee at first meeting following Annual Convention
Regional Representatives Elected by clubs in each region

Management Committee (MC)

This is a sub-committee of the EC and is responsible for managing activities, dealing with correspondence and making decisions between EC meetings or where urgent action is required. MC pays close attention to financial issues, prepares agenda items for EC meetings and may also have additional tasks delegated to it by the EC. It meets at least once a month - mainly by video conference - and has seven members who are elected at Annual Convention and have specific roles and responsibilities.

Competitions Control Committee (CCC)

The Competitions Control Committee is responsible for all aspects of running our competitions and games, including planning dates and venues for fixtures, appointing referees, dealing with disciplinary issues and transfers. The CCC is chaired by the Vice-Chair of the MC, the Secretary of the CCC is the Asst. Secretary of the MC. Other members are the 'code' officers and the Referee's Administrator.

Hearings Committee

This committee deals with discipline issues when a party does not accept a penalty proposed by the CCC. They request a 'hearing', where the CCC presents their case, the defending party responds, witnesses are heard and then the Hearings Committee makes a decision. The committee has five members who cannot be members of the MC or CCC.

Appeals Committee

If a defending party is not satisfied with a decision of the Hearings Committee, they can submit an appeal to this committee. The Appeals Committee hears from all parties and witnesses as well as considering any other evidence before making a decision which is final. The committee has five members who cannot be members of the MC, CCC or Hearings Committees.

Other Sub-Committees & Work Groups

There are also other sub-committees and work groups which include:
Members are appointed by the EC and include a Chairperson ; relevant GGE Officer and sometimes other GGE officers if their role is relevant to a committee's work. One representative is also appointed by each of the five GGE regions. '
Development Plan - Committees/Groups
The GGE Development Plan 2019-2021 which was endorsed at 2018 Annual Convention requires the establishment of the following;-
Currently, clubs across Europe are assigned to one of five 'regions'. Clubs in each Region elect a 'REgional Committee' which is responsible for organising competitions and developing Gaelic games in their own region. The Management Committee may also delegate other tasks and each Region appoints a representative to the EC and many of the sub-committees. Currently there are five Regions, two of which are divided into 'sub-regions' :
Benelux:
Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany '
Central-East:
Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany ', Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland
Nordic:
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden
Iberia:
North-West:
In GAA terms 'Europe' comprises all of continental Europe with great distances between each team, so Gaelic Games Europe has various competition formats.
Since 2006, men's and ladies football competitions have been played on a regional basis. Europe is divided into five regions: Benelux, East and Central, Iberia, North West and Nordic. Each team plays in its regional competition with the top teams qualifying for highest grades at the European Football Championships. Some regions also have sub-regional structures with their own local competitions.
Many of the regional competitions use a system of 'rounds' played as one-day tournaments spread over a number of months. Each tournament is competed in a single day with teams playing in groups before moving to knock-out stages leading to a final. Semi-finals and other ranking games can be played if needed to determine the rankings of every team present on the day. Each team gains a number of points depending on its ranking at each tournament. After each tournament, a team's ranking points are added to those accrued in previous rounds and after the final round the overall rankings determine the competition winner for that season. 3-4 rounds are the norm in each regional football championship.
All men's and ladies teams can play in the European Football Championships held as a one-day event in October with teams seeded into different grades. Teams play 3-4 group games within their grade before progressing to the semi-finals of either a Championship, Shield & Plate competition.
The 'Premier' championships are for 15-a-side teams in men's and ladies' football and are organised on a 'knock-out' basis - as is usual in GAA championships with 60 minute games - and played over a number of weekends in Maastricht, where there is a full-GAA size astroturf pitch. Both winners progress to represent Europe in the All Ireland Club Championships.
The European camogie and hurling championships are played by teams from across Europe who compete together over five 'rounds' in various cities between May and October annually.
Other matches such as internationals are also played, along with national 'Cup' competitions confined to teams in a single country e.g. Finland, Germany.
Every three years, a variety of camogie, hurling and ladies/men's football teams from Europe compete in the in both Irish-born and Non-Irish categories.

Officers

The principal officers and the year of their election/appointment at the Annual Convention are as follows:
YearChairpersonClubSecretaryClubTreasurerClubGAA Central Council Delegate*Club
2019Tony BassJohn White 'Daire KivlehanMarie-Therese Dockery
2018Tony BassJohn White 'Daire KivlehanMarie-Therese Dockery
2017Tony BassJJ Keaney 'Daire KivlehanMarie-Therese Dockery
2016Brian SheehyDeirdre Kelleher '
JJ Keaney
Daire KivlehanTony Bass
2015Brian SheehyMarie-Therese DockeryDaire KivlehanTony Bass
2014Brian SheehyMarie-Therese DockeryDaire KivlehanTony Bass
2013Brian SheehyTony BassDaire KivlehanTony Bass
2012Brian SheehyTony BassDaire KivlehanTony Bass
2011William CashinTony BassDaire Kivlehan
2010William CashinTony BassDaire Kivlehan
2009William CashinTony BassCiaran McGuill
2008Eileen JenningsTony BassCiaran McGuill
2007Eileen JenningsTony BassCiaran McGuill
2006Stephen DillonTony BassCiaran McGuill
2005Stephen DillonTony BassCiaran McGuill
2004Stephen DillonTony BassCiaran McGuill
2003Paul LarkinHerve GuichardCiaran McGuill
2002Barry MoroneyEamon O'BrienCiaran McGuill
2001Barry Moroney ' / Mark Scanlon ' / Cathal LynchBarry Moroney
2000Mark ScanlonAnn Donnelly
1999Mark ScanlonAnn Donnelly

Note: * Europe were granted representation on the GAA Central Council from March 2013
Note: * European County Board formed at the end of 1999 and the first officers served for 1999 and 2000

Gaelic football (men)

Senior Championship

YearWinnerRunner-up
2019Madrid HarpsCumann Warszawa
2018Amsterdam GACCumann Warszawa
2017Cumann WarszawaGSC Luxembourg
2016GSC LuxembourgJersey Irish
2015Paris Gaels
2014Belgium GAA
2013Guernsey GaelsBelgium GAA "A"
2012Belgium GAA
2011Guernsey GaelsDen Haag
2010Den HaagParis Gaels
2009Den HaagParis Gaels
2008Belgium GAAParis Gaels
2007GSC Luxembourg
2006Den Haag
2005Paris Gaels
2004München Colmcilles
2003Paris Gaels
2002Den Haag
2001Paris Gaels

Intermediate Championship (formerly 'European Shield')

YearWinnerRunner-up
2019Vienna Gaels
2018EGHB Liffré
2017Earls Of LeuvenDen Haag
2016EGHB LiffréEindhoven/Maastricht/Hague
2015Vienna Gaels
2014Amsterdam GAC
2013Vienna GaelsAmsterdam "B"
2012Malmö
2011Amsterdam GACCopenhagen
2010Copenhagen
2009Copenhagen
2008Copenhagen
2007Ar Gwazi Gouez
2006Amsterdam GAC

Junior "A" Championship

YearWinnerRunner-up
2019Copenhagen GAAMalmö GAA
2018München ColmcillesLorient
2017Lorient GACMünchen Colmcilles
2016Clermont GFC
2015Rómhánaigh Augsburg Óg
2014Ar Gwazi Gouez
2013Slovak ShamrocksBelgium "B"

European Premier Football Championship (15-a-side)

YearWinnerRunner-up
2019Belgium GAA
2018Amsterdam GACEindhoven Shamrocks
2017GSC LuxembourgAmsterdam GAC
2016Amsterdam GAC
2015Amsterdam GAC
2014Amsterdam GAC
2013Guernsey Gaels

Ladies' Football

Past winners

European Ladies Senior Gaelic Football Championship

European Premier ladies Football Championship (15-a-side)

YearWinnerRunner-up
2019Belgium GAA/Holland Ladies
2018Belgium GAA/Holland Ladies
2017Belgium GAA / Munich Collmcilles Holland Ladies
2016Belgium GAA / Munich Collmcilles Holland Ladies / Luxembourg
2015Belgium GAAHolland Ladies
2014Belgium GAAHolland Ladies

Hurling

Past winners

European Hurling Championship

Camogie

Past winners

European Camogie Championship

Affiliated Clubs

These are the 96 affiliated clubs as at Dec 2019.
Brittany, Galicia and Andalucia have their own competitions. Teams hailing from these regions play both locally and in their regional competitions.
ClubColoursCityCountryRegionWebsite
Vienna GaelsViennaCentral-East
Belgium GAABrusselsBenelux
Brussels YouthBrusselsBenelux
Earls of LeuvenLeuvenBenelux
Croatian CeltsZagrebCentral-East
Prague Hibernians GFCPragueCentral-East
Aarhus GAAAarhus DenmarkNordic
Copenhagen GAACopenhagen DenmarkNordic
Odense GAAOdense DenmarkNordic
Helsinki Harps GAAHelsinkiNordic
Jyväskylä GAAJyväskyläNordic
Oulu Irish Elks GAAOuluNordic
Azur GaelsAntibesNorthwest
Burdigaela Gaelic FootballBordeauxNorthwest
Gaelic Football Bro LeonBrest Northwest
Clermont GFCClermont-FerrandNorthwest
GFC Pays de CoutancesCoutancesNorthwest
Gwenrann Football GaéliqueGuérande Northwest
Kerne Football GaéliqueQuimper Northwest
Gaelic Football Bro-DregerLannion Northwest
EGHB LiffréLiffré Northwest
Lille GAALilleNorthwest
Lorient GACLorient Northwest
Lugdunum CLGLyonNorthwest
Nava Gaelic FootballNaives-RosièresNorthwest
Nantes Football GaéliqueNantes Northwest
Niort GaelsNiortNorthwest
Paris GaelsParisNorthwest
Provence GFLa Fare-les-OliviersNorthwest
Ar Gwazi GouezRennes Northwest
GF Bro Sant-BriegSaint-Brieuc Northwest
Tolosa GaelsToulouseNorthwest
Gwened VannesVannes Northwest
Rómhánaigh Augsburg ÓgAugsburgCentral-East
Berlin GAABerlinCentral-East
Cologne CelticsCologneBenelux
Darmstadt GAADarmstadtBenelux
Dresden GAA ClubDresdenCentral-East
Düsseldorf GFCDüsseldorfBenelux
Frankfurt Sarsfields GAAFrankfurtBenelux
Hamburg GAAHamburgBenelux
München ColmcillesMünchenCentral-East
Setanta Berlin GAABerlinCentral-Easthttps://www.setanta-berlin.de
Stuttgart GAAStuttgartCentral-East
Gibraltar GaelsGibraltar GibraltarIberia
Guernsey GaelsSaint Peter Port GuernseyNorthwest
Jersey IrishSaint Helier JerseyNorthwest
St. Stephens BudapestBudapestCentral-East
Padova Gaelic FootballPadovaCentral-East
S.S. Lazio Calcio GaelicoRomeCentral-East
Ascaro Rovigo Gaelic FootballRovigoCentral-East
Gaelic Sports Club LuxembourgLuxembourgBenelux
Amsterdam GACAmsterdamBenelux
Eindhoven Shamrocks GFCEindhovenBenelux
Groningen GaelsGroningenBenelux
C.L.G. Den HaagThe HagueBenelux
Holland Gaels The Hague/Amsterdam/EindhovenBenelux
Maastricht GaelsMaastrichtBenelux
Oslo GAAOsloNordic
Cumann WarszawaWarsawCentral-East
Moscow ShamrocksMoscowCentral-East
A Coruña Fillos de BreogánA Coruña Iberia
Ártabros de OleirosOleiros Iberia
Barcelona GaelsBarcelona Iberia
Gaelicos do Gran SolBarcelona Iberia
BráithreachasA Estrada Iberia
IrmandinhosA Estrada Iberia
Dorna GAAIlla de Arousa Iberia
Herdeiros de DhaisLalin Iberia
Madrid HarpsMadridIberia
Madrid Youths MadridIberia
Costa GaelsMarbella Iberia
Mecos Fútbol GaélicoO Grove Iberia
Auriense Gaelic FootballOurense Iberia
Pontevedra GAAPontevedra Iberia
Compostela FGSantiago de Compostela Iberia
Estrela VermelhaSantiago de Compostela Iberia
Éire Óg SevillaSevilla Iberia
Sitges EaglesSitges Iberia
Celtic Tres CantosTres Cantos Iberia
Sant Vicent GAAValenciaIberia
Keltoi VigoVigo Iberia
Slovak ShamrocksBratislavaCentral-East
Gothenburg GAAGothenburgNordic
Malmö GAAMalmöNordic
Stockholm GaelsStockholmNordic
Viking Gaelsamalgamation for hurling onlyNordic
BaselBaselCentral-East
Geneva GaelsGenevaCentral-East
ZürichCentral-East