About
How we started
Hamburg GAA has been up and running since the summer of 2015, when like-minded people got together to expand on the great work of the GAA and bring the Gaelic Games to the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (‘Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg’).
From the beginnings of informal practice in the park with just a few people to regular proper training sessions involving internationals and locals alike, more and more people have become interested in the Gaelic Games. The Club is open to all, regardless of sporting history or fitness level, and full training is provided to all.
We have grown steadily in just a few months since our foundation, and this is undoubtedly down to the passion and hard work of our members, as well as the brilliant support from the GAA European County Board and our Sponsors The Irish Rover Pub, Hamburg and MAAS Aviation, Hamburg.
Having made a hugely positive start we aim to build on this progress into the future, attend tournaments around Europe, and continue the promotion of Irish Games and Culture in the City of Hamburg. Questions? Check out our FAQ.
About
Our Crest
The Club crest is made up of the City’s colours Red and Blue (of which the Hamburg GAA jerseys are composed) and shows a castle with three towers and two Marian stars, which are said to symbolise the fact that Hamburg used to be an archbishopric.
Hurling
Hurling (Irish: iománaíocht/iomáint) is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic and Irish origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for over 3,000 years. It’s known as the ‘fastest game on grass’. More info >>
Camogie
Camogie (Irish: camógaíocht) is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and worldwide, largely among Irish communities. More info >>
Gaelic Football
Gaelic football (Irish: Peil Ghaelach), commonly referred to as football or Gaelic, is an Irish team sport. It is a form of football derived from traditional Irish ball games. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. More info >>
What is the GAA?
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an Irish and international amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. The Association also promotes Irish music and dance, and the Irish language.
Meet the Executive Committee 2015/16
Hamburg GAA Club e.V. is run by a group of friends and volunteers who manage the club's finances, admin, training, safety and social events. Here is a short bio of each of the members of the executive committee.
Pádraic McCannon / Chairperson
Brendan Carroll / Vice-Chairperson
Gearoid Smyth / Treasurer
Ferghal Barry / Secretary
Adrian Payne / Public Relations Officer
Gearoid Smyth / Registrar
Hamburg GAA / Assistant Secretary
Emer Letow / Healthy Club Officer
Erin Duffin / Cultural and Language Officer
Brendan Carroll / Gaelic Games Development Officer
About
Our Values
Our mission is to provide a social and sporting point for all people in Hamburg – to make the Gaelic sports of hurling, camogie and Gaelic Football available to all those who live, work, or are associated with the City of Hamburg, regardless of their background, or beliefs, in a manner that is healthy, safe and puts participation, welfare and playing standards at the heart of the Club. This mission plays into our main activity of competing in European Competitions.
The following values will be adopted by our members in order to achieve our vision and aims:
- We are an inclusive and diverse club that welcomes all members of the community regardless of their place of birth or ethnic background;
- We are a competitive and ambitious club that provides all participants with an opportunity to develop their abilities in a fair manner. While we recognise that success on the field is important, winning at all cost is not;
- Family participation, whether it be as a player or supporter, is a core value of the club;
- Loyalty to the community and to the Club is fundamental to the work we do in Hamburg and the future development of Gaelic games in this beautiful city.
Our Aims
The following outlines our aims as a club and our actions and desired outcomes are linked to them:
- Better engage with the local community and increase participation from the non-traditional playing base;
- Improve the playing standards within the club;
- Improve the activities and supporting facilities within the club to encourage family participation;
- Enable players, volunteers and supporters to increase their participation in club activities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide a social and sporting point for all people in Hamburg – to make the Gaelic sports of hurling, camogie and Gaelic Football available to all those who live, work, or are associated with the City of Hamburg, regardless of their background, or beliefs, in a manner that is healthy, safe and puts participation, welfare and playing standards at the heart of the Club. This mission plays into our main activity of competing in European Competitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've included answers to some common questions below, but if you need some more information, head on over to the contact page and send us an email - we'll get back to you quickly!
All are welcome to join Hamburg GAA! Whether that is as a player or a social member, you will be warmly welcomed to the club. Please get in touch with us now to discuss our various membership options.
Please get in touch with us directly and we would be glad to talk you through the membership options.
We provide the necessary equipment – hurleys, helmets, and footballs. If you are coming to train with us, it is recommended to bring plenty of water and comfortable clothing. For our Saturday Hurling training at UniSport, we play on AstroTurf, so please be aware that no metal-studded boots are allowed! For our Wednesday evening ‘Fitness & Football‘ training at Stadtpark, we recommend non-slip footwear for the grass surface.
Hamburg GAA prides itself on providing the opportunity for members to travel Europe-wide to take part in tournaments! Recently the club has travelled to Luxembourg and Darmstadt, and upcoming trips include Brussels, The Hague, and Dresden. Come join us, not just for sport but also to travel and see Europe!