Hurling, camogie and other sports have pushed into places like Thailand and Vietnam, where players find them inclusive
n a floodlit field, 20 women run the length of a pitch kicking, bouncing and passing the ball in a game of Gaelic football. Sweating it out, players with more experience “buddy up” with new members to show them the basic skills before they take to the pitch.
Similar scenes are being repeated across Asia. According to the Dublin-based Gaelic Athletic Association – Ireland’s largest sporting organisation – there are 22 Gaelic sports clubs in Asia. The absence of pressure to begin at a good level is a contributing factor to its popularity, Nguyen says. Piokliang agrees, noting rugby and football come with an expectation to have a certain degree of knowledge. “But in Gaelic football … everybody understands this is a new sport and nobody has played this before in Thailand.”
While players cite the community spirit of the Gaelic sports, socialising and inclusivity as reasons for its popularity, a push from Ireland itself is likely a contributor too.