BC GAA Celebrates Ireland, Competes in Rugged Sport

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May 2, 2013 by conteconfidential

Gaelic football is so unique, it escapes definition.

“The best way to describe it is it’s a combination of basketball, soccer, football and rugby, but it predates all of them,” said Kellan Etter, the Irish Society Deputy of Sport. “But it’s really hard to describe.”

Players can kick the ball like a soccer player or pick it up and dribble like a basketball player. Called by some the “original beautiful game,” it pairs soccer’s finesse and strategy with the hard-hitting play seen in football and rugby.

 “The fact that it’s a physical sport like football with the constant movement of a sport like soccer really puts it into a class of its own,” Bill Gaughan said.

Boston College’s Gaelic football team was founded last year in the fall. Oisín Kenny, the president of the Irish Society at the time, wanted to bring one of Ireland’s most popular sports to the Heights.

Kellan Etter and Nicole Carroll chase down an opposing player during a game against St. Joseph’s University (photo credit: Robin Jensen)

“He really wanted to bring another element of Irish culture to BC,” Etter said. “Since we already have a dance team, we already have an Irish Studies department, Gaelic football, and hurling as well, was really the main path that we could do it.”

Team members are drawn to the sport for many reasons. Some are ex-soccer, basketball or football players looking to stay active. Others want to partake in an element of Irish culture.

The Gaelic football team is unique among club sports at BC because it is co-ed. And the GAA accepts anyone who is willing to learn.

“There are a lot of people on our team who never played a sport in their lives, and they pick it up really quickly,” Etter said. “It seems difficult at first, but once you actually start doing it, it’s actually really easy.”

Gaughan was a member of his high school’s rowing team for four years. When he came to BC, he signed up for the Irish Society on a whim at the activity fair. This year, he has been more involved in Gaelic football.

 “The thing that really drew me to the sport was not just because I was Irish and felt like I should do something that was part of my heritage, though that was part of it,” Gaughan said. “It was mainly because of the sense of camaraderie I got from the team.  Some of my good friends are people I met from those practices.”

Added Etter: “We’re in it for the sense of community. We’re a pretty tight-knit group.”

This year, the team has played one game against Saint Joseph’s University.

It was going to play New Haven and travel to a prestigious tournament in New York, which featured Saint Joe’s, Fordham and the U-21 National Team. Those plans were cancelled because of the Boston Marathon bombing.

The team will attend the National Collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association (NCGAA) national championships at Purdue over Memorial Day weekend.

For a relatively young team, attending the national championships is an amazing opportunity. Etter said that he is excited to see all of the teams from across the country compete.

Eoghan McCarthy takes a free kick against New Haven (photo credit: Robin Jensen)

Next year, the GAA has big plans. They want to go to the tournament in New York and play more games. With a core group of only 15 players, which is just enough to field a Gaelic football team, they’re hoping to bring in new people.

“People don’t really know what it is so if they come out and give it a try they’ll probably love it,” Etter said. “We’re always looking for more people, and we always have a lot of fun.”

The GAA also hopes to field a hurling team if there is enough interest. Hurling, a more expensive sport because of the extra equipment needed, is a blend of lacrosse, field hockey and rugby. It’s the most popular Irish sport on college campuses as well.

“It’s the most dangerous game on grass,” Etter said, with a laugh. “We’re still trying to get funding for helmets.”

And the GAA has some extra incentive to get that team up and running.

“Notre Dame has a hurling team,” Etter said. “So maybe we could start our own Holy War.”

By Jen Dobias