*NOMINATED MOST IMPROVED CLUB OF THE YEAR 2025/26*
GAELIC FOOTBALL is an Irish team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kicking or punching the ball into the other team's goal (3 points) or between two upright posts above the goal and over a crossbar (1 point). The ball can be carried in the hand for a distance of four steps and can be kicked or "hand-passed", a striking motion with the hand or fist. After every four steps the ball must be either bounced or "solo-ed", an action of dropping the ball onto the foot and kicking it back into the hand. You may not bounce the ball twice in a row. Players may contest for the ball by playing it with the hand or by shoulder charging an opponent side-to-side.
TRAINING
Wednesday 2PM - Pontcanna Fields
Likely to be moved to an evening with possibility of 2 sessions per week.
(All Abilities Welcome!)
BUCS (MENS)
► This year we have successfully entered a Men's squad into the BUCS league for Gaelic football placing third, this has given students weekly fixtures in the Midlands & South league starting from mid October and running through to the end of January every Saturday, playing teams such as Birmingham, Nottingham, Loughborough, St Marys, Coventry and Nottingham Trent once at Home and once away.
In addition to this, there is a central venue National Championship Final hosted in conjunction with the BUGAA every year, this is where the 3 university leagues, Midlands & South, North-West, and Scotland combine. We are then placed in either Division 1 or 2 depending on league position. The most recent of these tournaments was in Manchester where we reached the Division 2 Semi-finals out of 12 teams on the day.
BUGAA (LADIES)
► The BUGAA a subsidy of the British Provincial Council of GAA organise a league almost identical to the men's BUCS league where it too runs from mid October through to the end of January providing games against other university teams. This year the Ladies' are entering a team in for the first time. League games for ladies are 11 a side as opposed to full 15, and similarly students are given the opportunity to play teams such as Birmingham, Nottingham X Trent, Coventry, Loughborough, Harper Adams and St Marys playing each team once either home or away. As this league is not run by BUCS amalgamations are allowed meaning students from Cardiff Met, USW and Swansea are all allowed to play for us, if you are from an alternative university, please drop a committee member a message to discuss participation.
HURLING & CAMOGIE
► Being primarily a Gaelic football club, we are seeking to start hurling training in the 26/27 academic year even if training is less frequent. We started this year off with an 11 a side Hurling match vs St Colmcille's GAA with the plan for a couple other games throughout the year. There will be more information to come on this via our Instagram and Facebook pages. The local St Colmcille's club in Cardiff do provide year round training as well. Please DM our social media to be directed to them.
EXTERNAL LEAGUES & TOURNAMENTS
► Separate from BUCS we do try and aim to enter several other GAA related tournaments throughout the year, these tend to be once BUCS is finished. (Post-January) These tournaments are usually run by other University teams or Senior GAA clubs throughout the UK and tend to be self-funded as AU financial support is limited for anything non-BUCS related, e.g. Students contribute toward transport and accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary. We try hard to enter external tournaments as they provide us with valuable connections to other GAA teams and are a good way of filling the gap between January and the end of the academic year.
In May 2025 we entered the Thomas McCurtain's GAA 7's in Ilford, East London. we were able to field 2 teams for this Cardiff Harps and Gaels with the Gaels coming through on top out of 10 teams after a penalty shootout to take home the clubs first piece of silverware! We also entered this same tournament in the 2026 year. In March 2026 our Ladies team entered the Erin Go Bragh GAA 7's tournament in Birmingham.
SOCIALS
► Our socials are ran every Wednesday night mixed between house and pub socials. We also host several other socials throughout the year for St Patrick's Day and 12 Pubs of Christmas etc. It is possible to join just as a social member even if you don't play any Gaelic sports. Details of social themes are announced via our Instagram and Facebook pages so please follow to stay up to date! (Links Above).
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