Gaelic football sessions have been taking place this week in Sheffield to encourage more women to take up the traditional Irish sport.
The next session, run by St.Vincent’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), is due to take place this Saturday in Endcliffe Park.
The game is described as ‘fast moving’, and is played on a pitch just larger than a rugby pitch with 15 players on each side. The ladies’ game is non-contact unlike the men’s.
Francis McConville, the club’s ladies’ coach and committee member, said: “We are always open to welcoming new people to the club.
“We welcome people from all backgrounds who might want to try it out.”
Since it was founded in 2017, the club has achieved success with both it’s men’s and women’s teams. The club initially began in partnership with a club in York due to lack of numbers, but has run independently since 2022 after a surge in recruitment.
The taster sessions are tailored to beginners. However, the club specifies that anyone with transferable skills from sports such as football, rugby or basketball can take up the sport. Those who enjoy the sessions can continue training at Norton Sports Park on Thursdays.
Mr McConville said: “People are interested in trying something new. Especially from a young age, I think people can get really boxed into sport and just happen to grow up playing them.”
The club also run frequent social events, most recently a pub quiz at the The Library Venue, and an annual trip to Ireland with both the men and women’s teams.
The popularity of Gaelic Football has only increased over the years, with teams across the country.
“It’s the number one sport in Ireland,” said Mr McConville, who also plays for the men’s senior team.
“It’s a massive organisation back in Ireland and Britain are doing a lot of work to promote it, and Yorkshire as well.”
The club is also linked to the recently formed Irish Society at the University of Sheffield, and last year ran cultural nights and Irish speaking lessons for the members.
Anyone interested in attending the taster sessions or getting involved with the club is encouraged to visit Sheffield GAA’s facebook.