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Taking the Fields of Glory: Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Update

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Taking the Field of Glory: GAA Monthly
Midwest Gaelic Athletic Association
by Vincent Beach

Cleveland GAA extends a big go raibh mile maith agaibh (thanks y’all) to all the players and sponsors to the annual golf outing held at Springdale in North Olmsted on September 28. 

It was our largest and most successful outing to date.  Joe Coyne and his team did a wonderful job; they even got the weather to cooperate.  The Beach boys of Michigan again won the scramble.  Thanks for the continued support All. 

Normally after the National Finals around Labor Day, the season winds down.  

Cleveland the GAA continues with a few adult co-ed scrimmages in the temperate autumn weather at the West Side Irish American Club.  The Ladies have kept the comradery and recruitment going on Thursday evenings at Impett Park while the Youth, under the tutelage of Coach Anthony Hanley, have been training and scrimmage hurling each Sunday.

Down in Akron, the annual Al O’Leary was held at Akron Indoor Soccer’s outdoor fields – the same great venue as the Midwest Finals.  On October 5th, teams from Indianapolis, the University of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Pucas, and the hosts, Akron, met to Clash the Ash.  This year the format was a 7-a-side competition with games beginning at 9AM and running to 4PM.  Eight hurling matches and a camogie match were held.  For the third consecutive year, the Indianapolis GAA raised the cup.  Comhghairdeas!

Upcoming – Cleveland will hold its Banquet and Recognition Night on November 2nd at the WSIA.  The evening is open to all players – youth, ladies, men – family, friends, supporters, and sponsors.  Our own Alec Stott & Friends will be delighting our ears. 

On October 26th, the Midwest clubs will meet at Buffalo’s Irish Center for the Annual General Meeting.  Club delegates will decide the leadership board for the Midwest Division and ratify any motions presented.  The hot-topic this year is the format of the summer championship, considering teams spread out from Cincinnati to Albany, and competitive disparities in junior football from A level champions down to D developmental teams. 

November 8th through the 10th will see USGAA club and divisional delegates descend on San Diego for the annual convention.  Like the Midwest AGM, elections and ratifications will be decided.  For the first time, following the USGAA convention, the USGAA Youth convention will take place at the same venue on Sunday.

Indoor.  Both the adult teams and youth teams will hold indoor sessions November through  March – stay tuned to Facebook and the website for updates on times and locations.   

Go raibh míle maith agaibh (thanks y’all) to our readers and supporters.  Consider getting involved at any level.  Fáilte (welcome) to all.  The Gaelic Athletic Association is Ireland’s largest sporting organization and a bit of home for the Irish abroad here in the US of A.  Beyond sports, the Association also promotes Irish music, song and dance, and the Irish language as an integral part of its objectives. Cleveland GAA is open to all who want to play competitive sports, meet new people, and join an athletic, fitness-minded club. 

Follow @ClevelandGaelic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the 2019 activities for Men, Women, and Youth.  Or, visit ClevelandGAA.com.

*Vincent Thomas Francis Xavier Beach is a proud Greater Clevelander and emigrant of Michigan.  He joined the St. Pat’s Gaelic Football Club in 1999 and, with much help, is the current caretaker of the Cleveland GAA.  His Irish is a cross of dialects from the University of Cincinnati and An Cheathrú Rua.  With his wife, Michelle, he enjoys watching time absolutely fly by as their children, Ambrose (10), Bernadette (8), and Cedric (5), grow.  His other hustles are teaching Irish at PJs, coaching CYO basketball at St. Mary of Berea, coaching soccer in Olmsted TWP, and slangin’ some engineering skills on local concrete and pipe projects.

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