Focus on Fitness

GEMS staff head to Ireland to attend World GAA games

Shonagh and Stephen, both teachers at GEMS International School who also play for the Dubai Celts, represented the Middle East during the Gaelic Athletic Association’s World Summer Games, which took place in Waterford, South East Ireland, from 28 July to 2 August 2019. Players were chosen from GAA clubs across the Middle East and the finals took place in Ireland’s national stadium at Croke Park in Dublin.

Shonagh was selected to play Camogie, a sport that is similar to Lacrosse, and Stephen took part in the Gaelic Football competition, which has rules that can be roughly approximated to a mix between Rugby and Australian Rules Football. Athletes from all over the world took part in the games, with clubs from South Africa, New York, France, Spain, Australia, Britain and many Asian countries represented by their teams. Over 1,300 players, from more than 400 GAA clubs operating outside Ireland, took part in the games.

In what was an unforgettable experience for the teachers, both Shonagh and Stephen were lucky enough to be part of the finals at Croke Park, a stadium with an audience capacity of more than 82,000, on 2 August. Both put in stellar performances in their respective events, with Shonagh’s team narrowly beaten in the finals and Stephen’s team emerging victorious on the day.