GAA Sports — Hurling & Gaelic Football

The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) runs two sports that exist only in Ireland: Hurling and Gaelic Football. Both are amateur sports — even the best players have regular jobs.

Hurling is considered the fastest field sport in the world: 15 players per team strike a ball (Sliotar) with a wooden stick (Hurley) at breathtaking speed. The game is brutal, elegant, and addictive. Gaelic Football is a mix of soccer, rugby, and basketball.

The All-Ireland Final in September at Croke Park (82,000 spectators) is Ireland's biggest sporting event — county colors everywhere and an atmosphere that guarantees goosebumps.