Europe GAA
| Irish: | Cumann Luthchleas Gael na hEorpa | |
|---|---|---|
| Province: | Overseas County | |
| Nickname(s): | GGE | |
| County colours: | Blue & Yellow | |
| Ground(s): | Sportspark West, Negenputruwe 1-5, 6218 RA, Maastricht, Netherlands |
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| Standard kit | ||
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| European Senior Football Championship (11-a-side) | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Title holders | GSC Luxembourg (2nd title) |
| First winner | Paris Gaels |
| Most titles | Den Haag (4 titles) |
| European Intermediate Football (formerly 'Shield') Championship | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Title holders | Irmindinhos a Estrada (1st title) |
| First winner | Maastricht Gaels |
| Most titles | Copenhagen (3 titles) |
| European Ladies Gaelic Football Championship | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Title holders | Belgium GAA (10th title) |
| First winner | Belgium GAA |
| Most titles | Belgium GAA (10 titles) |
| European Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Title holders | Belgium GAA |
| Most titles | Belgium GAA |
| European Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Title holders | Belgium GAA |
| Most titles | Belgium GAA |
The European Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Luthchleas Gael na hEorpa) or Gaelic Games Europe is one of the international units of the GAA (outside Ireland), and is responsible for organising Gaelic games in continental Europe. Gaelic Games Europe is also responsible for the European Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies' Gaelic football teams.
The first evidence of Gaelic games in Europe dates back to a hurling match in 1774 in Belgium, various games were played across the continent after that with their frequency increasing in the late 20th century. While sporadic attempts were made to form clubs and organise competitions, the first five clubs were organised into a ‘County’ Board at a meeting in 1999 organised by the late Joe McDonagh, the then President of the GAA. Since then, rapid growth has resulted in 85 clubs spread across 15 countries, catering for over 3,000 players who play camogie, hurling, men’s & ladies football, handball and rounder competitions from Oulu near the Arctic Circle in Finland to Gibraltar beside the Mediterranean and from the tiny Channel Islands to big cities such as Moscow in Russia. The European County Board (ECB) changed its name to Gaelic Games Europe at the Annual Convention in Leuven (Belgium) in November 2016.
In GAA terms 'Europe' comprises all of continental Europe (excluding Ireland & Great Britain) with great distances between each team, so Gaelic Games Europe has various competition formats. Since 2006, football competitions have been played on a regional basis. Europe is divided into five regions: Benelux, East and Central, Iberia, North West and Nordic. From February to August, each team plays in its regional competition with the top two teams qualifying for the European Champions Cup which is limited to 12 teams and played off in one day. Some regions also have sub-regional structures with their own local competitions (Brittany, Galicia, Andalusia).
All teams can also play in the European Men's and Ladies Football Championships (11-a-side) held as a one-day event with teams seeded into different grades (Men: Senior, Intermediate and Junior / Ladies: Championship & Shield) and the 'Premier' championships which are for 15-a-side teams in mens and ladies football with the winners representing Europe in the All Ireland Club Championships.
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Wikipedia