The fixtures for 2005 have not been finalized. Once we have this information you will be able to view it here.
To learn more about the club, its members and our training sessions, or for general information relating to Gaelic Football & Hurling in Madrid, Spain or Europe, feel free to contact us:
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: +34-699-492-334 (ask for Lorcan)
New members are welcome all the time, regardless of experience, nationality or gender. Just get in touch, come along to training or any other get-together, and we�ll turn you into a star player in no time at all!
Additionally, we are especially interested in hearing from any teams that wish to spend time in Madrid, and play some football whilst they�re here.
With over 20 clubs across Europe, from Finnish hurlers in the frozen north to Costa del Sol footballers in the sizzling south, European GAA is developing strongly, as Irish emigrants spread the games and enthusiastic locals take to the sports rapidly.
Such number saw the birth in 2002 of the Euro League, an inter-club competition played in several clubs between March and October.
2004 saw Munich crowned as overall champions after 8 rounds played, in Rennes, Paris, Guernsey, Luxembourg, Munich, Amsterdam, Barcelona and The Hague. Each round uses a group-based round-robin format, ensuring that all teams involved get a fair number of games, and that the best teams progress to the knockout stages. The year�s overall winner is determined on the basis of points awarded for the position achieved in each tournament throughout the year.
September 2004 saw the Harps make their much-anticipated debut on the European scene at the Barcelona Gaels tournament. Unfortunately we were unable to field a full team on the day, missed busses and weddings playing their part, and so the 6 members that did make it joined forces with the B. Gaels� second squad, to form the �B Specials�, as the names Madrid / Barcelona / Spain / Catalonia were to prove somewhat controversial�
Results did not match performances, and the wooden spoon came our way, but experience was gained and the appetite whetted � rest assured, the Harps will be back in 2005!!
Origins
Gaelic football is often described as a mixture of rugby and soccer, with elements of basketball thrown in for good measure. It is older than all three, however, and more free flowing and faster than rugby, and whilst more physical than soccer, it is safer.
It developed from ancient Gaelic pastimes, being properly codified towards the end of the 19th Century. Today it is played throughout Ireland, and wherever the Irish have emigrated, principally Great Britain, America and Europe. It can also be found in Asia and Australia � one explanation for the origins of Aussie Rules being that it developed as a result of Irish convicts playing Gaelic Football with a rugby ball!
Equipment
The ball used is round like a soccer ball, but slightly smaller and slightly heavier, and can be manipulated with both the foot and the hand. It may not be picked directly from the ground with the hand, but must be scooped upwards with the foot. It may be kicked on the ground or from the hand, and may be caught or punched in the air.
The ball cannot be thrown, but can be passed with the hand by striking it with the fist. It may be carried in the hand for a maximum for 4 steps, and must then be bounced or kicked back into the hand (called a 'solo'). It is illegal to bounce the ball 2 times in a row.
You cannot tackle below the waist, but must rather try to knock the ball from the opponent�s hands (but only using one hand). Shoulder to shoulder contact is permissible (this is the physical mentioned above), and you may block someone passing the ball with your hands.
INSERT PHOTO OF BALL.
Pitch
Both hurling and Gaelic Football are played on a pitch approximately 137m long and 82m wide. The goalposts are the same 'H' shape as on a rugby pitch, with the crossbar lower than in rugby, and slightly higher than in soccer, and a net in the lower section.
INSERT DIAGRAM OF PITCH AND GOALS.
Teams
The teams line out in the same formation in both Gaelic Football and hurling. Each team consists of fifteen players, lining out as follows: 1 goalkeeper, three full-backs, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwards and three full-forwards. Players wear a jersey with their team colours and number on the back. Both teams must have different colour jerseys. The goalkeepers' jerseys must not be similar to the jersey of any other player. Referees normally tog out in black jerseys, socks and socks. Goalkeepers may not be physically challenged whilst inside their own small square, but players may harass them into playing a bad pass, or block an attempted pass. Players may switch positions on the field of play as much as they wish but this is usually on the instructions of team officials
INSERT DIAGRAM OF PLAYER LAYOUTS
Refereeing
Match officials for a game comprise of a referee, two linesmen (to indicate when the ball leaves the field of play at the side and to mark '45m' free kicks and 4 umpires (to signal scores, assist the referee in controlling the games, and to assist linesmen in positioning '45m' frees).
Raising a green flag, placed to the left of the goal, signals a goal. Raising a white flag, placed to the right of goal, signals a point. A '45m' free strike (the equivalent of soccer�s corner), is awarded to the attacking team when a member of the opposition causes the ball to cross the end of the pitch defended by his own team, and is signalled by the umpire raising his/her outside arm. A 'square-ball', when a player arrives in the 'square' prior to receiving the ball, is signalled by pointing at the small parallelogram, and results in a free strike for the team defending.
Origins
When the Celts came to Ireland as the last ice age was receding, they brought with them a unique culture, their own language, music, script and unique pastimes. One of these pastimes was a game now called hurling. It features in Irish folklore to illustrate the deeds of heroic mystical figures such as Cuchullain, and was chronicled in writing as a distinct Irish pastime over 2,000 years ago. The Scottish game of shinty has many features in common with hurling.
Equipment
Today, hurling is Europe�s oldest field game, and the world�s fastest. Modern-day hurling involves using a curved wooden stick to propel a small ball on a grass pitch. The stick, or hurley (called caman in Gaelic) is approximately 1 metre in length, and curved outwards at the end, to provide the striking surface. The ball or sliothar is slightly larger than a tennis ball, but is much harder, consisting of a cork and twine centre covered leather, with raised ridges. Given the possibilities of injury, many players also use a plastic helmet with a face-guard, and gloves and shin-guards may also be worn.
INSERT PHOTO OF STICK AND BALL.
Pitch
Both hurling and Gaelic Football are played on a pitch approximately 137m long and 82m wide. The goalposts are the same 'H' shape as on a rugby pitch, with the crossbar lower than in rugby, and slightly higher than in soccer, and a net in the lower section.
INSERT DIAGRAM OF PITCH AND GOALS.
Playing Rules
The ball may be struck with the stick on the ground or in the air. Unlike hockey, you may pick up the ball with your hurley (it may not be picked directly from the ground) and carry it for not more than four steps in the hand. After those steps you may bounce the ball on the hurley and back to the hand, but you are forbidden to catch the ball more than twice. To get around this, one of the skills is running with the ball balanced on the hurley.
SEE PHOTO
The ball cannot be thrown, although a 'hand-pass' is permitted, whereby the ball is struck with palm of the hand. The ball may also be kicked, although this is a rarely used technique. To score, you put the ball over the crossbar with the hurley to score one point, or under the crossbar and into the net for a goal, the latter being the equivalent of three points.
Teams
The teams line out in the same formation in both hurling and Gaelic Football. Each team consists of fifteen players, lining out as follows: 1 goalkeeper, three full-backs, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwards and three full-forwards. Players wear a jersey with their team colours and number on the back. Both teams must have different colour jerseys. The goalkeepers' jerseys must not be similar to the jersey of any other player. Referees normally tog out in black jerseys, socks and socks. Goalkeepers may not be physically challenged whilst inside their own small parallelogram, but players may harass them into playing a bad pass, or block an attempted pass. Players may switch positions on the field of play as much as they wish but this is usually on the instructions of team officials
INSERT DIAGRAM OF PLAYER LAYOUTS
Refereeing
Match officials for a game comprise of a referee, two linesmen (to indicate when the ball leaves the field of play at the side and to mark '65m' free kicks and 4 umpires (to signal scores, assist the referee in controlling the games, and to assist linesmen in positioning '65m' frees).
Raising a green flag, placed to the left of the goal, signals a goal. Raising a white flag, placed to the right of goal, signals a point. A '65m' free strike (the equivalent of soccer�s corner), is awarded to the attacking team when a member of the opposition causes the ball to cross the end of the pitch defended by his own team, and is signalled by the umpire raising his/her outside arm. A 'square-ball', when a player arrives in the 'square' prior to receiving the ball, is signalled by pointing at the small parallelogram, and results in a free strike for the team defending.
Playing GAA in Spain and Europe is great, but facing the same teams repeatedly can become a bit of a grind!! We�re willing to face any team that fancy its chances�
So we invite any team, wherever they may be based (Ireland, GB, Europe or further afield) to visit us for a weekend, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Spanish Capital, and playing some football whilst here.
The basic format of the weekend would see matches played on a Saturday morning, around midday, in the centre of Madrid. This allows time to recover from the previous night�s session, play a match or two, and still get to see the city before hitting the town on the Saturday night, for dinner and �craic agus ceol�.
All in all, a great way to spend a few days!!
Anyone interested should get in touch using the club contact details:
Lorcan Kennedy
[email protected]
+34-699-492-334
Name: Lorcan Kennedy
Nickname: Lorx
DOB: 27/10/79
School: Rathmore Grammar, Belfast
University: Dublin City University / ICADE (Madrid)
Club(s): St. Galls, Belfast
Favourite Position: Full-Back, Centre-Half Back
Other Hobbies: Cinema, �padel�, reading
Favourite Player: Henry Downey, Joe Brolly, DJ �God� Carey
Favourite Film: The Godfather Trilogy / Seven
Favourite Music: Anything sung by Luke Kelly
Name: Barry Hughes
Nickname: Figo
DOB: 15/04/1974
School: St Patrick�s Armagh
University: Queens University Belfast (Officially attended but there was more reported sightings of the Yeti!)
Club(s): Ballyhegan Davitts, Barcelona Gaels, Madrid Harps
Favourite Position: Centre-Half Forward
Other Hobbies: Travelling / Cinema
Favourite Player: Maurice Fitzgerald / Pat Spillane
Favourite Film: Leon/ Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Favourite Music: Anything that�s not Operaci�n Triunfo related
Name: Martina Rooney
Nickname: -
DOB: 20th March 1981
School: Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, Co. Longford.
University: St. Patricks college of Education Drumcondra Dublin
Club(s): Milltown Senior Ladies, Westmeath
Favourite Position: Centre-Half Back, Midfield
Other Hobbies: Swimming Badminton running ...all sports really, reading & making jigsaw puzzles (no sniggering please!)
Favourite Player: Michael Donnellan, Colm Cooper
Favourite Film: Shrek 2
Favourite Music: U2
Name: Ivan Garc�a San Juan
Nickname: Ivan the Terrible
DOB: Lets just say somewhere around the mid-70s, and leave it at that.
School: The school of life.
University:
Club(s): Madrid Harps, first, last and always
Favourite Position: Curled up on the sofa, in front of the fire. Or half-back if made to train / play
Other Hobbies: Stamp-collecting, butterfly-hunting
Favourite Player: From the Harps? Martina Rooney of course!!
Favourite Film: Anything with McCauley Culkin
Favourite Music: Anything by the Bee Gees or ABBA
Name: Deborah McKeown
Nickname: Deb
DOB: 28th September 1984
School:
University: Mary Eye
Club(s): Birr. Co. Offaly
Favourite Position: I�m new at this!!
Other Hobbies: Guitar, piano, soccer, art
Favourite Player:
Favourite Film: Donie Darko
Favourite Music: Rock
Name: Alan Cosgrove
Nickname: Big Al
DOB: 18th January 1975
School:
University:
Club(s): Belmullet, Co. Mayo
Favourite Position: Anywhere with little running involved!!
Other Hobbies: �Socialising�
Favourite Player:
Favourite Film:
Favourite Music: U2
Name: Hugh Philip McIvor
Nickname: Philly
DOB: 5th September 1972
School: St. Pio XX, Magherafelt
University: University of Leicester
Club(s): Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Favourite Position: Goalkeeper / Full-Back
Other Hobbies: �Socialising�
Favourite Player:
Favourite Film:
Favourite Music:
MADRID HARPS � PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Cian Kennedy
Nickname: Frodo
DOB: 21st March 1983
School: Rathmore Grammar, Belfast
University: Dublin City University / ICADE (Madrid)
Club(s): St. Galls, Belfast
Favourite Position: Full-Back, Cenntre-Half Back
Other Hobbies: Gym, cinema
Favourite Player: Darren Fay, Paddy Christie
Favourite Film: Last of the Mohicans
Favourite Music: Bruce Springsteen
Name: Liam McKenna
Nickname: Rhino
DOB: 21st October1979
School: St. Patrick�s Armagh
University: University of Ulster, Magee
Club(s): Naomh Mhuire Edendork, Co. Tyrone
Favourite Position: Anywhere I can sneak a quick cigarette!
Other Hobbies: �Socialsing� & flower arranging
Favourite Player: Chris Lawn
Favourite Film: Boondock Saints
Favourite Music: Anything but RnB!
Name: Ardle McDonough
Nickname: Gully
DOB: 30th July 1977
School: St. Mary�s College, Galway
University: University College Galway
Club(s): Salthill, Co. Galway
Favourite Position: Left-Half Forward
Other Hobbies: Soccer, golf, badminton
Favourite Player: Ann Marie McDonough (my sister!)
Favourite Film: Shawshank Redemption
Favourite Music: Rock, Blues, Soul
Name: M�ire Hickey
Nickname: Maw
DOB: 7th September 1980
School: Loreto College, Youghal
University: St. Patrick�s College
Club(s): Ardmore, Co. Waterford
Favourite Position: Centre-Half Forward
Other Hobbies: Swimming, reading
Favourite Player: Ken McGrath
Favourite Film:
Favourite Music: Chart, Irish traditional
Welcome to the website of Madrid Harps GAC, the Spanish capital�s only
sports club dedicated to the traditional Irish field games of Gaelic Football and Hurling.
Founded in late 2003, we have grown steadily since that time, and currently have over 30 active members, both male and female, hailing from Spain, Ireland and beyond. Our aim is the promotion of these ancient Gaelic games amongst all the inhabitants of Madrid, both as a form of physical exercise and as a cultural meeting point.
Training takes place every weekend between February and November, in preparation for matches against invited teams from Ireland and elsewhere, the Spanish Championship versus the Barcelona Gaels and Costa del Sol, and the European GAA League, played across Europe between March and October each year.
We also get together on a regular basis throughout the year for dinner, nights out, quizzes, and other cultural events, in addition to meeting to watch matches on TV.
To learn more about Gaelic Games, the club, its members and our training sessions, click on the relevant links on the left. You can also contact us directly via telephone on +34-699-492-334 or via e-mail on [email protected]
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