In case my last name didn't give it away, I'm Irish. Mostly. And as an Irishman, I enjoy all aspects of Irish culture.
Yes, there's more than beer and potatoes.
Athletics are a major part of culture for me. Gaelic football is Ireland's most popular sport, played by more than 250,000 people.
Gaelic football dates back to 1527, and the first recorded match was in 1712.
While it predates soccer and rugby, it seems to be a combination of these two sports. You can carry the ball, which is similar to a soccer ball, only smaller.
Two teams of 15 players play two 35-minute halves.
You can carry the ball for four steps, then you must pass, using the hands or the feet. You can also kick the ball back to yourself. This move can only be used once a possession.
To score, there is a fixture similar to an American football goal post. There is a net similar to a soccer goal on the bottom and an open-air area similar to the goal post. It can be either thrown or kicked into either goal to score.
Ironically, those are also the two ways Irishmen leave bars.
A ball that goes through the soccer-style goal is worth three points, while a ball that goes between the posts is worth one point.
It was a Gaelic football game that was the background for the original "Bloody Sunday." In 1920, after an Irish protest to the English rule, English soldiers opened fire on the crowd, killing several.
Gaelic football, though not played much in the United States, is a popular sport in Ireland, England and Australia.
Gaelic football also is home to the most famous Irish athletes this side of Shaquille O'Neal, although it's doubtful that anyone in America has heard of any of them.
It wouldn't be hard, however, to start a Gaelic football club in America. Many high schools use combination soccer and American football goals, which is the only piece of equipment required, outside of the ball, for Gaelic football.
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