National Forum

Gaelic Athletic Clubs

(Oldest Posts First)

Always wondered why GAA clubs in Ulster use the abbreviations GAC after their name instead of GAA or GFC or HC. GAA clubs overseas use GAC as well like Amsterdam GAC. Can anyone explain why?

oak_leafer (Derry) - Posts: 8 - 11/10/2019 11:41:26    2242774

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Would it not be dependent on what codes the club play or maybe played historically/traditionally? That is, GFC for those who played football, HC for those who are just Hurling clubs, GAC for those who played all codes (inc the likes of handball, rounders, Irish music and dance etc) etc etc

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 11/10/2019 11:47:47    2242778

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And just thinking more - not all Antrim clubs have GAC after them. A lot do but there are also: GAA, CLG and GA&CC off the top of my head.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 11/10/2019 11:58:25    2242781

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Could never understand why the GAA dropped athletics as a code. An inter county athletics competition would be an excellent addition to the summer schedule

kick_it (Leitrim) - Posts: 15 - 11/10/2019 12:21:37    2242794

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Replying To Offside_Rule:  "Would it not be dependent on what codes the club play or maybe played historically/traditionally? That is, GFC for those who played football, HC for those who are just Hurling clubs, GAC for those who played all codes (inc the likes of handball, rounders, Irish music and dance etc) etc etc"
Thanks for your reply. That's an interesting point about those who played all codes.

oak_leafer (Derry) - Posts: 8 - 11/10/2019 12:46:02    2242799

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Replying To kick_it:  "Could never understand why the GAA dropped athletics as a code. An inter county athletics competition would be an excellent addition to the summer schedule"
I think it was something got to do with needing a single Irish body to join IAAF and at the time we had a couple running parallel but I could very well be wrong

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 11/10/2019 20:52:02    2242899

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Replying To kick_it:  "Could never understand why the GAA dropped athletics as a code. An inter county athletics competition would be an excellent addition to the summer schedule"
A founding member and first President of the GAA, Maurice Davin was the first ever Irish athlete to represent his country at international level. He broke several world records in running, hurdling, jumping and weight throwing. He was open to the idea of GAA players taking part in foreign sports but that didn't sit well with the Association.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 12/10/2019 10:39:13    2242960

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Ardboe's Patsy Forbes:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/declan-bogue/athletics-veteran-patsy-forbess-way-of-life-serves-to-inspire-30022206.html

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 12/10/2019 13:28:23    2242982

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Replying To PortInFaithful:  "A founding member and first President of the GAA, Maurice Davin was the first ever Irish athlete to represent his country at international level. He broke several world records in running, hurdling, jumping and weight throwing. He was open to the idea of GAA players taking part in foreign sports but that didn't sit well with the Association."
The GAA was originally prompted by Irish athletes not being welcome in the Irish AAA, which was, by and large, for British people working in Ireland. These folk didn't take kindly to competing with working class Irish folk - still less if they got beaten by them.

It's a class thing rather that an English-Irish thing. The English had their own problems with the resistance to professionalism in sport. If you can't afford to play, you shouldn't be playing was the mantra of the governing bodies.

lionofludesch (Down) - Posts: 475 - 12/10/2019 14:21:51    2242991

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