Delco Clubs to Compete in Gaelic Games

A four-day Irish sporting event is expected to bring thousands of people to the Greater Chester Valley Soccer Association fields, located on Line Road in Willistown. 

Young athletes from across the country will converge at the GCVSA fields for the Gaelic Athletic Association's annual Continental Youth Championships, which will be held July 25 to 28.

According to the Unionville Times, the Chester County tourism bureau expects the games to bring $1.5 million to the area.

"Each year up to 2,000 children aged U6 to U18 participate in the Tournament with hundreds of games organized over the course of the 4 Day Tournament," according to the CYC website.

Among the competitors will be four local clubs—Delaware County's Delco Gaels and Wolfe Tones GAA, Philadelphia's Shamrocks GAA, and Montgomery County's Glenside GAA.

The four-day event features three games—hurling, a lacrosse-like game featuring wooden sticks without netting, camogie, a game similar to hurling played by girls, and Irish football.

The games were last held in Willistown in 2008. The 2012 games were held in Chicago's Gaelic Park. The Chicago Tribune, in its coverage of the games, gave a primer on Irish football.

"Each team has 12 players on the field and one goalkeeper. The ball is moved by kicking it soccer-style on the ground or by kicking it up into your own hand-then you can run up to three steps with the ball," according to the Tribune article. "You can't pick up the ball or tackle your opponents American football-style. If you do, that's a free kick for the other team. But it's legal to body check, hockey style."

The games are open to spectators, and will feature Irish food and craft vendors. Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Admission is free on Thursday and Sunday, but there is a $10 charge for adults on Friday and Saturday.

"It's not exclusive to Irish people, but it's an Irish festival," said John McDaid, who handles public relations for the games.

According to McDaid, one of most popular vendors is a man who sells hurling sticks. The sticks are popular among children, but hard to find.

"You can't get them at Dick's [Sporting Goods]," McDaid said. "The guy personalizes the sticks with their own colors, like the local school colors."

Einstein Medical Center will hold free screenings for Tay-Sachs, a fatal neurodegenerative disease, at the games on July 28. To be eligible, a person must be at least 18 and have at least three grandparents of Irish descent.

More information about the Gaelic games is coming soon, McDaid said, including the full list of vendors and an official schedule.