Fun and games

As the Gaels bring their sport to Dubai today

Want to discover ancient games from where today's popular sports originated? The Rugby Exiles Club could just be the place where you can enjoy your trip down sport's memory lane.

The club is currently showing the national games of Ireland, through the participation of the Dubai Celts Club.

These Gaelic games predate recorded history and occupy a central focus in the social life of the Irish. Today, however, these games are played by a broad spectrum of nationalities, as is evident from the membership at the Dubai Celts Club.

Witness the thrill

If you come to the Rugby Exiles Club today at 3.00pm, you will witness all the fun, laughter and thrill of the games which are played everywhere from Derry to Cork. There is no entrance fees to watch these games, which will be played today as part of the UAE championships against club teams from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In true Irish spirit, the club also has a fun social planned at the end of the championship.

Gaelic games consist of the traditional sports of hurling, camogie and Gaelic football. In fact, modern-day hockey originated from the ancient game of hurling. Hurling, played by men, and camogie, played by women, are interesting to watch.

Quite oblivious to the desert heat, 12- or 15-member teams strike a ball with a 35-inch long wooden stick to a goal on either side of the field. "Players wear helmets with a wire cage to protect the face from accidents and injuries," says Lavinia Rice, the team coach.

Gaelic football differs from today's football in that the hands are used and also scoring is recorded in two ways, points and goals. The outcome of the game depends on both scores. The games for both men and women are very fast, so hand and eye coordination is required, as is a certain level of fitness.

"A sense of humour is a definite pre-requisite," says Brian Gray, chairman of the club.
But then again, this is no ordinary team that you will be watching.

International experience

These men and women have competed at an international sports gathering in Thailand this past week, called the Asian Gaelic Games, where the Dubai club's football team emerged as the champion while its women's team came in second runner-up.

"It was the first time we competed and we were honoured to have the President of Ireland presiding," says an excited Gray.

The games are not always competitive and the club also welcomes social members. The group trains every Saturday and Tuesday at 8.00pm at the Rugby Exiles Club.

Everyone interested in playing or watching Gaelic games is welcome to join. The group will also teach participants the essentials of the craic, which is Gaelic for fun and games – the Irish way.