Na Gaeil Óga - Dublin's only all-Irish speaking GAA club, was launched by Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs Jimmy Deenihan TD at the Foras na Gaeilge headquarters in Dublin.

The club's aim is to create a social context for speaking Irish in the capital city. So far it has 60 registered members from all over the country - from both Gaeltacht areas and non-Gaeltacht areas. The panel of 30 players on the junior football team consists of Irish speakers of all professions from doctors to accountants to students to tradesmen.

The inspiration for the club came about when Chairperson Daithí de Buitléir and his friends proposed the idea of starting an all-Irish GAA club on Facebook and received an overwhelming response.

"We've been looking for a vehicle to enable us to come together and speak Irish in Dublin for some time and I can't think of a better way to do so than through playing sport and being part of a team," said Daithí. "Our aim is to expand the club and eventually set up hurling, camóige and ladies football teams at both underage and senior levels through Irish."

Daithí, who is only 20 years old himself, is proud of the fact that the club was founded mainly by young college students. Feeling the need for a common group or organisation through which they could use the Irish language, they have successfully created a platform for people of all ages to play sport through Irish.

They have already fulfilled one of their goals by successfully pitching the club to enter the annual Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta competition. This summer will see them play against football teams from Gaeltachtaí throughout Ireland in the 42nd year of the competition.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs Jimmy Deenihan TD commended Na Gaeil Óga for setting up the club. "It's great to see the Irish language flourishing in Ireland's capital city," he said. "There's always been a strong connection between the Irish language and the GAA and na Gaeil Óga continue to build on that relationship.

"I wish them great success in the future."

For more information on na Gaeil Óga you can email them at [email protected] or go on their Facebook page at Na Gaeil Óga CLG. Tweet

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