By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
Seoul Gaels, Korea's principal Gaelic football team, is gearing up for the Asian Gaelic Games in Bangkok, Thailand, next month.
The club, started by Irish expats more than seven years ago, is to send four teams to the annual championships, two each for the men's and women's sections.
The Gaels have a proud history at the games, winning three back-to-back titles in the years after their formation.
But they will be looking to improve on last year's showing after the women's 'A' team finished as runner-up and the men's top 15 bowed out in the semi-finals to the eventual champion.
``We'll have one team each from the men's and the women's competing, one each at the higher and the lower levels," said club secretary Taidgh Simpson.
``We have been training for it all year, although it is difficult to get pitches."
Gaelic football, a cross between football and rugby, is slowly growing in popularity in Korea.
The Korean Gaelic Games, held in June at Mokdong Stadium, home of Korean professional baseball team the Heroes, attracted outfits from Daegu and Gwangju in addition to those entered by Seoul Gaels. International opposition also arrived in the form of visitors from Japan.
Simpson, from Irish capital Dublin, said despite low awareness of the sport ― Gaelic football is principally an Irish sport and played overseas mostly by expats ― it appears people are starting to take notice.
``The people at the stadium were really happy with the games and have invited us back," he said.
``It's a difficult task to get people interested, to be honest. But we are happy the game is going across the country.
``Although the new clubs couldn't get people for Bangkok, we have been down to Gwangju and Daegu to play so things are coming along."
To find out more about Seoul Gaels and Gaelic football in Korea, visit www.seoulgaels.com.
The Asian Games in Bangkok take place across the weekend of Oct. 16-18.