This Sunday folks in Melbourne Australia have a whole host of GAA to look forward to this weekend, in the form of the annual Ted O’Sullivan 9’s.
Garryowen Gaa club is celebrating their 65th year in existence this year, starting up on Easter Sunday in 1956. Since then the club has continued to grow. This week they hold their annual Ted O’Sullivan 9’s. Named after club icon Ted O’Sullivan who arrived in Melbourne in the early 70’s and won over 30 hurling championships.
Over 500 people will make up 39 teams representing their adopted GAA club in Gaelic Park, Keysborough. Irish, American, Australian, English and Malaysian are among the nations that will partake in 56 games across hurling, football and camogie. Joining them on the day will be some Irish stars plying their trade in the Australian Football League. Collingwood player Mark Keane, who scored the late goal for Cork that knocked Kerry out of the 2020 Munster Senior Championship, will be one of the players present.
Spokesperson from the club Paraic McGrath, who spent years as vice chair of the GAA’s Asian Board, spoke with us ahead of the event.
“We pretty much are covid safe down here in this part of the world as you probably see, the restrictions were tough towards the end of last year but they certainly had their impact. We are mindful that of the fact that lots of other GAA clubs and codes are not able to do it , so we will remember those as we tog out on Sunday.”
Oh what we would give to be getting Blitz at the Blitz!
Garryowen has a local connection with Kilkenny also , as it’s the club where Dicksboro man Liam Lenihan togs out! Check out Liam’s G’Day GAA Podcast below for some quality GAA talk from down under.
Listen to the full interview with Pairic below.
