Have you ever heard about hurling/camogie? Or about Gaelic football? They are the most popular sports in Ireland, but are little known outside of the country.

Hurling (or camogie for women) is an outdoor team game, in which the players use a stick (the hurley) and small ball (sliotar). The aim is to hit the ball into the opponent’s goal, either over the crossbar (1 point) or under the crossbar (3 points), which is guarded by a goalkeeper. Hurling and Gaelic football have been played for centuries in Ireland, and there are over 2,200 clubs, which is a large number relative to the size of the country.

Gaelic football combines elements of football, rugby and basketball, and shares the scoring system of hurling.

Although they are very popular in Ireland, both sports are non-professional, which makes them unique compared to other popular sports around the world. The All-Ireland finals are held in a packed 80,000-seater stadium.

 

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Cork 2-21 Limerick 1-21 What an incredible game of hurling in Limerick #gaa

A post shared by GAA • Hurling • Football (@gaafanzone) on Feb 25, 2019 at 1:41am PST

Another fun fact is how players are assigned to teams – it’s purely geographical! You play for the club of your village/town, and the elite players represent their native region.

Hurling/camogie and Gaelic football are therefore not only about sports, but also about culture and history.

If you’d like to learn more and see it being played live, we have good news: St Patrick’s Day is coming soon and in Brussels the Gaelic sport lovers, as well as their soccer counterparts FC Irlande, are organising an event showcasing the sports and culture next Sunday March 10th at Parc du Cinquantenaire.

The Belgian GAA club is made up of over 100 members from across the world (with over 20 nationalities represented). They play every Monday and Thursday from February to October at the VUB. The teams are also involved in the European Championships, facing teams from the Benelux region as well as Spain, France and Germany. Last year, Belgium GAA brought the trophy back in both hurling and camogie.

 

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Big win for London this weekend in Division 4 👍 #Repost @officiallondongaa (@get_repost) ・・・ 👀👀 some movement from the lads and with the finish from @killbutler6 #LondainAbú 💚⚪️🇳🇬 #exiles #coybig #allianzleagues #GAA

A post shared by GAA • Hurling • Football (@gaafanzone) on Feb 11, 2019 at 11:55am PST

Don’t hesitate to drop in on Sunday from 12pm to get a feel for the Gaelic sports. If you’re not a sports lover, no worries, you can enjoy Irish music, dancing and language courses and of course a lovely pint of the black stuff!

Entrance is free of charge, it’s a great family day out, and as the Irish say, it’ll be great craic (meaning fun!).

The post Discovering Gaelic sports in Brussels appeared first on Brussels Express.

The festival commemorates the Saint Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland. Held on the day believed to be his death in 461, it has been an official festival since the early 17th century; when the church lifted all Lenten restrictions on the public. This move then began to characterise the festival, as people would celebrate their day from modesty by grand celebrations: with dancing, colourful green garms, feasting and drinking. This spirit was taken with many Irish immigrants who moved to America in the mid 19th century and helped make the festival what it is today, where it is celebrated the world over.

And Brussels is no exception. The Embassy of Ireland in Belgium will once again be leading the Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations. Speaking to Brussels Express, Ambassador Helena Nolan, said “We are very fortunate to have one day and one colour associated with Ireland, at home and around the world ». 

The Irish Embassy has in the past made sure that they paint the town green, and on the night of the celebration the Brussels Grand Place will be illuminated with the colours of Ireland. « We are delighted that Belgium will join the “Global Greening” initiative again this year and that a number of iconic locations will be illuminated in green to mark the occasion » Nolan said. « There is a vibrant Irish Community here in Belgium which organises many events to mark St Patrick’s Day, such as the festival in Parc du Cinquantenaire last Sunday, which the Embassy supports. »

The Embassy is also organising plenty of events in the upcoming days of the festivities. Renowned Irish author, John Banville will be at Passaporta on 15th of March for a reading supported by the Embassy. Irish Minister for Health, Simon Harris, will be here on 16th of March for a full programme of meetings which culminates in a Diplomatic Reception with lots of Irish food and drink; traditional Irish music and young Irish dancers from a local Irish dancing school, and a Saint Patrick’s Ball held on the 17th of March.

And before you go of on your Irish escapade, you may want to swing by the famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels, where Nolan will have the honour of dressing the iconic landmark in his irish garms.

In order to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day properly, there are some necessary elements. At home or at the pub, there are customs for the festival. So follow this guide to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, the celtic way.

Green! The colour of the emerald isle and worn proudly on the day. It is tradition to wear an item of clothing (or everything) green. A t-shirt, a hat, jacket, anything to immerse yourself in the fields of green your sure to see at the local taverns. Four leaf clovers are also part of the festival, and symbolise good luck too, so why not draw on on your cheeks, hands and celebrate the one time which having plants drawn on you is the norm!

The more the merrier! This festival is about everyone being together in celebration. Whether your out and about or home with your family, toast a Guinness and sing a song, and listen to river dance music to get the vibe filled with the spirit of the celebration.

The Irish have a rich, musical heritage, and St Patrick’s is a day that cannot be spent without it! At the pub, bands will ring out to the sound of piccolos, bagpipes and violins, and maybe even some river dancing as the night goes on and the drinks are drunk. And don’t dare go for the craft beers or the Duvels, no, today is a day for a stout, and many bars in Belgium offer them.

Essential Brussels Irish pubs to get your stouts

Brussels has some great Irish pubs, like the Michael Collins at Bailli, the De Valera’s at Flagey, the O’Reilly’s in front of the Bourse and even some In the middle of the European district, like The Old Oak, The Hairy Canary or the James Joyce; Each are easily recognised by their typical, dark wood decor.

Wherever you end up, good spirit is guaranteed in each Irish pub on the day. At the bar, summon up all your bravado and venture for a Guinness or a Kilkenny. Admittedly acquired tastes, so for those new to stouts, go for the Kilkenny as it is half lager and half stout, so you’ll be able to join in without grimacing after each sip!

And after a few drinks, why not strike up a conversation with some Irish expatriates; there should be plenty, as Belgium has up to 15,000 living in the country, and many are sure to be out celebrating.

However you celebrate, just remember the core tenants of the holiday: merriment, family and friends, music, song, dance and life and you’ll finish the night understanding the importance of St Patrick’s day.

The post Saint Patrick’s Day 2018 in Brussels appeared first on Brussels Express.