User talk:Denver Gaels TM

Denver Gaels GAA Club

History
• The club was founded in 1996 by Irish nationals living in the Denver Metro area as a social network and athletic club for Colorado Irish. • The club played only Gaelic football at that time and was composed solely of Irish nationals. • It was the first, and is still the only, Gaelic athletic club in the Rocky Mountain Region. • The Gaels are an official member of Ireland’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the largest governing body of Gaelic sport. • The Gaels participate in North American County Board (NACB) competition in the Southwest division.

Accomplishments
• In just fours years the club produced a national champion squad. At the 2000 NACB championships in Boston the Gaels prevailed as Men’s Junior B Gaelic football champions. • The 2004 NACB championships were hosted to great success in Denver. The NACB entrusted the young club with the difficult and rewarding task. A review of the club’s hosting success can be found here. • Most recently, the Denver Gaels competed in the 2007 NACB championships at Gaelic Park, Chicago. This competition resulted in three national championships for the Gaels: • Men’s Junior C Hurling • U-14 Gaelic Football • U-16 Gaelic Football • Review of the 2007 NACB Championships • The Gaels have successfully started and continued Denver’s first Hurling Pub League for interclub play. • Four teams sponsored by local pubs compete against each other at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in an organized league culminating the crowning of Pub League Champion. • The league is open to the public • After humble beginnings 12 years ago, the club now boasts competitive national teams in men’s Gaelic football, women’s Gaelic football, youth Gaelic football, men’s hurling, and camogie. A summary and description of these unique sports can be found here.

Activities
• The Denver Gaels have grown exponentially since the 1996 inception with more than 100 members. • The club’s success has arisen from heavy promotion of social activities including golf tournaments, pub crawls, auctions, family day picnics and holiday parties. • The Gaels most notable yearly activities include participation in Denver’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Colorado Irish Festival, which hosts nearly 50,000 attendees each year. • All club activities are open to the public and the Gaels encourage anyone interested in the sports of the Emerald Isle to come participate in any capacity.