Rumble in the Rock 2010

Another Memorial Weekend in Little Rock for the KCGAC and a near identical finish to last year: 2 and 2.

We beat NW Arkansas twice and lost, not by much mind you, to LR and St. Louis.

The lads had a great time traveling down there, some had more fun than others, no names mentioned.

Next year we need to start a push early for the trip to LR to get as much of The KCGAC as possible down there and show them what we are made off.

We can get revenge in, oh say, 23 days!

KCGAC Volunteers at The Wizards - May 15th

The KCGAC got up early on Saturday morning and headed out to Community America Ballpark to help with The Wizards inaugural Soccer Day 5k to benefit Autism Speaks and The Kansas City Soccer Foundation.

At 6:30 am the sky looked like it was going to open up and spoil the fun, but mother nature held off and the run started with just a drizzle of rain.

Breakfast of Champions - Their mascot Dynamo nibbles on a young runner

Everyone was having a good time getting ready for the run

Wizards player Jimmy Conrad crosses the line with his daughter and help from Dynamo

High-Fives all round for a race well run

KCGAC player Jake Yardich is also The Wizards videographer

After the run it was time to go home and take a nap, 'cause we were back at Community America Ballpark later that night for the game against Chicago Fire. This time we were not so lucky with the rain and the heavens opened up, making for a very soggy night.

The Wizards played great and held Chicago to a 2-2 game even with the rain lashing down and we had a great night of volunteering. A big Thank You to Brad, Leslie, Vince and George for representing The KCGAC in the community.

Our relationship with The Wizards is like having a big brother, a big brother that is a professional soccer club with his own stadium: a great relationship. We'll be at The Wizards again next week and after the game the KCGAC are going to take to the field to play a demo-game. We hope the rain stays away and we hope to see you there.

KCGAC at The Celtic Ranch

Beer 'n Sports: who doesn't love that combination?

The KCGAC board headed up to Weston early and had our monthly meeting upstairs in The Celtic Ranch. We sipped on a few O'Malley's Weston Brewing Company beers while we debated the in's and out's of the club.

Then around 3 o'clock we invited people to come up and share a beer with us and talk about Gaelic Football and Hurling.

We had people from Hawaii there who had never heard of Gaelic games before, but were so impressed that they took our information and are going to see if there are any Gaelic clubs back on the big island.

People from all over the Kansas City metro area and Lawrence came up and we got two new "Honorary" members, the sisters Meghan and Erin, we tried to get their Dad to sign up, but he was having none of it!

Later we walked around the store wearing our club jerseys, listening to an acoustic session of Flanagan's Right Hook and absorbing the great atmosphere of The Celtic Ranch. Some of the lads stayed the night in Weston, and I think I'll do the same next time. 

Thank you Terry and John, you and the gang at The Celtic Ranch are the best.

Mike, Pete and Anto wearing their KCGAC gear

Sully and Scott chillaxing Ranch style

Anthony and Devin showing what not to do with a hurley stick

Curtis explains why looking good on the field is as important as being good!

Erin and Meghan will be out to practice next week or maybe to just cheer us on

Showing ball skills

Fearsome KCGAC players

After a hard day doing PR work, its time to sit down and drink

The Unsung Hero of Gaelic Games

Our Referee most days: Mr. Chad Griffin

When the ball goes wide, when you get a hard challenge and don't get a free, when you miss kick the ball, when you give a bad hand pass, when you run out of energy and gasp for breath: You blame the Ref.

That's right, the guy who is out there of his own goodness officiating YOUR game, so YOU can have fun and play Gaelic games and all you want to do is tell this fella where to stick it. So, today all us hot headed players are going to cool it and show respect for the man that makes tournaments happen and keeps friendly games friendly. All hail the Ref.

Here's some refs in the spotlight:

Sevens Tournament was a Huge Success

It didn't snow, it didn't rain, it wasn't freezing...not sure if we're in Kansas anymore Toto.

The Irish gods were smiling upon us and we had the most perfect March day for our KCGAC Sevens tournament. Director Sully divided the club up into the four Provinces of Ireland and we had a round-robin first and then knock-outs for the championship position.

Connaught 3-5 Vs Leinster 1-0...Winner Connaught

Munster 2-4 Vs Ulster 1-5...Winner Munster

Connaught 1-9 Vs Munster 2-3...Winner Connaught

Ulster 2-3 Vs Leinster 1-3...Winner Ulster

Munster 2-3 Vs Leinster 2-7...Winner Leinster

Ulster 0-1 Vs Connaught 4-5...Winner Connaught

CHAMPIONSHIP

WINNER Connaught

Instead of having a 3rd and 4th place playoff, we combined some of the lads from the other teams to give the finalists a few extra subs to help the tired and weary legs after so many games in a row.

It was great craic and we even had a few fans down at Swope Park cheering us on. Best of all this year, we were injury free.

 A quick stretch before the tournament

The local PD were there to keep an eye on the club treasures

Devin warms up with the Aussie Rules lad

Drake got down on his knees and prayed for the win

Sully's ringer from Rosscommon

The final seconds of the Final, it could have gone either way, very close

Carl looks for the catch

Kieran hold Brandon off, as he makes for another point from the 40 yard line

Ulster - KCGAC Sevens Champions 2010

Seven A Side Tournament - March 28th

This is the most fun weekend in Kansas City Gaelic Football if you ask me. Small teams, on a smaller field, means more action and more scoring.

This is also a great time for new people to come down and experience Gaelic football. Bring $35, a registration form and a medical waiver from our site and we'll stick you on a team.

Our club will be split up into four teams representing the provinces of Ireland: Ulster, Leinster, Connaught and Munster. This should make for some good rivalry and great craic. Rumor has it there is going to be an amazing trophy for the winning team.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your boots if you're playing or a deckchair if you're cheering from the sidelines, and bring the family down to Swope Park, either way you're in for a good Gaelic time.

Time: 3:00pm on Sunday the 28th of March 2010

Place: Swope Park soccer fields
Cost: Free for Spectators

To find out more information about Gaelic Sports in Kansas City visit our website www.kcgac.org.

Here's some Gaelic Football highlights to get you in the spirit.

St. Patrick's Day - 2010

We were promised warm, sunny weather from the local news stations. All of Kansas City woke up expecting a beautiful St. Patrick's Day and even though we looked outside and saw drizzle, we held to the belief that by mid-morning it would become a tad more clement. It never did. We froze our collective arses off.

Here's some action from the parade. Thanks to all those that came out to march and to watch from the sidelines. And a special thanks to Lynn Klein for bringing her truck to carry the Irish flag for the KCGAC, which she did in memorial for her mother Jane Klein. We miss you Jane.

Green (as in the environment) was the theme this year

The things parents will make their kids wear: Wellies, Kilt, Paddy Cap. Check, check and check

This guy looks like an extra from Patriot Games.

Hurling and ATV riding = Multiple Dental Visits 

Irish Potato Famine Victims

Irish Cowboys

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

The Taylor Lads and their Dad braved the cold

Robert was Protected from the Elements

This wee Galway man came out to show the KCGAC hurlers how to play the old Celtic Cricket

Another great and safe St. Paddy's Day under our belt, hope to see you all again next year, when it will be bigger, better, faster and greener than ever.

Blog Hunting...Gaelic Style

I've been up early this morning and taken a nice wee walk around the Internet and here are some blogs I've come across to share with you. And if you find any cool blogs about Ireland and its culture, sports etc...please share them with us.

Dave's Football Blog
I thought I was the first man here from the KCGAC, but it looks like Murphy beat me to it!

Official GAA website from Ireland

Asian County Board
I didn't know Asia was made up of Irish counties, but you learn something new every day.

Seattle Hurling Blog
This is a part of the Seattle Gaels Men's Hurling website, quite funny too.

Check out this honorary Irishman


See, Irish news is not all doom and gloom


And now some serious clips on Ireland

A Little Gaelic Football and Hurling 101

This is not the best video, probably won't be up for a Sundance Award, 
but it'll give you an idea about Gaelic Football

A man from the New York Times was once asked to describe Hurling upon return
from a vacation in Ireland, his answer was short and to the point: "Like a cross between ice hockey and murder."

Here's a few clips of what not to do in Gaelic Games and if you do this in our club you're out.

New Year...New Blog

New blog fresh out of the box for 2010, it even has new car smell...go on take a sniff.

Some events to look forward to this Spring:

We have plenty planned for 2010 and we want you to be a big part of it, whether you're on the sidelines cheering for us  and having a soda (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) or out on the field like some big wild Irish-American Celtic warrior.

We'll be marching in both the Brookside (March 13th) and Kansas City (March 17th) St. Patrick's Day parades, so get your green-on and join us

March 20th: Twin Cities pre-season friendly game

March 28th: KCGAC Sevens Tournament

April 14th: Mixing it up with the Gaelic football students down at Haskell University in Lawrence, KS

For a full list of dates and time, check out our website at www.kcgac.org