Gaelic Football

Denis Reidy is a former Co. Limerick senior footballer and currently lives in Amsterdam. As the Manager of both the Ladies and Men's Gaelic Football teams he helped steer the Holland Ladies Gaelic Football team to victory in the European League in 2005 and the Den Haag Men's team in 2006

 
Could you describe what Gaelic Football is?
I guess the easiest way to try and describe what Gaelic football is, is to try and imagine a sport which resembles a combination of soccer, rugby and Aussie rules!
Gaelic football is played with a round leather ball, which is similar to a soccer ball, but heavier. Players move the ball up the field with a combination of carrying, kicking, and hand-passing to their team-mates. The scoring system is the same as hurling, in that, it is one point for a score over the cross bar and 3 points, a goal, for scores underneath the cross bar into the net.
It is a fast, high scoring game and hugely popular in Ireland, so much so that you can even buy a Gaelic Football game for your Playstation!
 

Is it similar to soccer?
It is similar to soccer. It has a similar sized ball and a lot of the skills can be used in both sports. Gaelic Football differs, because there are four more players on a team, it doesn't have the offside rule, the scoring system is different and the field is two and half times the size of a soccer pitch (140-150m x 80-100m as opposed to 100m x 60m).  It’s a fast, skilful, all action team sport. 
Gaelic footballers would refer to their sport as 'real' football as it is so much more exciting, faster and a higher scoring game!
 
Do you need to have played Gaelic Football at home in Ireland to be able to play it in Europe?
Definitely not! We welcome players with varying levels of experience and beginners are especially welcome. At least half the club's members never played Gaelic Football before. It's an easy and enjoyable sport to learn and we offer training at all different levels.