Why I love my sport by Emma Hamilton

Emma Hamilton loves Gaelic Football and plays for Dunedin Og, the youth section of Dunedin Connollys GAC.

If you’ve never heard of Gaelic Football it’s a fast, physical Irish team sport that looks like a hybrid of football and rugby, played with a round ball that can be kicked, caught and hand‑passed. Two teams of 15 try to move the ball up a large grass pitch and score by sending it over or under the crossbar between H‑shaped posts.

Here’s why Emma loves it…

I love Gaelic football because of the friendships and bonds you build with people. You share the highs and the lows together. Sometimes you might not speak to a teammate for months, or even fall out over something silly (most likely a boy 🤣), but in the end you always find your way back to each other. That’s the beauty of it, the team you play on isn’t just a team, it’s a family. And that family includes not only the players, but also the coaches, helpers, and everyone who supports.

Gaelic football is such an interesting sport with rules that might seem complicated at first. It can be hard to explain to friends who don’t play, but once they learn the basics, they realize it’s not as confusing as it seems. Some of my school friends who don’t play love hearing about my training sessions or matches. They’ve grown to enjoy the sport just by listening to my stories, even though they’ve never stepped onto the pitch themselves.

I love Gaelic football because it gives me so many opportunities. It’s my happy place, the thing that makes me feel alive. It has given me new friends, unforgettable memories, and a sense of belonging. For me, Gaelic football is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life.

There are countless reasons why my teammates and I love Gaelic football, and the list could go on forever. But the most important thing is this: it’s fun to try something new. You shouldn’t be afraid to join a new team, start a new sport, move schools, or even go to a party. You never know you might discover something that you’ll end up loving with your whole heart.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I tried Gaelic football, and now it’s a part of who I am. It’s where I find joy, friendship, and family. And that’s why I love Gaelic football.