To the delight of local Irish, Queenstown’s Gaelic Football Club’s kicked off its first training of the season.
Club president Claire Murphy says while the sport’s popular with those possessing Irish roots, the doors are open to anybody, and all skill levels are welcome.
‘‘It looks a lot different than normal football … you’re carrying the ball and running and dribbling — it’s kind of like a really big conglomeration of rugby, soccer and basketball.’’
Likening it to Australian Rules football, she says the varied style makes it easy for anyone who’s previously played any ball-based sport to pick it up.
She encourages people new to Queenstown, looking to branch out into a new hobby, or wanting to flex their Gaelic football muscles, to come along to trainings, promising they’ll find ‘‘a network of good eggs’’.
‘‘I first joined the club when I came to town … and I think probably the biggest thing is just the community that you’ll find.
‘‘It’s a unique opportunity to be in New Zealand but playing an Irish sport — it’s a good bucket- list item.’’
Now in its fifth season, the club will train for two months before heading to a tournament in Wellington at Labour Weekend, before coming back to play a Queenstown social league, and then the NZ champs in March.
September training is 7pm Thursdays, Queenstown Events Centre, while from October it’ll move to 7pm Thursdays at the Queenstown Rec Ground.
