Global Entrepreneurs Hurling through Dublin

The CIEE Dublin Global Entrepreneurship cohort dived into a key piece of Irish culture on Days 3 and 4; sports. 

On a guided tour of Croke Park, the third largest stadium in Europe with a capacity to seat 82,300 people, the group learned about the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). From Gaelic football and handball to hurling and camogie, the GAA represents a cultural revival of ancient indigenous sports after years of repression under British rule. As an amateur league, GAA players–while considered celebrities across Ireland–are unpaid. Rather than profit, their love for the game, their town, and culture are the drivers of their dedication to the sport. 

The trip to Croke Park was the perfect introduction to Ireland’s most popular and beloved sports, which students had the chance to play themselves on Day 4. With the help of actual players, the group was guided through the rules and techniques behind hurling and Gaelic football. While we felt quite good about ourselves towards the end of the session, it was a bit humbling to see the very competent Irish children on the adjacent field breeze through the same moves that left us all very sore the next day.

We concluded Day 4 with a tour of historical sites in Dublin explained through ballads. Both informative and fun, we danced and sang along before heading home after a long day.