| What is it? | Gaelic football is a major sport in Ireland, with rules standardised in 1887 the game is similar to a mixture of soccer and rugby. There are 15 players in each team and the game is played with a ball slightly smaller than that used in soccer. |
There are three underage teams currently playing in Leeds, St Benedict's Harps, J F Kennedy's and St Anthony's Gaels. We spoke to Willy Mullan who helps to organise St. Benedict's Harps, the team was formed in 1983, and after some initial success, reformed in 1991. The children that play for the team are mostly based in the west and north-west of Leeds. Willy Mullan explains: "Gaelic football is way of keeping the Irish culture going in Leeds and allows children to participate in sport. "We have had lots of English-born kids trying out the sport recently, people who have played rugby also take to Gaelic football because they are used to the contact." Teams from St Benedict's regularly go to Ireland to take part in football competitions including the Feile Peil Na Nog, an international competition with 3,000 young players from all over Ireland and the UK. St. Benedicts under 12s will be travelling to Birmingham on Saturday 3 June 2006 for the All-Britain 7-aside competition - a competition the team won in 2004. Gaelic football is played on three pitches in Leeds, behind the Irish Centre on York Road, on Scott Hall Road and at South Leeds Sports Centre so keep an eye out for the action. Currently Leeds is split into approximately into three catchment areas, one for each club, East (JF Kennedy's), South (St Anthony's) and West/North (St Benedict's). Teams in the city are run at six junior levels from U10, and also at U21 and open age. If you are interested in having a go at Gaelic football contact St Benedict's (Willy Mullan 07770 608694). | 
