North Asia Gaelic Games – Jeju Island
Jeju Island hosted the North Asia Gaelic Games (NAGGs).
Jeju Island in Korea played host to the North Asia Gaelic Games (NAGGs) on 25 May. Their GAA club, Inis Jeju is one of the newest GAA clubs in the world. The hosting of the NAGGs involved welcoming teams from Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai, as well as Seoul and Busan.
Jeju was a perfect location to host such a tournament as it has availability of ample grounds, excellent hotel facilities, as well as some direct international flights. Jeju also has a strong connection to Ireland through the legacy of the Columban Missionaries, who transformed agriculture on the island in the 1950s.
In organising the Games, the small team in Jeju drew on the wider community and the goodwill of local government to deliver a highly successful event. Seoul Gaels were successful in both men's and women's cups, which will be a strong morale boost to the club going forward.
Ambassador Winthrop attended the Games on 24 May, engaging with clubs, presenting awards and delivering remarks. Ambassador Winthrop was delighted to see such a display of Irish culture and sport in Jeju, and that the Embassy / Department of Foreign Affairs could support this event through the Global Games Development Fund.