"Ná sacar" or "Not soccer". As I mentioned in my last post, don't ever call this a soccer ball. The Irish will kill you. It's a football in Gaelic football terminology. Gavin at The Local Bar in Ardfinnan got the Ardfinnan minor Gaelic football players to sign this authentic Gaelic football for me. "Peil ghaelach" means "Gaelic football". It's played with a ball that looks like a soccer ball...but don't EVER call it a "soccer ball". They will kill you.
Ardifinnan, the town we stayed in, is a member of the GAA - Gaelic Athletic Association. These pictures and video are from the semifinals match - Ardfinnan versus Arravale (minors) - which they won. Found out via the Internet that Ardfinnan minor team beat Loughmore-Castleiney in the finals two weeks later and were crowned South A Champions - first time since 1998.
Just watch the video through the two-minute mark. What's really a hoot is listening to the crowd behind me and to my right. You think American fans go a little berserk? And click on READ MORE! for more shots of the game.
"ARDFHIONAIN ABU!" That means, "Hurray, Ardfinnan!".
Ardfinnan Minors - South A Champions - 2009.
