St Colmcilles: A new chapter for GAA in Wales

In the early 1900s, Gaelic games in Cardiff were alive and well, led by a club known as the Emmetts. The club offered a slice of home to Irish immigrants in Wales until 1915, when the First World War halted play and communities scattered.

When the club disbanded, the formal presence of GAA in the city quietly faded, resulting in a dormant chapter in Cardiff’s GAA history that would not be broken for over 40 years.

St. Colmcille’s was founded by Wexford-born Bill Cloak. It was initially established as a hurling club, with players adorning purple and gold to reflect the high involvement of Wexford men with the side.

The team’s prosperity mirrored the ebb and flow of the Irish population and the presence of players in the area. In the late 1990s into the early 2000s, a group of students found their home in South Wales. Since then, they have become Cardiff stalwarts who are still involved with the team.

Today, people from across Ireland, the UK and the United States join forces on the pitch. Their involvement in the sport isn’t only about the competition, it is about being the life force for the Gaelic games in Wales for over a century.

A ladies’ team had been a longstanding aspiration for Colmcille’s that was finally realised in 2023, which was a quick development on the four women attending weekly training in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eager to recruit people to the team, whenever an Irish accent was heard in the city, the question “Do you play GAA?” soon followed. Players were recruited from lectures, pubs, gyms, wherever St Colmcille’s members could find them! Since then the Ladies team has developed from strength to strength. They have more girls registered this year than ever in the history of the Club and they are only getting stronger.

With a history of getting to the All Britain Championship, and the All Britain Semi Final in recent years, the ladies team are making their mark on the British GAA scene. For two years in a row, they have won both their Championship and League. This year, with a League win under their belt, they have their eyes on the prize, aiming to continue their winning streak. Pob lwc ferched! [Good luck girls!]

The team reflects its community, speaking Irish, Welsh and English. Their unique trilingual status strengthens their bonds in the game. The Welsh language, Cymraeg, is an integral part of many of their Welsh player’s identities, some of whom being first language Welsh speakers. The club takes pride in embracing all three languages.

They consider it a great advantage on the pitch. Shouting “I’r chwith!” for “pass to the left!” during a match keeps their opponents in the dark about their next steps. Within Gaelic Games, languages meet in motion and become a living expression of Celtic kinship and cultural pride.

Attention from home had St Colmcille’s welcoming a very special guest to Cardiff to attend their Dinner Dance in the Utilita Arena in February 2025. The Sam Maguire Cup made the short trip over the Irish Sea to celebrate the successes of players and club members, on and off the pitch.

The Irish diaspora and locals alike flocked to see it, eager to avail of the opportunity to speak about the club’s long history in the centre of the city with likeminded enthusiasts.

Fostering a love for GAA in young people has always been a core mission of St Colmcille's.

More than 200 children from schools in Cardiff and Barry have explored Gaelic games in the past year, thanks to six-week taster sessions run by St Colmcille's members. Since May this year, the club has also launched weekend sessions in both Cardiff and Barry for children, giving them further space to explore particularly Gaelic football in a more recreational setting.

Several members of the club have since completed their ICGG certificates, becoming qualified youth coaches. They did this with the hope that the pupils experiencing and playing Gaelic Games develop an interest in the sport in a recreational and competitive nature.

The continued growth of the club is also seeing an increase in home-grown Welsh talent, with young natives picking up a hurl or a football and embarking on a new adventure.

Off the field, the club has garnered strong relationships with local businesses and become widely known for creating a home away from home with special events and celebrations. The club remain extremely grateful for the generosity of the community for supporting and uplifting the club for many years now.

Follow St Colmcilles Cardiff GAA Club on their official Facebook page or their website for information on fixtures, results, community events, and ways to get involved.

Become a part of their mission to build a legacy of Irish community, culture, and sport in Cardiff and South Wales.