Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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Campaign to get Cambodian players to Co Derry for GAA World Games gathers pace
Image
Cairdre Khmer GAA was founded in 2017 in Cambodia's second-largest city, Siem Reap.
The club aims to send a men's and women's squad to the 2023 GAA World Games in July.

Paul Ainsworth
09 February, 2023 17:58
A FUNDRAISING campaign is underway to help a squad of Cambodian Gaelic footballers reach Co Derry this summer to compete in the 2023 GAA World Games.

The city is hosting the first global Gaelic games event to be held since before the Covid pandemic, with around 100 teams from across the world coming to the home of their adopted sports of football, hurling and camogie.

Among those aiming for success at the GAA's Derry Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg, with hopes of earning a place at finals to be held in Dublin's Croke Park in July, is Cambodia's Cairde Khmer GAA.

Chaired by Co Cork's Ronan Sheehan, the club has the honour of representing Asia at the first World Games to be held since 2019, and aims to send both a men's and women's team to compete.

Both teams will consist entirely of Cambodian players, who have fallen in love with the sport after joining the club's outlets in the country's capital Phnom Penh and its second-largest city, Siem Reap.

Ronan told the Irish News of how his dedicated players have enjoyed success across Asia in Ireland's native sport, before being chosen to represent the entire continent in what is effectively the GAA's own 'world cup'.

The club came together in 2017 when Co Tyrone man Paddy Campbell put the call out for players while travelling in the region, and Ronan, along with fellow Cork men Conor Wall and Peter Downey, joined to create what would become Asia's most successful Gaelic football team.

The club aims to send a men's and women's squad to the 2023 GAA World Games in July.

Cairde Khmer aims to raise €36,000 to cover travel costs and donations can be made online at www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-cairde-khme ... a-to-derry.
In full: https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern ... e-3049914/
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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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Explaining Irish Football rules, because if you're not Irish...
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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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It's All Good Craic
Gaelic Football in Cambodia started with some Irish expats who founded the Cairde Khmer GAA club for some good craic (fun times), and then some Cambodian football players joined the game, because they like a bit of craic too, and unexpectedly, the game became a big hit with locals and expats alike.
Now the Cambodian teams have been invited to represent Asia, in both the Men's and Women's non-Irish categories, in the GAA World Cup being held in Ireland this summer. Most of the Cambodian players are from modest backgrounds, so a fund raising campaign has been started up to raise money for the trip. The link is below.

Cáirde Khmer creating lifelong friendships in Cambodia
Thursday 16 February 2023
By John Harrington
Cambodia is known as the Kingdom of Wonder, so very much a fitting setting then for the success story that is Cairde Khmer GAA club.

Founded six years ago and based in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Cáirde Khmer have quickly estabished themselves as a vibrant community as well as sporting hub both for the ex-pats living there and local Cambodians.

The manner in which the club has opened their doors to the latter in particular is especially heart-warming. Their Cambodian players typically come from tough socio-economic backgrounds, and the opportunity to play organised team sports, especially for women, are usually few and far between.
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Cambodians now make up 85% of the club's playing numbers and the enthusiasm with which they have embraced Gaelic football is why Cáirde Khmer were nominated by the Asian County Board to represent them in the non-Irish category at the World Games this July in Derry.

We chatted to one of the club's founding members, Rónán Sheehan, about how the club has blossomed and the considerable fund-raising challenge they now face to get their teams to Derry in July.
Interview here: https://www.gaa.ie/news/cairde-khmer-cr ... -cambodia/

* To find out more about Cáirde Khmer's fundraising drive to bring their teams to the GAA World Games in Derry in July, go HERE
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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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'Maith an Cailiní' -- A women's GAA team in Cambodia goes viral
Rebecca Fisher
15/03/2023
An all female Cambodian GAA team is going viral after a TikTok of the female players sharing how the sport has changed their life made its way online.
Founded six years ago and based in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Cáirde Khmer has both male and female GAA teams and are currently raising funds to visit Derry in 2023.

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The now viral video touched the hearts of sports enthusiasts across the globe, with Irish GAA fans reaching out to show the Cambodian cailíní some love.

Taking to social media on International Women's Day, the teams official account shared a video of the girls training set to the iconic Irish tune, Galway Girl.
'Sending love from Dublin this is soooo heartwarming “Maith an Cailiní",' another shared with many asking how they can live stream their matches in the future.
@cairdekhmer
It’s not so long ago in Ireland that women didnt play sport as it was seen as “unladylike”. Cambodia women face an immense amount of barriers in life. We are proud to say that through the #GAA club Cairde Khmer, we get to help break some of them down. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the brilliant sreys/cailini of Cairde Khmer. Brave, relentless, enthusiastic, loving. Our sisters. Happy International Womens Day🇰🇭🇰🇭🇮🇪🇮🇪 #internationalwomensday #women #womeninsport #gaelicfootball #ladiesfootball #iwd2023 #cambodia #ireland #fypireland
♬ Galway Girl (feat. Sharon Shannon) - Mundy
The team are currently fundraising to get their women's team to Derry, as they have been chosen to represent Asia in the upcoming World Games in July 2023.

They have currently raised over 14K of their €36,000 goal, with their chairperson Ronan Sheehan, eager to see the girls take part.

'It's no small undertaking to get to those tournaments. Average wages in Cambodia waver between $190-$300 per month, not to mention that many of our players come from NGO backgrounds or are currently studying,' he wrote.
https://extra.ie/2023/03/15/sport/cambo ... irde-khmer
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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

UPDATE: The Go Fund Me campaign for the Cambodian Gaelic Football team is well past the half-way mark, thanks to generous supporters!

Three Cork lads fundraising to bring their Cambodian GAA team to Ireland for World Games
The Cairde Khmer GAA club were founded by Rebel ex-pats in Cambodia
ByEoin Shortiss
10:59, 4 APR 2023
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It's not the obvious place to find a GAA club - but this passionate group of mentors and players is flying the flag for our national sports in Cambodia. And now they are looking to come home.

Club member Peter Downey says: 'We are training 26 Cambodians (13 men, 13 ladies) in Gaelic Football and representing Asia in the world Gaelic games in Ireland this year, and are looking for sponsorship as well as Go Fund Me donations to make the dream come true. Any support or publicity will go a long way.'

The GAA family in Ireland and around the world have heard their prayers, and the team has already raised €25,000 of their €39,500 total, needing just another push to make their dreams come true.
https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/ ... g-26627230
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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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Derry Awaits – FRS Recruitment GAA World Games Opening Parade
Tuesday 18 July 2023

Derry city is primed and ready to welcome the fourth - and largest, instalment of the eagerly anticipated 2023 FRS Recruitment GAA World Games. The city centre will be awash with colour, energy, excitement, and a tangibly electric atmosphere will be bubbling when all 93 teams march from Bishops Gate, down Shipquay Street finishing up in Guildhall Square for the opening ceremony.

A big screen will be in place in Guildhall Square, where members of the public will be able to view the spectacle while still soaking up the atmosphere.

The parade itself will kick-off at 6.30pm, and all members of the public are warmly invited to observe from the streets, to give our visiting athletes, many of whom will be visiting Ireland for the first time, the incredible Derry welcome they deserve. They will be joined by juvenile members of their "twinning" partners - Derry GAA, LGFA and Camogie clubs, with whom they will share a special cultural evening throughout the week in almost every club in the county.

The Colmcille Pipe band will accompany the athletes as they proudly make their way through the heart of the city and ensure that the 2023 FRS Recruitment GAA World Games opens in emphatic fashion. The people of Derry are actively encouraged to come out in force to create a vibrant ambiance throughout the city, and to help deliver a memorable and stunning visual spectacle.

The 2023 FRS Recruitment GAA World Games will involve some 93 teams across the four codes of Gaelic Football, Ladies' Football, Hurling & Camogie descending on Owenbeg to earn the right to take the field in Celtic Park on finals day on July 28th. Teams are divided into two divisions – International and Open. For the first time ever, the majority (over 70%) of players will be international.

The GAA has moved beyond catering only for the community in Ireland. It has spearheaded the creation of a far-reaching, passionate, diverse affinity that lives within people from radically varying backgrounds – boasting over 500 GAA clubs worldwide. This July in Derry, we celebrate that growth, that sense of community, and the pride that comes with it. This is the FRS Recruitment GAA World Games for 2023. Be part of it.
https://www.gaa.ie/news/derry-awaits-fr ... ng-parade/
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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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GAA World Games: Derry welcomes Cambodian GAA stars of the future
Published 1 hour ago
Image

By Maria McCann
BBC News NI
Young children at a GAA club in County Londonderry have welcomed members of a Cambodian club to their pitches.

Michael Davitt GAC in Swatragh hosted Cairde Khmer for games and training on Friday afternoon.

The Cambodian teams had been competing in the GAA world games in Owenbeg and Celtic Park this week.

Conor Wall is one of Cáirde Khmer's co-founders and said the games had been a trip of a lifetime for many of the players.

"Cambodia would be a developing country. Some of our players come from middle class to low middle class to very underprivileged families," he said.
Michael Davitt GAC and Cambodian team Cairde Khmer players huddled in a group
Image caption,
It comes as Derry played host to the GAA World Games, welcoming teams from around the world

"More than half our players across the men's and women's team would have grown up on a famous dump site called Stung Meanchey."

Conor said the sport is growing in popularity in Cambodia, and that 90% of the players now are native Cambodians, while 10% are expats.

Meeting new people
Sreylak Koun, a Cáirde Khmer player, said she found the trip exciting.

"I have got to know many new people, learn about their history and play against really good teams."

Lionel Reaksmey said he has been playing gaelic football for a number of years.

"It improves a lot of skills and gives me a fit body and good health. I have a great time playing it."
Full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66342839
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Re: Campaign Underway to Send Cambodian Gaelic Footballers to Ireland

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The unlikely rise of Gaelic football on the fields of Cambodia
By George WrightBBC News
Last updated on 29 March 2023
Image
Sovann ThidaAva has never met her parents.

Born in the mid-2000s, she was found abandoned as a baby on the street in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh.

She was taken in by a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) for disadvantaged children, where she was raised.

"I have no idea where my mum went," says ThidaAva, who goes by the name Ava.

Life in care was crowded and chaotic, but over the years she built up a close bond with the other girls there.

"We were like sisters because we grew up together… we lived together in one group," she says.

During playtime, the boys played football and volleyball, but the girls were not encouraged to join in.

"The girls were encouraged to do dancing and art," Ava says.

Despite being around large groups her entire life, Ava knew little beyond the walls of the organisation.

That all changed in 2018, when somebody offered to take her to a training session for a sport she'd never heard of - Gaelic football - at a club that was barely a year old.

Cairde Khmer had been formed in 2017 by two Irishmen - Conor Wall and Paddy Campbell.

To begin with, Cairde Khmer was made up almost completely of Westerners. But in 2018, the club started seeing a small influx of Cambodian players turning up to training.

Ava started playing around then, despite only being about 13. She initially found the rules confusing but soon became one of the team's best and most fearless players.

"She is absolutely vicious," Sheehan says. "Her tackling can be quite rough. I used to take great delight watching grown women in their 20s and 30s asking the referee to protect them from this rampaging 14-year-old.

"Referees are always coming up to us and telling us she has to calm down. But we can't calm that out of her because it's a big part of her game. She plays it right on the edge."

Soon a trickle of Cambodian players became a steady stream, as word started to spread.

Vat Sreypov joined the team in 2019. As a child, Sreypov had always longed to play sports like the boys in her village, but was never given the chance.

"I was not allowed to play football because my brother said it was not for women," Sreypov recalls. "Most women are not encouraged to play football in Cambodia. There are so many norms about women and how to behave - you are told not to walk fast and you should not be heard when you walk."
Cairde Khmer was a breath of fresh air to her.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/65064562
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