Gaelic games are a group of physically demanding, skilful sports that are popular in Ireland and in many other parts of the world, wherever there is a large population of Irish people. The three major sports that make up the group are Gaelic football, handball, and hurling. Camogie, a form of hurling played by women, also belongs to this group of sports.

The controlling body for Gaelic football, handball, and hurling is the Gaelic Athletic Association A camogie association, which was founded in 1912, controls the sport of camogie.

All the counties of Ireland play Gaelic football, handball, and camogie. But hurling is played mainly in the provinces of Leinster and Munster, and in the Galway region of Connacht.

Gaelic football (called peil in Irish) is played on a grass pitch. The pitch's dimensions may vary from a minimum area of 127 metres by 76 metres to a maximum area of 145 metres by 91 metres. The two opposing teams each have 15 players, consisting of a goalkeeper, six defenders, two centre fielders, and six forwards. The goalposts, similar to those used in rugby, stand 6.4 metres apart and have crossbars.

The ball used resembles a soccer ball. A player may kick it, punch it, or handpass it (hold it with one hand and hit it with the other). He may catch the ball, but he can take only four steps before playing it (passing or kicking it to a colleague or attempting to score). A player scores one point if the ball passes between the posts and over the crossbar. A goal (worth three points) results if the player gets the ball under the crossbar. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to pick the ball up directly from the ground. All other players raise the ball with the combined use of their hands and feet.

Gaelic football is a fast game played, at championship level, over 80 minutes (two halves of 35 minutes with a 10-minute interval). Play is continuous, with no stoppages for injuries. The outstanding features of the game are fielding (high catching), solo runs, and spectacular scores.

The premier competitions are between counties. A county team is selected from the best club players within each county. The All-Ireland Championship, the major competition, is played during the summer months with the final on the third Sunday in September. The final is played at Croke Park, Dublin, the Gaelic Athletic Association's headquarters. The National League is played from October to April. There is also an inter-provincial competition. The club teams play their own championships within the counties. Most parishes have adult club teams and a range of juvenile teams.

Hurling (iomaint in Irish) is said to be the fastest field game in the world. The playing field is of the same size as for Gaelic football and 15 players of each team line up in a similar fashion. Each player uses a stick called a hurley (caman in Irish), which is made from ash. The hurley is about 1 metre in length. It is like a hockey stick but has more give. The ball (sliotar) is 90 millimetres in diameter and is made of cork bound firmly with woollen thread and then covered with leather. The rims, where the leather is joined, stand out from the surface. The ball may be struck with either side of the bas (wide part of the hurley).

During play, the ball may be struck while stationary on the ground or while in motion. A player may strike the ball while it is in the air either to continue its flight in the same direction or to change its direction. A player may not pick up the ball from the ground with his hand, but must raise it with the hurley, usually in a scooping motion or in a rolling motion. A player may catch the ball in flight and may pass it by hand or by kicking it if necessary. Hurling is scored in much the same way as Gaelic football.

When a foul is committed, a free puck is taken by lifting the ball from the ground and striking without handling. If the ball is driven out of play at the side lines, a free shot is taken by the opposition from outside the boundary of the playing area. The ball is hit with the hurley in the manner of a golf shot.

Hurling is very fast. Good players can drive the ball at speeds of up to 145 kilometres per hour. The ball may cover a distance of more than 90 metres. A game lasts 70 minutes and play is continuous.

An aspiring hurler can start playing in competitions before the age of 10. Adult hurling competitions are similar to Gaelic football and are played at the same time of the year. The All-Ireland hurling final takes place at Croke Park, Dublin, on the first Sunday in September.

Camogie (Irish camogaiocht) is basically the game of hurling played by women. The Camogie Association was formed in 1912, and the first competition was played between the Irish universities in 1915. This contest was for the Ashbourne Cup, and this championship is still regarded as an important competition.

All the skills of hurling apply in camogie. But there are only 12 players in a camogie team. The game is played on a smaller pitch, measuring between 90 metres by 60 metres minimum and 100 metres by 70 metres maximum. The positions of the players on the field are goalkeeper, one fullback, three halfbacks, three centre fielders, three half-forwards, and one full-forward. No physical contact is allowed in camogie. The game has two halves of 25 minutes each. The scoring is similar to that of hurling.

Handball. The ancient game of handball (Irish liathroid laimhe) has been popular in Ireland since pre-Christian times and is similar to a game that was played by ancient Egyptians. Irish emigrants took handball to the United States and Canada, where it became popular

Originally played in the open air, handball is now an indoor game in Ireland, played as singles or doubles. A unique glass court was built at Croke Park, Dublin, in 1970, and the world championships were staged there. Since then, handball has enjoyed a great upsurge of popularity.

Ancient manuscripts indicate that Gaelic games go back to pre-Christian times. Most of the references are to hurling, and this game figures in some of the myths and legends of Ireland. During the Anglo-Norman period, which began in the 1100's, the English passed laws in Ireland forbidding hurling. John Dunton, an Englishman, wrote the first description of a hurling match in the 1600's. Irish emigrants during the 1800's took Gaelic football with them to Australia, where it formed the basis of the game called Australian Rules football.

In 1884, Michael Cusack realized the importance of establishing a national identity by reviving the traditional Irish pastimes. With this end, he helped found the Gaelic Athletic Association. The revival movement spread rapidly, leading to the establishment of clubs throughout the country.

The most successful clubs in hurling are, in order of All-Ireland championship winners, Cork, Tipperary, and Kilkenny. The most famous hurlers of all time were Christy Ring, of Cork, and John Doyle, of Tipperary (see RING, CHRISTY). Both players won eight All-Ireland medals. Other famous players include Eddie Keher, of Kilkenny, who scored a record 2 goals and 11 points at an All-Ireland final in 1971; Mick Mackey, of Limerick; and Nick Rachard, of Wexford (see KEHER, EDDIE and MACKEY, MICK).

Top Gaelic football clubs are Kerry and Dublin. One of the most famous players of Gaelic football is Dan O'Keeffe, of Kerry, who won a record seven All-Ireland medals. Other notable players include Mick O'Connell, of Kerry; Sean O'Neill, of Down; and Kevin Heffernan, of Dublin.