The San Francisco GAA wrapped up the 2025 Gaelic Games season with a lively Western-themed Dinner Dance at Páirc na nGael. Players, coaches, and supporters from across the Bay Area came together to celebrate an unforgettable year of Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie. Congratulations to all the 2025 San Francisco GAA award winners and Hall of Fame inductees for their dedication, teamwork, and contribution to growing Gaelic Games in California.

Sacramento has a new home for hurling. The Sacramento Kavanaghs, honoring Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, bring fresh energy, community spirit, and Irish pride to California’s capital as the newest club in the USGAA Western Division.

Over 14 days and 421 miles, Ger Dixon pushed himself from Los Angeles to San Francisco to raise awareness about mental health and to support Celtic Cara. Along the way, he faced blistering heat, exhaustion, and moments of doubt, but every step carried a message: even in the darkest times, there is a way forward. His run has already raised more than $35,000 to help people in crisis, turning personal struggle into a journey of hope and resilience.

Treasure Island has a brand-new reason to visit. The neighborhood, already home to San Francisco GAA’s Páirc na nGael, has opened its first public park, Cityside Park. Just an eight-minute ferry ride from downtown, the six-acre waterfront space offers stunning skyline views, walking and biking trails, picnic areas, and sustainable stormwater gardens.

San Francisco GAA had a standout weekend at the 2024 USGAA Finals in Philadelphia, winning three national titles: Éire Óg (Intermediate Football), Fog City Harps (Senior Ladies Football), and Cú Chulainn (Senior Camogie). The victories highlight the Bay Area’s strength in North American Gaelic sports.

On August 14th, the San Francisco GAA Honor Guard bid final farewell to Malachy J. Higgins. Malachy gave decades of service to Gaelic sport in San Francisco. His memory will live on in the community he helped to build.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

After a hard-fought weekend in the Chicago heat, the Tipperary Hurling Club of San Francisco emerged as champions of the 2025 North American Senior Hurling Challenge. Tipp battled past Michael Cusacks of Chicago, Father Tom’s of Boston, and Galway Boston to lift the Sheamus Howlin Cup.

This season, visitors to Páirc na nGael were greeted by bold, hand-painted murals that celebrate our community and the home of Gaelic games in San Francisco. Created in partnership with local artists at New Bohemia Signs, the murals are part of a broader effort to revitalize the pitch—including new blacktop, a scoreboard imported from Ireland, and our new concession stand, The Wild Goose. Come see what’s new—and what makes Páirc na nGael feel like home.

In American sports, a player’s number can become part of their identity. But in Gaelic sports, numbers don’t belong to players—they belong to positions. Jersey numbers tell you where someone is playing on the pitch. If you’re new to Gaelic sport, this post explains why tradition, not branding, drives Gaelic sport jersey numbers.

In a recent Gaelic Life feature, Ulster GAA San Francisco chairman Barry Dowds shares the story of how the club weathered the challenges of the pandemic and emerged stronger than ever. From nearly folding in 2020 to rebuilding a competitive senior squad and nurturing homegrown talent, the article captures the spirit, dedication, and community that define our club.

With vivid detail and heartfelt reflection, the piece offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep a club going 5,000 miles from home—and why Ulster GAA SF is more than just a team.

Two of the best hurling clubs in North America—Na Fianna and Tipperary of San Francisco—are heading to Chicago to renew their fierce rivalry and compete for the Sheamus Howlin Cup. With national titles, hometown pride, and the future of American hurling on the line, this year’s Senior Hurling Challenge promises to be one of the most electrifying clashes the sport has seen on this side of the Atlantic.

A new force has emerged in the USGAA Western Division—and it’s not just a club, it’s a statement. With camo kits, a scrappy ethos, and a roster composed almost entirely of American-born players, the Joseph Mary Plunketts are redefining what hurling looks like in the Bay Area.

On June 1, 2025, GAA President Jarlath Burns visited Páirc na nGael for the St. Patrick’s Cup and joined Micheál Smith, Consul General of Ireland in San Francisco, for an inspiring conversation about the future of Gaelic Games. From global growth and player welfare to Olympic ambitions and integration with LGFA and Camogie, their discussion highlights the enduring power of community and the Irish spirit abroad.

The San Francisco GAA has announced the schedule for the 2025 Championship Cup series, with matches kicking off on Sunday, June 15th at Páirc na nGael on Treasure Island. The action continues through the finals on Sunday, August 3rd, with champions earning the right to represent the Western Division at the USGAA Finals in Philadelphia, August 15–17.

This year, Clan na Gael Ladies Gaelic Football Club marks a milestone that few clubs in the U.S. can claim: 25 years of grit, growth, and Gaelic football. What began in 2000 as a bold new chapter for women’s football in San Francisco has blossomed into one of the Bay Area’s most enduring and dynamic clubs.

"We've always known there's a great football scene in San Francisco," said Simon McCoy, Vice Chairman of the club. "Coming up here for national tournaments, we really loved the pitch and the setup. We've always wanted to be more a part of California GAA, so this year, we put a big effort into getting involved in the St. Patrick’s Cup."

Camogie is more than just a version of hurling for women—it’s a proud and growing sport with its own culture, history, and global community. Played with a wooden stick called a hurley and a hard leather ball known as a sliotar, Camogie combines athleticism, strategy, speed, and grace. It’s one of Ireland’s oldest and most beloved sports, and in recent decades, it has gained popularity beyond Ireland—including right here in San Francisco.

It’s almost 15 minutes long, but it’s the most complete, respectful, and gripping portrait of hurling available.

The sun was shining on Treasure Island Sunday as Gaelic games returned to Páirc na nGael for Opening Day of the 2025 season. From a historic debut by the Joseph Mary Plunketts to the return of fierce rivalries in ladies Gaelic football and hurling, the day was packed with energy, competition, and community spirit. With strong performances across the board and exciting matches on the horizon, the season is off to a great start.

The San Francisco Gaelic Athletic Association (SFGAA) is gearing up for an exciting 2025 season, featuring fast-paced Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie matches on Treasure Island from April to early August. Reposted from the April 2025 edition of The Irish Herald.