The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is Ireland’s largest sporting organisation. It is celebrated as one of the great amateur sporting associations in the world. The GAA is an Irish international amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional Irish sports of Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, Gaelic handball and rounders. The association also promotes Irish music and dance, and the Irish language. 

 

Gaelic football and hurling are the most popular activities promoted by the organisation, and the most popular sports in the Republic of Ireland in terms of attendances. Gaelic football is also the second most popular participation sport in Northern Ireland. The ladies’ Gaelic football and camogie are organised by the independent, but closely linked, Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and the Camogie Association of Ireland respectively. 

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The GAA has remained an amateur association since its founding in 1884. Players, even at the highest level, do not receive payment for playing and the volunteer ethos remains one of the most important aspects of the GAA.