Higher Education GAA
Encyclopedia
Higher Education GAA is the governing body for the Gaelic Games of Hurling
, Camogie
and Gaelic football
for third level institutions. The body coordinates competitions in both Ireland and Britain. It is a part of the parent organisation: the Gaelic Athletic Association
. The main competitions are the Fitzgibbon Cup
for hurling and Sigerson Cup
for football.
is named after Dr. Edwin Fitzgibbon, a Capuchin friar and, from 1911 to 1936, a professor of philosophy
at University College Cork.
In 1912 Dr. Fitzgibbon donated most of his annual salary to purchase the trophy. For the first 30 years, the cup was dominated by UCC and UCD
, with UCG winning occasionally. Queen's University Belfast first took part in 1946, and won their only title in 1953.
The popularity of the championship grew, and, in the 60s and 70s three more colleges entered: Trinity College, Dublin
, UU Coleraine
and NUI Maynooth. In the late 80s, all teams in Division One of the Higher Education League were admitted. Since the event went open, in the 1990s, several newer third level institutions from Limerick and Waterford entered and quickly dominated the competition. Waterford IT won the title four times in six years, but UCC are the leaders in the roll of honour, with 39 titles, the last in 1998.
See main Fitzgibbon Cup
article.
was first presented by Dr. George Sigerson to foster unity amongst the constituent colleges of the National Universities of Ireland
, which was won for the first time by UCD
. The competition has since broadend its membership with teams representing a wider variety of Universities and College.
See separate Sigerson Cup
article.
. For more information about the annual championships see British University Gaelic football Championship
.
. A select team play annually against the Scottish Universities Shinty team
.
. The current holders are Liverpool Hope University College.
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, Camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
for third level institutions. The body coordinates competitions in both Ireland and Britain. It is a part of the parent organisation: the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
. The main competitions are the Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
for hurling and Sigerson Cup
Sigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
for football.
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon CupFitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
is named after Dr. Edwin Fitzgibbon, a Capuchin friar and, from 1911 to 1936, a professor of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at University College Cork.
In 1912 Dr. Fitzgibbon donated most of his annual salary to purchase the trophy. For the first 30 years, the cup was dominated by UCC and UCD
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, with UCG winning occasionally. Queen's University Belfast first took part in 1946, and won their only title in 1953.
The popularity of the championship grew, and, in the 60s and 70s three more colleges entered: Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, UU Coleraine
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
and NUI Maynooth. In the late 80s, all teams in Division One of the Higher Education League were admitted. Since the event went open, in the 1990s, several newer third level institutions from Limerick and Waterford entered and quickly dominated the competition. Waterford IT won the title four times in six years, but UCC are the leaders in the roll of honour, with 39 titles, the last in 1998.
See main Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
article.
Sigerson Cup
In 1911, the Sigerson CupSigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
was first presented by Dr. George Sigerson to foster unity amongst the constituent colleges of the National Universities of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
, which was won for the first time by UCD
UCD GAA
UCD GAA or University College Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association club is a Dublin based Gaelic games club in University College Dublin. The UCD hurling club was founded in 1900 and boasted the motto's "Ad Astra" and "Cothrom Féinne". The first team was an amalgamation of students from UCD and...
. The competition has since broadend its membership with teams representing a wider variety of Universities and College.
See separate Sigerson Cup
Sigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
article.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football is organised at about 40 different universities in Britain from the strongest teams - JMU and St. Mary's - down to newer and weaker teams such as Worcester and Lincoln. The ancient universities of Cambridge and Oxford also compete in an annual Varsity Match. Since 2003 the main competition - the University Championships - have been recognised by the British Universities Sports AssociationBritish Universities Sports Association
British Universities & Colleges Sport is the governing body for university sport in the United Kingdom. BUCS was formed in June 2008 following a merger of the British Universities Sports Association and University College Sport organisations...
. For more information about the annual championships see British University Gaelic football Championship
British University Gaelic football Championship
The British University Gaelic football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament held for universities in Great Britain. It is organised by the BUGAA which is a branch of the Higher Education GAA committee which oversees Gaelic Games in Universities. The competition is also overseen by...
.
Hurling
Hurling - although at a smaller level - is also growing the UK. Nine teams took part in the most recent British University Hurling ChampionshipBritish University Hurling Championship
The British University Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling competition held for universities in Great Britain. It is organised by the BUGAA which is a branch of the Higher Education GAA committee which oversees Gaelic Games in Universities...
. A select team play annually against the Scottish Universities Shinty team
University Shinty
Shinty teams which play University Shinty are clubs which play under the banner of a university. However, these clubs are not always student teams in the strictest sense of the word and have a long history of participation at national senior level....
.
Ladies' Gaelic football
A championship also exists for Ladies' Gaelic football - the British University Ladies' Gaelic football ChampionshipBritish University Ladies' Gaelic Football Championship
The British University Ladies' Gaelic Football Championship is the Gaelic football Championship for Ladies.-Organisation:It is run by the Higher Education GAA committee of the Gaelic Athletic Association....
. The current holders are Liverpool Hope University College.
See also
- Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
- Sigerson CupSigerson CupThe Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
- Fitzgibbon CupFitzgibbon CupThe Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
- British University Gaelic football ChampionshipBritish University Gaelic football ChampionshipThe British University Gaelic football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament held for universities in Great Britain. It is organised by the BUGAA which is a branch of the Higher Education GAA committee which oversees Gaelic Games in Universities. The competition is also overseen by...
- British University Hurling ChampionshipBritish University Hurling ChampionshipThe British University Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling competition held for universities in Great Britain. It is organised by the BUGAA which is a branch of the Higher Education GAA committee which oversees Gaelic Games in Universities...