The Seoul of the GAA

[00:00:00]We have a family section here. So, uh I played with with Leechum and did a small stint with Cork and my sister is a Lich Mall Ireland jersey there. Cousin one Ireland with Kerry. [music] Um and my dad played with PSG back in the 70s. Um before it was the amateur side of the club, but I have a load of his gear from the 70s. [music] So, the Champions League final was on the other night and we were throwing on all the 70s gear. The lads had no clue where I got it.

[00:00:32]The GA is the best encapsulation of Irish culture. Whether you're here in Cork at Parky Quee in Dublin and [music] Crow Park or at your local club in Fermana or maybe even Soul Korea, 9 million people live in this city. Only about 700 of them are Irish and yet Irish culture is thriving [music] because of one particular g club called Soul Gales.

[00:00:52]>> The club was founded in 2002. Uh the story goes by a bunch of lads who came here to watch the World Cup. Now, the way it's often told is that they they came here for the World Cup and then just stayed. I think it's more likely that they ca they you see, when I came here first, I came here, I signed a one-year contract to work at a like a private language school and then stayed for a year and ended up staying longer.

[00:01:12]I think a lot of them did that. They saw that the World Cup was in Korea and they just signed up for one year in Korea and then ended up staying. But yeah, the the people who set up the club came here to watch the World Cup that was here in 2002 and um they got here watched World Cup and then they they heard that there was an Asian tournament, the Asian Game of Gabes was playing was taking part. I don't know where it was that year and they decided to form a team to basically enter the Asian tournament. At the moment I'm the treasurer but in the past I've been uh the men's lesson on I was the chair person for a few years as well but thing is our committee like most committees like you have a title but also everyone kind of does a bit of everything. So I'm technically the treasurer, but I'm involved in lots of other stuff as well because it's a team effort and you everyone has to pitch in and do do whatever is required. One of my favorite things about playing getting football in Asia is that there's people from lots of different nationalities who play with our club. There's obviously Koreans cuz that's where we are, but we've had people in our club from obviously United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, uh Japan, we've had people from Denmark, from Belgium, from uh Germany, from all types of countries and and more. Way more I'm forgetting. uh like you go to training and there's lots of different accents and different languages even sometimes.

[00:02:22]Um I think that's probably the the the thing that's most different. The other thing is different is that like we've had some really properly top level gay footballers in our club but we also have a lot of beginners like complete beginners and everything in between. Uh so there's a real mix. But that's also really nice like cuz like you get to you get to watch people discover Getty football and kind of like learn everything for the first time. And it's like because like we all well I won't say all of us but a lot of us learn when we're kids and you kind of forget what it's like to teaching someone how to solo teaching someone the rules.

[00:02:53]>> The concept of soloing is mad at its own.

[00:02:55]>> Yeah. Yeah. How do you tackle? Well, you know there's different opinions on that.

[00:02:59]Like uh so >> how do you tackle? Have you figured that out yet?

[00:03:03]>> Well, we tell people not to stress about it too much. Um but yeah, I suppose that's the main difference. I mean another difference is where we play. We don't like like most clubs at home, we don't own our own pitch. We're the club was only set up like 200 20 24 years ago. So we have to rent soccer pitches.

[00:03:23]So we play on soccer pitches. In Asia, we play nine aside. Um because 15 aside in a soccer pitch wouldn't work.

[00:03:29]>> So because it's nine aside, it's different. There's a it's there's a lot more space and it's very dynamic. Um yeah and like tournaments there's a team in Seoul there's a team in blue sand which on the other side of the country a team in Jedju which is an island not the I lived on a different one way down south so tournaments are infrequent we try and go to them or they come to us but often it's just training that means the people running the training sessions have to be very good we're lucky to have some good coaches here so you training um you know it's there's good tempo it's good vibe >> I'm the chairperson of the club Last time I was chairperson was 20 2011. So I took a little break, but I'm back in the hot seat now. And we got some plans for the future trying to grow the grow the adults, but more specifically trying to to grow the kids. We had a community day last week with 26 kids. Um so we're putting foundations in place now to maybe start back up in maybe September, do a few kids days and then really hit the ground running next year with a kids program.

[00:04:31]>> Where do most of those kids come from?

[00:04:32]kids will will predominantly be Korean.

[00:04:35]A couple of the lads have kids. Um but I would say most of the most of the kids will will all be all be local Korean kids.

[00:04:42]>> And uh it was mentioned to me there's a a bring a friend day and that's how some people got involved. Yeah. Is is a lot of the recruitment done while you're out and about having social times or >> Oh yeah. Look, it has to be it's it's even though we know the game, we love the game, it's it's not completely known globally. So what the the bring a friend day is used by all clubs across Asia. Um from Malaysia to Manila to to Tokyo. Um bring a friend day you will always get people who will jo come in join in and say you know what this is actually good.

[00:05:14]Correct.

[00:05:14]>> You grew up in Cameroon where they don't play a whole lot of GI football. So how did you wind up here playing G football with the soul girls?

[00:05:20]>> Oh um like I got to Korea maybe 11 years ago which I like got some scholarship to study my PhD. So, uh, when I got here, I just started playing soccer with some Irish guys. So, um, from there, um, they tried to introduce me a little bit to the girls, but I played I think one time and then it's just about it. And then, um, in 2024, M was like, "Oh, let's let's come like there's something that, um, the girls have like, uh, bring a friend there."

[00:05:51]>> So, so I just came and then the first day it was fun >> and I never stopped coming. So, were you a soccer player originally?

[00:05:59]>> Yeah, I originally I played soccer. I've been playing soccer since I was eight.

[00:06:02]Yeah.

[00:06:02]>> I played all my life. So, that's just what I do, you know, like just playing soccer using your legs. I was like, "Oh, yeah, it's good." Then I can use my hands together. Oh, that was great. But I think what I still like is like some technique to just kick the ball like perfect. I can just kick the ball like a soccer ball. But like the way the the angle and everything, I'm still like learning it even after two years.

[00:06:24]>> Molly, you've been described to me as a powerhouse of the club. a foundational piece. So, tell me tell me your story.

[00:06:30]Tell me when you you've been here for how long?

[00:06:31]>> Three years.

[00:06:32]>> And you've been part of the club all that time.

[00:06:34]>> Yeah. The second I got on the bus, I was looking for a sports team and Anya um who's been a gale many years ago. She's she came back again when I joined and she was like, "Come join the Gales." And I was like, "Oh, what's that?" And then she was like, "Irish football." And I was like, "Oh, my mom's Irish, so um I'll give it a go." And then yeah, just fell in love with it. And >> do you know what it was before you? Uh well my family in Ireland are hurlers so I'd not really heard of it. No but um it's kind of a mixture of all my favorite sports.

[00:07:01]>> Well I see there's some kamogi out here.

[00:07:03]Have you played any?

[00:07:03]>> Oh well a few of us are going to play kamogi um in the world games in a few weeks. So we've been getting some practice in. I joined 2006 >> six.

[00:07:14]>> Yes. Well I play most of time but I had three kids. So pregnancy after baby, not tomorrow.

[00:07:25]Actually, I came back right away after baby. [laughter] >> The kids didn't stop too much.

[00:07:29]>> Two weeks.

[00:07:30]>> Two weeks. Most people aren't back to work after 2 weeks. Never mind football.

[00:07:34]>> I go back to work right away next day.

[00:07:35][laughter] I'm busy.

[00:07:37]>> So, wow. So, you for 20 years.

[00:07:41]>> So, you're 20 years playing. And so, if you're going [music] back playing football 2 weeks after having a baby, you must love it.

[00:07:48]Yeah, I love it because IT'S SO MUCH FUN. [laughter] >> SO, if we go back to 2006 before you started playing, what did you know about Gay football? What did you know about Irish culture?

[00:08:01]>> Nothing.

[00:08:01]>> So, how how did how did we go from 2006 so young who didn't know anything about the sport to >> I didn't I didn't meant to even play on my uh willing. I just went to watch the tournament and they needed a player.

[00:08:20]So, somebody throw uh boots on me, put it on, stand right next to the post and if you get the goal, put it inside the [laughter] Okay, >> I heard I heard you scored that bit.

[00:08:33]>> Oh, three goals. [laughter] >> I was scoring three goals in your first game.

[00:08:37]>> They told me that's easy. Okay.

[00:08:39]>> I did what they [laughter] told me to do. somebody will give you the ball and turn around, put it inside the wall with your [laughter] Okay, I did and I did it >> from day one. Um, I was just taken in into an unbelievable club. And the reason I say that is very small, but uh a very broad mix of nationalities. Um, I no exact figure, but it probably hovers between 30 to 50% Irish involved, which is so unique. Uh, I think that's what's beautiful about Asia is just so many non-Irish involved. It just brings a whole other energy to it because it quickly removes the competitiveness out of it. You're you're it's all about never mind making it fun. It's about who who the heck can you get out to train it because you need the numbers. Um, and so you'll pull any Tom Dick or Harry if they're an American military, you know, uh, admiral down to, uh, you know, a local Korean who's never heard like no one has ever heard of our little sport.

[00:09:39]Uh, big in Ireland. It's it's not big around the world. And, uh, that's the joy in it is you're trying to convert people into understanding like what technically is a really healthy sport. I love it from the point of view of you're you're doing everything. You're running, you're jumping, you're catching, you're you're sprinting, you're uh there's contact, you're kicking compared to other technical sports that sometimes can be hard to learn. There's some core things there that are just really healthy. And people when you adjust some of the rules, people get uh really sucked in and and can uh find a place very quickly. And then that whole part of bringing people into a healthy, you know, community is very rewarding. And on top of that then it's it's because you're mixing the the the girls and the lads side and like I said people from all over the world. It's just so interesting. People are have amazing stories like who ends up in Korea playing Gaelic football there. They have a story and I think the club just brings that out to people and and then right down to the core you have unbelievable volunteers who have to figure out how [snorts] to make a club work here with the usuals. like how are you going to get membership off people and how are you going to sell raffle tickets or the same challenges but in a totally different environment. How do you going to get a pitch footballs to training all of that? You're commuting an hour to a pitch on public transport.

[00:11:00]It's 40° in the summer. It's minus 17 in the winter. Like it's just bonkers. But again at a small and manageable and and very interesting scale.

[00:11:09]>> More seconds. 10 more seconds.

[00:11:11]>> Keep up.

[00:11:14]>> You got it.

[00:11:15]>> Yes.

[00:11:16]No contact, >> one hop, one solo, and usual scoring.

[00:11:21]>> Bruce, go.

[00:11:33]>> 5 seconds.

[00:11:36]>> Push.

[00:11:38]>> Nikki. Nikki.

[00:11:40]>> I have never felt more Irish than here.

[00:11:43]My mom's Irish. Um, but we grew up in England and um, as soon as I got here and I joined the Gales, I was straight in the family group chat like I'm playing G Irish football and then my mom straight in her group chat to all her sisters and all of them are texting me and they're like we can't believe you're playing G. So, um, yeah, it's been really great. Um, and obviously this is such an amazing club because there's lots of Irish people but there's so many different um, international people from different countries and different cultures. It's really cool. Um, and when we go to tournaments, everyone is always like, "Your team is the best. You've got such good vibes and like yeah, they can just like feel the how much we like love each other and care about um the club and stuff." So, it it actually is the best club ever. I always say that to people, anyone that jo anyone that comes to Korea, I'm like, "You have to come to the Soul Gales." Um, all our friends are so bored hearing about it, but it actually is the best. Um, but like from day one, like I remember just walking around Soul and I didn't really know anyone and I bumped into some people I'd literally met here once and they were like, "Come for dinner." And then we went up to the pub and it was just like yeah such a good community >> for soul gills to me um it's a f it's just such a family I mean like you you may you may come out to train and you won't you don't know them but when you leave trainer you will know them and it is it is a family atmosphere and it's it's friends and family for life honestly the GA across Asia um you you will you will have friends for life >> it's really great because like they are really great people they they really support each other. They support each other. Like they're always there. Like if I need something or whatever, I can just talk to Kevin. I can talk to Sue. I everyone like I can just talk to them and just tell them, "Oh, this is it.

[00:13:23]This is and then they're just going to try to help me out."

[00:13:25]>> It's a bit of a family s.

[00:13:26]>> Yeah. It's much more I think. Yeah.

[00:13:29]>> We are very what do you call it? Solid clos tight like family. even members always changing of these core people. uh as long as these poor people wants to keep this club, it will always be like family and >> well I suppose just for any small club wherever it is whether it's in Ireland, England or anywhere in the world um it's a very very valuable resource for people and it it absolutely should not be um reserved just for Irish players or or or for people that have experience playing football. Um just being able to get a group together, get a field and just go out. That's where it all has to start.

[00:14:10]And whether it's on a five aside pitch, um just doing some version of a footballer as handball, I think it's it's worth it. And just building that community from small doesn't matter how big it might get. It's it's just important that there's a community. And the amount of people we have, we have a young lad from Dublin passed through today, you only 18. And I'm not sure his story yet, but this is a regular thing.

[00:14:30]People just find out as a club and [music] they just come and we're obviously very welcome to have people coming um just for one session. [music] And that goes throughout the whole community, whether it's um a match, they want to drop into the pub for a match, or whether it's St. Patrick's Day, if people are nearby, it's it's important that they have an outlet that they can they can come and say hello.

[00:14:51][music] And what we want to [music] create here is a space where curious Koreans can feel a little bit of our culture or uh foreign culture, not have a a Korean style bar as such. So we attract that naturally because they're the ones who are looking for something different. And then of course we get people who don't even know what they're walking into.

[00:15:15]They might not be expecting anything and they come in. But so from that point of view we we we do get a lot of interest and and uh the people who are curious get you know I think I think they get a nice reception here. So they they tend to enjoy it in general and and as a result then you you build relationships and and they get an appreciation for for other ways of doing things. Well, one of the things you just said uh there a few minutes ago was you still love Ireland.

[00:15:38]And if you've achieved anything out here, you've built an incredible tribute to Ireland in this bar because as you can see behind me and there's all over the bar. There's jerseys, there's photographs, there's images, but it's not just that because you can get that anywhere all over the world. You also have a track band here who have no Irish people in it, but they're as good a trad.

[00:15:59]So like the community you're building and actually sorry one of the other people mentioned to me they got married here in this pub like so you've done successfully out here as far as I can tell that happens in Ireland naturally where a pub becomes the hub for the local community and it builds its own community but you're doing it in soul in a city of 90 or 9 million people with very few Irish people.

[00:16:20]>> Yeah, look I can't take the the credit myself. There's a there's a team of us um and our original team it's uh we don't have all the founding members still in Korea right now but we uh there was an opportunity was seen to uh so my wife who had a lot of experience in this industry for for a couple of decades here um had successful pubs but some of them through for various different reasons and co was kind of the kicker uh they closed down and there was a sense that the place needed an an Irish pub. H and there's there's there's still good ones around, but we didn't have a community hub. Um, and that was the area that we felt we could really drive. Um, when I say we, uh, some of the partners, uh, Timo Paty, who who is now back in Ireland, we were already ingrained in anything to do with Ireland community-wise. And we figured, uh, there's there's maybe an opportunity here, not just commercially, but to actually build like a a clubhouse or a a second embassy as as somebody as as the ambassador described us. We we really missed it because through co everything changed and a lot of people left and the club suffered as a result and also the the previous places where we used to gather just weren't there anymore and we tried different venues and ultimately we said we better start our own one and do it our own way but it really stood to us because we were we opened in September 22 um and there was a tragic incident across the road uh at Halloween uh 2 months after we opened so we were new business new new new name not a lot people knew knew it. They knew some people knew us but um yeah we were early in our journey and and um a lot of people died uh very close to us. So the whole district shut down for the guts of a year and only for um the community aspect that we were we were starting to develop which was through the sports clubs, through the music groups, through different events [music] and partnerships with with the embassy.

[00:18:25]um that kept us afloat because ultimately you weren't able to socialize in this district for for that year um which was terribly sad but also it had a huge impact on businesses like I I don't know what percentage [music] but a lot of businesses had to shut down um all around us. So that stood to us but that was what ultimately we knew we were bringing to the table because we uh three of the partners didn't have experience running bars so we were very new to the business um side of things.

[00:18:54]Um, so we've had to learn that fairly quickly. Um, but the community aspect we felt we could we could target and it stood to us because now we'd like to think there's a lot of groups here that feel at home here. The club really has to adapt to making it inclusive for all as its core purpose, not just trying to win tournaments. And that's a lovely shift because it brings everyone into the equation. Not that it wasn't being done before, but I really feel since co and out of co that's what the heartbeat of the club has been has been uh we've been doing a lot of co-ed internal tournaments and [music] just trying to develop something local that is sustainable because we really realized Irish people are going to come and go and that transate nature makes it really difficult to run a club. If you look at the committee now you you'll hopefully meet some of them. Uh there might only be two Irish on the actual committee.

[00:19:44]This is my teammate MJ.

[00:19:47]She's awesome.

[00:19:48]>> He's part of the kimchi.

[00:19:50]>> She's a kimchi, right?

[00:19:51]>> Kimchi.

[00:19:51]>> And there's three.

[00:19:52]>> And we always wear 7-Eleven so we can be like 7-Eleven, [laughter] our favorite convenience store. Like, THIS IS NOT GOOD.

[00:20:01]>> I was getting embarrassed. [laughter] >> Our Asian girls called themselves the Kimchi. Five of them are going to um represent team Asia with some Japanese players and some players from China, maybe um which is cool. And then I think a few of us are playing in like the Irish Asia team. Um, which will be amazing. So, we're playing with like girls from all over Asia at the minute.

[00:20:22]These guys teach us, so have taught me so much. And, um, yeah, to have like proper Korean friends is like amazing.

[00:20:28]Um, and yeah, I'd say they're kind of somewhat Irish. Um, it's really cool though because Korea's got like some great seasons. Like in the winter we've um created a snow gales which is like a spin-off and we instead of playing Gaelic we just go snowboarding and skiing. Oh, nice.

[00:20:43]>> Which is like a good winter activity.

[00:20:46]>> All the Korean girls.

[00:20:46]>> All the Korean girls are kimchi.

[00:20:48]>> So you're you're kimchi. So >> we don't call kimchi girls. We call kimchi.

[00:20:51]>> Ah, okay. Kimchi.

[00:20:53]>> Yes.

[00:20:53]>> So I was You have a a weekly night out, a Friday night out with them or with with the girls? No, >> we don't like them each other that much.

[00:21:01][laughter] >> They're feeding me lies.

[00:21:04]>> They're feeding me lies.

[00:21:06]>> No, not true. [laughter] >> Right. Fair enough. We'll move on. But no, I I I was sold.

[00:21:12]>> We're very close.

[00:21:13]>> Very close. You have um >> the other few two girls, they play over 10 years, too.

[00:21:18]>> Over 10 years as well. And they're both Korean girls.

[00:21:21]>> Yes.

[00:21:21]>> Wow. So, how do you even like explain that to Koreans who don't know uh what G football is or what you're doing? Do do some of their Korean friends who aren't involved in the club look at you and kind of go, "What are you doing?" Like that that's crazy kind of a thing.

[00:21:37]>> Uh they just think I'm crazy.

[00:21:39]Did they [laughter] already think that >> doing the crazy thing is not surprising for them. But uh I I used to bring all my friends like try this try this and bring them whoever >> could possibly run [clears throat] I brought them.

[00:21:55]Um, language is big barrier >> cuz it's a club is very international open for Korean too. But everything is run in English and even training in English and if you want to socially uh active you have to speak English. But they're not not everybody's fluent in English. Not even like a little bit of English is hard. It's her life. She absolutely loves it. She'll be playing in her fourth World Games in in the summer. And so she'll have played in UCD 2016 and Waterford 2019, Derry 2023 and uh Waterford again 26. And I mean there's a gang of we call them the Kimchi. They're the Korean girls that are still part of like core part of the club. They get together on a Friday evening having their Korean food and all they will talk about is Gaelic football.

[00:22:55]I don't know when she's going to stop. I hope she wouldn't stop.

[00:22:57]>> The the Irish culture like it contributes much of it like you know there's something we do like when we play soccer because now I play for fun is not like professional anymore. I don't play anymore. So like the part we drink so then it helps you to trust each other. That's really important in the game >> because like it's a team sport. We are here to have fun, but we're also a little bit competitive. So, it's really fun because then when you drink with someone, you might hear one or two stories that you say, "Okay, yeah, I feel comfortable on the pitch. I'm going to give him the ball. I trust him." So, yeah, it it builds on trust. I think when we hung out a lot, >> it's interesting like cuz when I lived in Australia, the community wasn't as tight obviously because it's huge and I'm sure there's lots of micro communities there. And um when I first came out to Korea, it was a lot more Irish I I felt teaching. Um and those groups that you mentioned um whether it was the IK or the Gayla club or the various soccer clubs they were quite splintered they weren't as unified because there was more numbers but since co the numbers have decreased and I suppose we've been forced our hand to kind of collaborate a lot more but it's it's the way it should be done and I think if you can bring that collaboration on it's just a much much stronger community overall and yeah we're very lucky to be part of it and very lucky to have it.

[00:24:09]>> Timo likes to mess around me but that that has happened for like 10 years since I' I've known Timmo. Timo is giving me so much [ __ ] It's fun. And all the guys, all the guys too, all the Latia and I'm trying to push some of the guys like Lynchi, like Daniel, I try to make it a little bit competitive. Tom, too.

[00:24:27]I'm competitive. So, I'm like, let's go.

[00:24:30]>> I say you're glad it's smaller because the amount of abuse you're getting from other people around here, everyone, as soon as I said I asked Joe a while ago, I said, are you used to the heat here yet? And he goes, well, he's been around for a few years, so I've gotten used to him. I was talking about the actual heat. Apparently you're you're the uh the one giving everyone abuse around here.

[00:24:45]>> Yeah. Yeah. An Irish compliment I suppose. Is it? [laughter] >> I think the main thing for the club is we want people to have the opportunity to play.

[00:24:52]>> Um that would be the first thing like and again people from a non-Irish background can come and play and even and you'd be surprised how many people who grew up in Ireland would come here and say, "Yeah, I grew up in Ireland but I never played or I stopped when I was 12 or whatever." So it's a chance for them to get back into it. And I guess the the the other thing we want to be is we want to be kind of more than a sports team. We don't want to just train and play in tournaments. So the idea that we could hang out after training, that's something we we like to do, go to tournaments and like a place where people can make friends and make a make a community. Again, if that doesn't sound too corny, but like because like most of my friends here are with the club and a lot of people say that that they they're they live in they live in Seoul and Soul's amazing, but it can be kind of impersonal, but it's a place where people can make friends and friendship and and it's it can be like where we help each other when we need help. So if someone somebody needs help, they can come and we'll help them. But on the other hand, it's more about enjoying each other's company and and that just a community like just hanging out and having fun and having friendship. And so yeah, we're a sports team. When we go to tournaments, we want to win. We try and win, but it's more important that we create a place where people can be friends and and and make a community. The real beauty of it all is the the non-Irish who are playing this across all these countries and clubs and uh bringing so much life and energy to it because they of course they want to win but they're in it for the experience and it that's a really cool thing when you're in the middle of it.

[00:26:15]>> I I've been part of the committee and I've coached a lot. Um obviously I'm involved obviously also in the the in the crack house in the bar here and then working a full-time job. It just I just don't have the time to commit as much to the gales. Um, but I'm always there to help out whenever I need it and whether that's community days or if I need to stand in and coach someday. But that's the great thing about the club is that today Kev stepped in and coached. Next week it could be someone different and we just make it work. And I think that's the way it has to work from a playing point of view and an administration point of view. The committee is small but the guys that are there, they work really, really hard. So the other part of like you were playing net ball in England and I'm guessing I could be wrong that's a case of you turn up you play and you go home like you probably have friends there and that kind of stuff but you're not picking up a side job which it happens in in G clubs which I believe has happened to you here.

[00:27:03]>> Yeah. So immediately just like loved it was always here. Um and then I kind of remember saying like this is so lame but um Paty who used to be a big member of the club she was just like I was just like what else would people possibly be doing on Sunday afternoon and she was like you should be the liaison officer and I was like okay so then I became the um like women's liaison and then the next year became the social person and then this year I'm being the liaison again but yeah being part of the committee is like great. Yeah, you're right. like in clubs I've been in previously, you kind of just you're part of it and like it's still a great community, but like this is kind of more like a family. Um, and everyone's just so involved.

[00:27:44]>> My first day Asian Gay Games was 2009.

[00:27:48]We were in Bangkok and it was predominantly Irish and it was it was pretty serious, especially seniors and intermediate was pretty serious. Um, but to grow the game, you have to go lo you have to go local. And I think last year at AG, I think we had 45% nonIrish.

[00:28:05]Um, I think our ladies game had more ladies there than men. Uh, and the majority of the ladies are are nonIrish.

[00:28:14]>> Anybody see it out here at the moment?

[00:28:15]Like they're playing a game behind us and I would guess maybe 60% 70% are Irish.

[00:28:19]>> Yeah, definitely. And that's just the way it is. You know, a lot of people go to Australia, go to Canada, America.

[00:28:25]like I left Ireland 93. I never even thought I'd be in Asia. Um so a lot of times people don't their first port of entry is is not Asia. It's the traditional immigrant countries.

[00:28:36]>> How was the uh experience being part of clubs out here compared to being part of one back home? He it's it's completely different honestly like and I left the US in '93 or left Ireland 93 left the US in 2009 and one of the reasons why I came to Korea was actually a few of the lads on here they had a a website called uh Bamboo Banter and I was chatting away to them on the website and the crack was great and I was say you know what I'm going to go to Korea.

[00:29:02]>> Yeah.

[00:29:02]>> So it was only going to come for one year but 16 years later I'm still here.

[00:29:06]But the the ga is one of the reasons um why I've I stayed and and stay involved because it's just such a community like you travel around Asia there's always a protocol somebody will always be there to say hey you're coming in come on out we'll go for paint we'll go for deep we'll go for coffee you'll always have friends everywhere in Asia and that's one of the key aspects of this year just a it's a good home away from home >> last year we had a great time I I went to my first AG the the Asian gay games that it was so much fun the experience was unreal Jeez, I met like some 6'5 people and it was really fun.

[00:29:42]>> Were you marking the 6'5 lad?

[00:29:43]>> Yeah.

[00:29:45]>> And I got the ball.

[00:29:46]>> Oh, nice. [laughter] So, was it people from all over Asia?

[00:29:49]>> Yeah. Yeah. People Irish from all over Asia, but like a little mix of um the Asians too, you know, like the Irish here, there are some Asian, there are some Koreans, so they had a little bit of that. But the other teams too, they had really good players. So, >> where was that?

[00:30:02]>> It was in Bangkok. And was it like a week long festival or a day or what?

[00:30:06]>> It was two two days. Two days festival like we played u the girls who played we had a senior team so we play like the the senior level and it was really fun.

[00:30:16]So >> was it very serious or was it a kind of a festival atmosphere?

[00:30:20]>> Both but serious more serious. It's like just two days you just compete and then uh we had a night out after the second day which was a blast.

[00:30:31]>> Can you remember that? top secret. Top [laughter] secret. So if I say so much, they're going to kick me off the team.

[00:30:40]So right now we're at the World Games and there's two types of games. There's Irish people who are in another country playing and that's like a open tournament and then there's local tournament which is uh foreign people playing the sport here representing their teams. And you're one of the few people who has played in the games with Irish uh with the the open tournament I was told. Oh yes, 2016.

[00:31:03]>> So tell tell me about that. When was that? Where was that? How did you m and was that as easy as the first day when you were just putting balls in?

[00:31:10]>> 2016 in Dublin.

[00:31:12]>> In Dublin.

[00:31:13]>> I I heard there was a second word games.

[00:31:15]>> Okay. So So you So can you explain you you were just playing with Soul Gales and you >> No, they they picked cuz Oh, back in the time for Asian Gay games. Middle East play uh during the competition. So Middle East and East South Asia all together did a comp competition together and around it after that they separated because Middle East was too strong. They've been winning every year. So and they have loss of members players. So they separate the tournaments. So, Middle East has a their own and Asia has our own. Um, so was went to the final and we were the second place and then after that a Asian tournament they se separate the Middle East and Asia. So we become uh first place in Asia.

[00:32:19]>> Okay, you >> understand? our guess. So we got the first option to choose the players because we were the uh first place in Asia.

[00:32:28]>> Okay, perfect. So that's how you wind up playing in Dublin.

[00:32:31]>> Yes, but I heard they have a little bit of hard time to get me to play cuz they say, "Oh, Asian cannot play." So like, but she is one of the top players from the team that anyway. So that, you know, there's always drama. So, do you have any last [laughter] >> They have it in Korea too, not just here.

[00:32:54]>> There's dramas.

[00:32:55]>> Yeah, we just had a a point overturned match.

[00:32:59]>> Celebrate for winning and they said, "No, you didn't win."

[00:33:03]>> And it was the Middle East again, that rivalry that's building between Asia and Middle East. You'll all be fighting here before you leave. Um, so what's your lasting memory of that tournament in particular, like when you were playing in Dublin?

[00:33:14]>> Oh, that was a that was very tough.

[00:33:18]Yeah, >> because we play against Middle East again.

[00:33:22]>> Mhm.

[00:33:22]>> And all like New York team and Canadian team, they are very very strong. Yeah.

[00:33:28]Even if No, they were Irishborn player.

[00:33:31]So they play since they were young. I learned already when I was growing up.

[00:33:36]So I still not good, not skillful.

[00:33:40]No skill. I think to be really skillful, you have to learn from >> Mhm.

[00:33:45]>> young. That's much easier. So, you're more of a a tough uh tackling runner >> pretty much. Yes. Yes.

[00:33:52]>> So, well, look, you the bruises to show from this week that you've been throwing yourself in and fighting with people.

[00:33:57]And I've I've heard uh a bunch of the Asian girls this week were injured. So, they're all >> serious injured.

[00:34:02]>> They're they're all putting themselves there for the cause.

[00:34:05]>> There's a an impressive level of commitment involved here, too. And there's a passion here because one of the girls is leaving, apparently, and they were all out a little bit late last night. in like as much as they have turned up. I know I did it myself back in my day like you turn up on a Sunday morning after a rough night the night before. Weren't doing it in this seat.

[00:34:20][laughter] >> It's a whole different thing out here.

[00:34:22]So the people here are fully committed like it's not not just the Irish lads too. Like >> no no like the commitment that they give again, you know, a lot of them are traveling maybe an hour away. Some of them are are taking trains or buses to get in here and they could be doing anything they want to be doing on a Saturday morning but yet they still come down here. So that shows the passion and commitment they have to to the game itself which is is phenomenal to see. I mean cuz think about it 130 plus years ago you would never thought you'd be playing Gaelic football in Asia but here we are.

[00:34:54]>> Serious commitment. Absolutely. And there's obviously just shows the power of of a sport like Gaelic football. We just finished off with co-ed there. And when you can adapt the rules and and be so inclusive that everyone gets involved and everyone that leaves here today, there's a reason that they're coming to this and there's a reason that they're doing the administration work or or whatever they're doing is because they're getting a lot of value out of it themselves. And um that has to be recognized too. And the framework has to be put in place that allows everyone to get value out of it. And um again, as clubs get bigger and competition gets stronger, sometimes you lose that and you forget that. But because we're we're such a small club, we've got no choice.

[00:35:28]We have to we have to be inclusive. We have to include everyone and and I think it's much more beneficial for for everybody.

[00:35:34]>> One aspect of GIC sports in Ireland which I like of course is the tradition.

[00:35:37]You know where you grew up like your parents playing and the tradition of it in the years. And I'm from Kerry originally. I I know tradition is important. One thing I like about here is that you can kind of make your own tradition and do your own thing. So out here like it doesn't matter where you're from or where you grew up. Doesn't matter if you know the rules. Doesn't even matter if you're fit really. You know if you're not fit we'll train hard.

[00:35:56]That doesn't matter at all to be honest with you. There's a lot of junior B lads still going.

[00:36:01]>> Yes, that's true. That's true. But if you want to play on the A team or whatever, like we'll train hard and get fit, you know, if you don't know the rules, we'll teach you. Um, are you committed? Are you in? And it's like, that's the real thing. It's like we've had people on our committee who are non-Irish, who don't come from a gay football background, who are secretary of the club or chairperson of the club.

[00:36:22]We've had a couple of coaches, not that many coaches, but one or two. And a lot of players like who played in our 18s who didn't play Getting Football till they joined us. And it's it's like um it's like a whole new world. You can kind of remake yourself. And like even when I was a kid, I was a defender when I played with my home club in Ireland.

[00:36:38]And I came out here and then I stopped playing. I stopped playing in university like a lot of people do. Dropped out of sport and I came out here and I kind of got back into it, which not everyone does. And out here I'm a forward and Yeah. And it's kind of like well >> I can well yeah absolutely [laughter] staying close to the goal >> but you can kind of remake yourself and be anything you want to be like it. So >> yeah it's it's it's great >> for Irish people >> who wants to move in Korea for even short time. I know club really taking care of them good if they they need any.

[00:37:13]I even saw them finding a job >> like I want to move to Korea. I'm like I find your job and then they [laughter] go to recruiting company and then here's your job and here's your house.

[00:37:25][laughter] >> Sounds great.

[00:37:27]>> And they will make food and feed them.

[00:37:29]No.

[00:37:29]>> Without the club, do you think you'd still be here?

[00:37:31]>> No. Wouldn't I came in the first place?

[00:37:33]So actually my initial story was I I emailed the club. They got me a job and I left after a year. And when I left, I I really wanted to come back and the main reason for that was was so girls.

[00:37:43]And um I love being in Korea and I love experiencing the culture, but sometimes it's nice to just step into Korea. And so having the balance of both allows me to to stay here and being part of so gales and having the Irish pub, I'm very much I feel very much Irish still, which is very important to me.

[00:38:00]>> And I suppose when you're talking to people back home and you're connecting with people back home, the fact you're still tipping away over here makes it easier, right?

[00:38:05]>> Yeah. You still get asked the same old questions. [laughter] how's it going in so I just go it's going great.

[00:38:13]>> It's very important that we have always a key few people leading the club. They're very passionate people. There's such a good connection between the embassies and the GA out here because really we're where they're kind of the visualization of of Irish culture like in any city you go to. Like there's there's always chambers of commerce.

[00:38:38]There's always maybe some patch societies, but the GA is is probably more visual than the business aspect of of of the embassy's work. No, the connections are brilliant. Honestly, Michelle, Michelle, her ambassador, Michelle Winter, she's been phenomenal.

[00:38:53]She comes to all the events. Um, and so it's pity we're losing her, but uh our new ambassador coming in, Sean, um, uh, is is excellent. He was I think he was based in Vietnam a long time ago before he he he became ambassador. So, he knows he knows the score in Asia with the GA.

[00:39:11]One thing I will say is in in the last four years, we opened the pub, uh Ran was born and the the ambassador who's just about to finish her tenure, uh came in here and she's brought an unbelievable [music] energy behind all the Irish activities, but uh the club is is a big part of that. did. Not that she, you know, focused on that, but we'll really miss her because she when we needed a pickup after co, she was right there proactive with everything and given every bit of support and it's it's extremely valuable when you get that sort of credibility from the top down and that sort of support. So, a huge shout out to to to her, Michelle Winterrop. um her and her family have been a like a pillar of the community, not just as their role uh that they that they obviously need to represent for Ireland, but it's been it's been unbelievable to to have them on side.

[00:40:04]>> I want to say about the last ambassador, Michelle.

[00:40:08]>> Oh, yeah. and how much it makes things different that he she's she's a president like in soul for Irish people and how much how the way she taking care of people is was very different from before she was more human and close and she show actual support than just a paper and talk you know not just showing off their faces. She [music] actually physically joined us and she even when came to the training [laughter] and >> did you give her boots and put her next to the ball? She she she did she she came to training and she played uh one time on me [laughter] and she that that made it really uh supportive and warm and uh gives us uh energy you know to want us to make this club bigger or stronger you know motivation. So it's really important. So every Irish ambassador who comes to Korea has to take care of J club cuz I know how how important it is for you uh your people Irish people.

[00:41:31]I've also seen so gales kind of develop and as you said co was a an interesting time for us um an interesting time in Korea but I think overall looking back it was a great place to be during co because we kept playing sports we kept socializing and we built a really really tight bond but it's kind of strange those three years kind of seemed like nothing and it it kind of extended my time here I got qualified as a teacher during that so that's when I transitioned to international schools um so yeah that's how the time kind of caught up with me and and work in international schools then. And >> you can have a race. [laughter] >> He's been in about six interviews so far and he hasn't interviewed himself yet.

[00:42:08]>> We're going to have a race after I talk to Keen. Okay.

[00:42:10]>> Ke can I get back to you in 2 minutes? High five. I'll see you in two minutes.

[00:42:15]>> And we'll have a race then and I'm going to win.

[00:42:18]>> I go.

[00:42:20]>> Well, actually, that's that's funny enough because that's like that to me is exactly what you kind of expected a car club. Kids running around and kids knowing everyone around the place. So, you've kind of they've really captured the spirit here, right?

[00:42:30]>> Yeah. Absolutely. And as I said, I've been here for quite a while and I've seen obviously good friends of mine coming and and um starting families here and seeing their kids grow. And as I said, we had youth programs here, but it were never really connected to the club.

[00:42:42]They would have just been um local kids that we would have taught and we would have just wanted to get them out on to play a bit of sport and and a new sport.

[00:42:50]Um and we found Gaelic was actually a great vehicle for Koreans because something that they never heard of. They would have played a lot of soccer, they played baseball. So it kind of it was a brand new slate for them to to develop those skills and catching and kicking the ball. So Gayla really really took off here but co kind of put an end to it and um so the age profile of the people coming out didn't kind of got older and older so we're busy. We can't kind of keep it up now.

[00:43:15]>> You have a son who's two is he?

[00:43:17]>> Three.

[00:43:18]>> Three. So he's three. I met him the other night and he gave me a high five and I think my wrist is sore from it. So you have an athlete there. You definitely do. would probably be a baseball player since he's out here. But >> without the because he's going to grow up with an Irish father, a Korean mother, >> essentially Korean in Korea because he's going to be surrounded by all Korean things. The club is probably going to be his introduction to his Irish heritage, right?

[00:43:41]>> Absolutely. He's Well, I hate to say the pub is. [laughter] He's getting he's getting all he needs.

[00:43:47]So, >> he knows everything. He knows everything in here inside.

[00:43:50]>> Yes, I did meet him at half 10 or actually it was half 11 that night in the pub. Sorry.

[00:43:55]>> Um he does a he does our alternative baby Guinness special. By the way, one of the really tough things is we've had a youth program here for the Gayla Club for years. Really successfully ran before COVID. I even tried to keep it afloat during co and it's just really really difficult. The club are making a good stab at it again this year. That's a really uh like unique opportunity when for the young kids here, but it's just so hard like for parents to commit to that level of travel and stuff to keep a really small program going has just proven really difficult for us. So you'd find um some of the children here with with Irish connections are in the other sports because it's just bigger. The programs are more accessible. Um, but we've kind of consciously made a choice, me and and and Soon, that Rian comes with us to every training session since he was since we were able to hold him and we'd swap him in and out of drills.

[00:44:48]That's all he knows. So, you'll see him on Saturday. Um, and he can take care of himself because he knows all the gales and they'll all play with him every couple of minutes. So, it's his connection. But the interesting thing is he there's there's not many Irish there.

[00:45:00]like so it's when we go home and he sees it and when he starts to recognize it on on TV when we watch big games and that that uh it'll build that connection but I I can't wait to throw him into his first cool camp like that's that's a milestone I'm looking forward to. So yeah with with cousins in I have cousins in Kerry and uh I just love throwing him into that chaos at home.

[00:45:20]>> Kevin actually was even coaching the team so Rian was always on his shoulder when while he was coaching. [laughter] 3 2 1 GO.

[00:45:31]>> COME ON. LET'S GO.

[00:45:33]>> Come on. $10.

[00:45:41][screaming] [cheering] [applause] >> I really feel some of the core values of just our commitment and work rate in in in clubs at home which we are given almost for free um is so valuable for for living a healthy life. If we if we remove the element that obviously comes into it of overcommitment and missing out on life. But when you strike that balance, it's it's a sweet spot that is hard to find in other communities and sports. I find from my experience being here, it could be different than other parts of the world. I'm sure it is. But just soccer and rugby and and those ones that I'm close to here, I can uh I can just really connect back to I'm very lucky with what I grew up in as well.

[00:46:27]But I didn't really appreciate it until I stepped out of it, if you know what I mean, and and stepped back into it in a different context here. And so I really hope that Rean gets a sense of that whatever sport he plays because it's more the core values that I that I see the richness in rather than the technicalities of the sport. You know, >> I visited one of the club here, the twin club or twin club twin.

[00:46:52]>> Agore and it's not just for sports. It is everything. They have a arts, you know, kids are playing uh dance and singing and music and that's their community. Everybody's taking care of each other and from young baby to grown up and when you're older, you do you find a job and help each other. So if you come to Korea, you have to take care of your uh source of community.

[00:47:27]Everything comes from there. So [laughter] >> brilliant. Yeah, that's that's exactly why I wanted to talk to you guys because that's that's the kind of thing that we do like that we do really really well, especially in the GA is probably the best at it in terms of Irish culture is there's an element of looking after each other and helping each other, but that of course comes back to you have to help other people as well and you have to put in when you get out of it. So, it's um it's exactly what the the sport is trying to promote.

[00:47:55]>> Yes. It's not just a sport. It's Yeah.

[00:47:58]family, a community.

[00:48:01]>> Yes. Best way to finish it. Thanks very much.