Elms College to host Gaelic football match between UMass and UConn

CHICOPEE – As part of International Education Week, Elms College will host a Gaelic football scrimmage on November 16^th between club teams from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the University of Connecticut. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Leary Field. 

Admission is free. 

Gaelic football, one of Ireland’s national sports, has roots dating back to the 14th Century. The sport has been played in America since the arrival of the first Irish immigrants. It is a fast-paced, high-scoring game combining elements of soccer, basketball, and rugby. 

The afternoon provides an opportunity to learn about Irish culture and heritage.

Elms College, under the direction of Irish Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Michaela Burke, launched its own Gaelic football club this fall as a fun way to expose students to Irish culture.

International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State, and is part of efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and to attract future leaders from abroad to study in the United States.