Bondi Gaels on the up in Sydney

Based in Australia's best known suburb, the Bondi Gaels are the most recent addition to Sydney’s GAA community.

In 2012, the Club's founders, David Keane and Darraigh Hussey from Roscommon, along with Tipperary native Peader Byrne, saw a need for a new Football team due to the influx of Irish migrating to Sydney and they moved quickly to get the Club up and running for the NSWGAA Competition that year.

For the following 2013 season the Gaels had grown sufficiently to be able to enter both a Senior and Junior Football team into the League. Throughout the season they worked hard to set a solid foundation for the Club, with support from sponsors such as Roscom Construction, MMA Civil, Taxback.com and the Cock & Bull helping immensely.

Bondi Gaels in action at the Macs Beach GAA Blitz

The Club further extended it’s community by hosting a sell out Brendan Grace gig in May 2013 with some proceeds going towards the Canteen Foundation and other small local charities.

This year the Club has had a consistent squad of over 50 players from a big array of counties such as Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Tyrone, Wexford, Kildare, Meath, Roscommon, Tipperary, Cork, Limerick, Donegal, Offaly, Laois, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Cavan, Derry, and Dublin.

For the past couple of years the Club has been managed by Wexford man David Cooney since 2013, along with a management team consisting of Liam Leacy (Wexford), David Keane (Roscommon) and Alister ‘Boots’ Handbridge (Wicklow).

The Bondi Gaels Squad after training

The 2014 season has been very promising and a lot can be contributed to the Bondi Gaels securing a permanent training home at a facility in North Bondi, which can be difficult for teams in Sydney. While the Senior team had a mixed league, the Junior team will contest the upcoming NSWGAA League Final, a first for this developing Club.

The Bondi Gaels are known for having a strong social side, all the while maintaining and growing a competitive Club. There is a great camaraderie among the players, and the Club work hard to foster this social network by assisting members to secure both work and accommodation during their stint in Sydney.

Onwards and upwards for NSWGAA’s newest club!

For more information on the Bondi Gaels find them on Facebook