GAA Guide Ireland

2026 will go down as one of the great GAA seasons. In football, Mayo ended 75 years of waiting by beating Kerry in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on 26 July 2026 — captain Jack Coyne climbing the Hogan Stand steps to lift the Sam Maguire Cup for the county's first title since 1951. In hurling, Limerick reclaimed the Liam MacCarthy Cup on 19 July 2026 with a dominant win over Galway, adding a sixth modern-era title and restoring themselves to the top of the game after two fallow years.

The secondary competitions delivered too: Wicklow came from 13 points behind to beat Down 1-21 to 2-16 in the Tailteann Cup final on 11 July, winning the cup for the first time in their history. Whether you follow football, hurling, camogie or club action, the guides on this site will bring you up to speed on how each competition works and what to watch for in 2027.

How the GAA Calendar Works

The GAA year runs on a rhythm that is easy to learn. The National Football League and National Hurling League fill the winter and spring months (roughly January to April), giving counties competitive games before the championship. The All-Ireland championships then run from May through to the finals in July — the hurling decider on the third Sunday of July and the football final the following Sunday. The All-Ireland club championships and county championships take over from autumn through winter, meaning there is GAA action every single weekend of the year.

Since 2025, both codes have used a two-point scoring rule: scores struck from outside the 40-metre arc are worth two points instead of one. It has made games higher-scoring and more exciting — Kerry kicked four two-pointers in the first half alone in the 2025 football final — and it is now a core part of how you should read any modern GAA match.

Getting Started with GAA

New to Gaelic games? Start with the GAA Overview for the big picture, then dive into Gaelic Football Explained or Hurling Explained depending on which code grabs you. The County Teams Guide profiles the big counties and their honours, while Where to Watch covers TV, streaming and attending matches live.

If you want to play, the easiest path is to contact your local club — there are more than 2,000 GAA clubs across Ireland and in Irish communities worldwide, and every one of them welcomes newcomers, from nursery-age kids to adult beginners. Club GAA is the beating heart of the association, and the best way to understand the sport is to experience it from the inside.

Key GAA Terms Explained

A quick glossary will make every guide on this site easier to follow. The Sam Maguire Cup is the trophy for the All-Ireland football championship; the Liam MacCarthy Cup is hurling's equivalent. A sliotar is the leather ball used in hurling, and the hurl (or camán) is the wooden stick players strike it with. Croke Park in Dublin — capacity over 82,000 — hosts the All-Ireland finals, while the Tailteann Cup is the second-tier football championship for counties that do not reach the Sam Maguire group stages, won by Wicklow in 2026. The National League is the spring competition that seeds the championship.

Since 2025, both codes use the two-point score: any point struck from outside the 40-metre arc counts for two. A goal in football (under the crossbar) is worth 3 points; in hurling a goal is also 3 points. Teams field 15 players a side, matches last 70 minutes at inter-county level, and every player is an amateur. Learn these terms and you will be reading match reports like a veteran within a week.

🇮🇪 More Irish Resources

Cork Living Guide · Dublin Living Guide · First Home Buyer Ireland · HSE Guide Ireland · Irish Pension Guide · Leaving Certificate Guide · Revenue Tax Guide Ireland

The 2026 Season: A Year to Remember

How the GAA Calendar Works

Getting Started with GAA

Key GAA Terms Explained

🇮🇪 More Irish Resources

Related Guides