‘Where we all belong?’: exploring the significance of Gaelic games in the lives of boys and girls in Ireland

As part of project on children’s sporting identities, this paper explores the significance of Gaelic games in the lives of children in Ireland. The study is framed by Putnam’s work on social capital, with aspects of bonding and bridging social capital used to explain the local identities manifested by children through Gaelic games. Data was collected via twenty-one focus groups with 147 schoolchildren in the Republic of Ireland. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in the construction of three themes, described as (1) people, (2) the club, and (3) the sidelines. The findings describe the social significance of Gaelic games for children in Ireland, particularly in terms of their relationships with family, friends and neighbours and local places and spaces, with physical facilities important for children who are moving to an age where they begin to ‘hang out’ independently of their parents. While the children quoted in this cohort exhibited a strong sense of community and solidarity, it is possible that the exclusivity that comes with this could be a threat for Gaelic games. Implications for integration are discussed given the impending move towards future amalgamation of the Gaelic games governing bodies.