Higher Education GAA

Higher Education GAA is the governing body overseeing the Gaelic games of hurling, camogie and Gaelic football at third level institutions. The body coordinates competitions in both Ireland and Britain, and is a part of the parent organisation, the Gaelic Athletic Association. The main competitions are the Fitzgibbon Cup for hurling and Sigerson Cup for football.

Hurling

Fitzgibbon Cup

See also: Fitzgibbon Cup

The Fitzgibbon Cup is named after Dr. Edwin Fitzgibbon, a Capuchin friar and, from 1911 to 1936, a professor of philosophy at University College Cork.

In 1912 Dr. Fitzgibbon donated most of his annual salary to purchase the trophy. For the first 30 years, the cup was dominated by UCC and UCD, with UCG winning occasionally. Queen's University Belfast first took part in 1946, and won their only title in 1953.

The popularity of the championship grew, and, in the 60s and 70s three more colleges entered: Trinity College, Dublin, UU Coleraine and NUI Maynooth. In the late 80s, all teams in Division One of the Higher Education League were admitted. Since the event went open, in the 1990s, several newer third level institutions from Limerick and Waterford entered and quickly dominated the competition. Waterford IT won the title four times in six years, but UCC are the leaders in the roll of honour, with 39 titles, the last in 1998.

Gaelic football

Sigerson Cup

Gaelic games in British universities

Gaelic football

Gaelic football is organised at about 40 different universities in Britain from the strongest teams - JMU and St. Mary's - down to newer and weaker teams such as Worcester and Lincoln. The ancient universities of Cambridge and Oxford also compete in an annual Varsity Match. Since 2003 the main competition - the University Championships - have been recognised by the British Universities Sports Association.

Hurling

Hurling - although at a smaller level - is also growing the UK. Nine teams took part in the most recent British University Hurling Championship. A select team play annually against the Scottish Universities Shinty team.

Ladies' Gaelic football

A championship also exists for Ladies' Gaelic football - the British University Ladies' Gaelic football Championship. The current holders are Liverpool Hope University College.

External links

Counties of the British GAA

Counties	Gloucestershire Hertfordshire Lancashire London Scotland Warwickshire Yorkshire

Higher Education	British Universities

Governing bodies of the Gaelic Athletic Association

GAA Provinces and Counties

Provincial councils	Connacht Council Leinster Council Munster Council Ulster Council British Council

Counties of Connacht	Galway Leitrim Mayo Roscommon Sligo

Counties of Leinster	Carlow Dublin Kildare Kilkenny Laois Longford Louth Meath Offaly Westmeath Wexford Wicklow

Counties of Munster	Clare Cork Kerry Limerick Tipperary Waterford

Counties of Ulster	Antrim Armagh Cavan Derry Donegal Down Fermanagh Monaghan Tyrone

Counties of Britain	Gloucestershire Hertfordshire Lancashire London Scotland Warwickshire Yorkshire

Other counties	Asian Australasia Canadian Europe New York North American (USA excluding New York)

Non-county bodies	Annual Congress Féile na nGael Higher Education Games Administration Committee Scór

Associated bodies	GAA Handball Camogie Association Ladies' Gaelic Football Association Irish Collegiate Handball Association

Structure of the Gaelic Athletic Association