The Singapore Gaelic Lions Club is the Gaelic Football and Hurling club in Singapore. It was established in 1997 and is currently the biggest (and best) club in Southeast Asia.
Where it all began
Gaelic Football in Asia originated in Taipei, Taiwan in 1995 when it was decided to hold the first Asian Gaelic Games the following year in Manila, Philippines. Singapore did not send a team, but the idea to start a club here was planted.
Tyrone stalwart Brian Cummings left Taiwan for Singapore in September 1996 with the threat ringing in his ears of ‘Don’t bother turning up in Manila, unless you have a Singapore team with you’. This drove Brian on and in 1997, on a balmy night in the Penny Black Pub, the club that was to become known as the Singapore Gaelic Lions was formed. Led by John Lyons of Limerick, Brian Cummings and 5 or 6 others in attendance that night, the group kicked on with a recruiting campaign, putting up flyers in local UK/Irish pubs and pulled together a team to start training. Stragglers would turn up each Sunday and numbers grew over time as the word got around.
The men spent most of their free time in those days ‘visiting’ the usual watering holes hoping to find a few likely lads for a kick about. A certain Sean Duggan was one of the first recruits. Sean was collared in Muddy Murphy’s upper bar and a few Kilkenny’s later John Lyons convinced him to turn up for Sunday training. Brian was the first Chairperson for 1997 and 1998 and started to build the club that has expanded to where we are today.
The Early Years
Our first games attendance was in the Philippines in 1997 where we lost the semi-final by just 1 point to Taiwan, who subsequently lost to Hong Kong in the Final. We may have been beaten, but we knew we could compete with Asia’s best, and this drove the club members on for the following year.
First Singapore Team, 1997:
Back: Unknown, Sean Gartland (Wicklow), Dave Fagan (Longford), John Lyons (Limerick), Brian Byrnes, Captain (Down), Jim Hanglow (Roscommon), Donal O’Neill (Down)
Front: John Blowers (London), Conor Doran (Antrim), Azman Hamid (Singapore), Brian Cummings (Tyrone), Anthony McBride (Auckland)
The Club saw what was required as Hong Kong set the standard and won the 1996 and 1997 games at a canter. They arrived with 2 teams in 1998 in the Philippines again and met Hong Kong in the first game of the tournament in the preliminary rounds. They had not been beaten in 2 years to this point, but the SGL beat them comfortably. They met again in the Cup Final and SGL triumphed again, 2-6 to 0-5. This time there was a trophy to fill and it was certainly used to the full extent. Homeward bound the men ventured with medals around their necks and great memories of a club that was starting to fulfill its promise with the talent that it had.
Asian Champions, 1998:
John Lyons (Limerick), Eamon McGee (Derry), Jim Hanglow (Roscommon), Conor Doran (Antrim), Tristan Fusinato (Melbourne), Brian Cummings (Tyrone), Sean Duggan (Cork), Mark McLoughlin (Donegal), Gavin Falk (Cork), Lee McLoughlin (Antrim), Donal O’Neill (Down), Sean Gatland (Wicklow)
1999 saw the first Singapore ladies team take part in the AGG’s, where they had a wonderful campaign, getting all the way to the final. The men’s team won the AGG games beating Japan comfortably in the final. The club also partook in a trip to Perth for Australasian Games, which was a huge success in terms of recognition for the club. Singapore was the first ‘outside’ club to participate in the the Australasian Games. This success wasn’t matched on the field however, with Singapore getting hammered in all of their matches and in the pub afterwards. It was a big deal for the club and the GAA President at that time, Joe McDonagh, took the team out for dinner in Perth. After 3 years of building, the Singapore Gaelic Lions were here to stay.
Australasian Games Team, 1999:
Back: H. Smiddy, W. Brady, M. Riordan, R O’Hanlon, J. Hanglow, E. Dale, N. O’Sullivan, S. Duggan
Front: T. Shorthall, A. Conley, G. O’Brien, A. McBride, B. Cummings, S. Gartland, G. Falk.
Today
In the years since, the Singapore Gaelic Lions has expanded to become the largest club in South East Asia. We have have enjoyed great success both on and off the field throughout the years. The club gives anyone in Singapore, Irish or otherwise, a place to join in and meet the community. The club has given it’s members the chance to travel (through the yearly tours), to compete and enjoy what the rest of Asia has to offer.
Off the pitch, the club also has a vibrant social scene, probably the main reason for a lot of members first getting involved. Every year, we have a myriad of social events including our very own Amazing Race, table quizzes, club barbeques, beach days, End of Year Ball, the 12 Hawkers, golf trips to Malaysia/Indonesia etc.
We also have social events that incorporate some sporting aspects, including the Alan Power Games, a full day of mixed sports and mixed teams playing soccer, football and hurling/camogie and the Bill Niko Cup, a compromise rules game against the Wombats (the local AFL team). It’s a wonder we find time to train at all.
Once a Lion, Always a Lion.