There’s much more than just Gaelic Games growing at Glasgow Gaels!

IN THE heart of Glasgow, something special is taking root. Among the medals and trophies of recent years, a quieter, more profound victory is unfolding not on the pitch, but in the hearts of the smallest members of our GAA community.

In recent years, Glasgow Gaels has celebrated some incredible highs. The Men’s team has lifted three of the last five Scottish Senior Championship trophies on offer, reached two British finals and finally brought one home in 2022.

Not to be outdone, the Ladies claimed a clean sweep in 2023, becoming Scottish, British, and European Junior Champions. These moments of triumph have put Gaels on the map, but they’ve also shone a light on a sobering truth—many of these successes came from players who eventually moved on, with few homegrown Gaels to carry the torch forward.

The soul of any GAA club doesn’t lie in silverware alone it lies in its people. In those who lace up their boots in depths of winter, in the coaches who pour in hours with no expectation of praise, and, most of all, in the children who grow up within its embrace. Homegrown players are more, they’re the heartbeat of a club. They bring stability, identity, and a lasting legacy.

That’s why the launch of Gaels Tots marks such a powerful step in our journey. This new initiative, aimed at children aged 2-6, is about far more than learning to solo a ball or take a handpass. It’s about belonging. It’s about giving the youngest Gaels a place where they’re seen, valued and connected.

Led by club legends Aidan Kerlin and Shane Ryan better known to many as ‘Butcher’ and ‘Rocket,’ this programme is built on passion, experience, and love for the game. Both were pivotal in Gaels’ 2019 campaign, and now, in true GAA fashion, they’re giving back. Gaels’ youth section—led by Paul Maher and a team of dedicated volunteers—are also helping to plant the seeds for something that will last well beyond the final whistle.

As someone who regularly listens to GAA podcasts, I often hear high profile men like Oisín McConville and Joe Brolly reflect on how their clubs—Crossmaglen Rangers and Dungiven—helped shape their lives, not just as players, but as people. They speak of the grounding power of a community; of how, in a world full of noise, confusion, and struggle, the GAA gives young people a sense of direction, identity, and support. It’s more than sport it’s a second family.

The Gaels Tots initiative is the club’s way of ensuring that sense of family begins early. Through games, movement and laughter, children are building coordination, fitness, and confidence. At a time when sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity are growing concerns, these sessions offer a joyful, active start. More importantly, they foster resilience, teach kids how to deal with emotional highs and lows through play, and create friendships that might just last a lifetime.

To be part of a GAA club is to be part of something bigger than yourself. It’s where we learn to win humbly, lose graciously, and lean on each other when life gets hard. That’s why initiatives like Gaels Tots matter so much. Because long after the matches are forgotten, the memories, the friendships, and the sense of belonging remain.

The Gaels would like to thank Motherwell Physio for their generous support in helping to get this project off the ground. The sessions are now well and truly underway and the energy and enthusiasm already, from both kids and parents, have been incredible.

Following a short summer break, the club will launch its next six-week block. If you have a child between the ages of two and six or know someone who does we’d love to welcome more young Gaels into our growing family. Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates and registration info.

This is how we build not just a team but a future.