Gaelic football, Colombian heart: Meet the Bogotá Beithígh
Over 8,000km from Ireland, Gaelic football is finding its footing in Bogotá, Colombia. There, in the high-altitude capital, you can find a small but committed group of Irish people, local Colombians, and others from around the world, that have united to form the country’s first GAA team.
The team, united by community spirit and a shared love of sport, have developed an idea into something more: a welcoming community effort and a space for cultural exchange.
As Gaelic football begins to take its first steps in the city, this grassroots team is a testament not only to the global reach of the GAA but the way it brings communities together, and offers people a sense of home, no matter how far from Ireland they may be.
Starting from scratch
In April 2023, Irish organisation GoGaelic brought Gaelic football to Colombian soil for the first time, as part of a broader exchange of indigenous sport, music, storytelling, dance, and language. Their five-stop tour left a lasting impression in Bogotá, where members of the Irish community and curious locals came together in an effort to keep this momentum alive. By 2024, the country had its first official Gaelic football team, Bogotá Beithígh.
The team has quickly grown as people outside of the Irish diaspora have begun to take interest. Before long, the team welcomed a visit from the Irish Minister for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue during his visit to Colombia for St Patrick’s Day, highlighting the wider value of Gaelic games in connecting Irish communities across the globe.
Since then, the team has continued to grow, holding training sessions and attracting new members. The club currently trains approximately twice a month, however with the growing support they are looking to increase the frequency of training sessions.
Meet some of the members of Bogotá Beithígh
Jeremy, USA
Jeremy Ward, who moved to Bogotá from the United States, reflects on the sense of the community the team has provided since he joined. For him, the sport became a means to meet people from different walks of life:
“I think the biggest impact that it has had on my life is that it has been a great opportunity to build community, make new friends, and meet new people in different places”
Damien , Co. Dublin
Damien Brennan, originally from Dublin and a seasoned player of Gaelic football all over the world,considers playing with the team as having both a practical and a personal appeal. It expands beyond a means to stay active but also allows players to build connections in a place that feels far from home.
“Gaelic Football is great for two things. One, fitness and sport keeps you healthy. Secondly, it makes it easier to make friends and it is a great way to meet people and improve your social life”
Phil, Co. Antrim
Phil, from County Antrim, speaks to the significance of engaging with Gaelic games, no matter where you are, and bringing the value of that community with you:
“It is something that really helps you to build a community spirit because you play with the same people year on year on year. I think that is why it is important that we bring it to where we are in the world as Irish people, and I would like to see this club in Bogotá do well, and I will invite everyone in Colombia to take part."
Camilo, Bogotá
While Gaelic football carries deep cultural meaning for Irish people abroad, it also speaks to something universal: the thrill of movement, the enjoyment in discovering a new game, and the strong interpersonal bonds built through sport. This is something that Camilo, a founding member and Bogotá native, feels keenly:
“I think Gaelic football is the best sport in the world. It’s an action-packed sport. It is really physical, really demanding as well, so that’s why I’m enjoying this, and I am actually very glad we started this team in Colombia”
Despite still being in its infancy, the team has grown into something more than a group of players. It has become a space where people from different backgrounds can find common ground, develop friendships, and strengthen a sense of community.
Bogotá Beithígh provides a sense of belonging, not only to the Irish diaspora living in Colombia, but also for anyone interested in taking part in something exciting and new.
Beyond the first kick
With their first training sessions behind them, the team already have their eyes on future goals in the hopes of building a wider community. Bogotá Beithígh are already laying the groundwork to become officially registered as a GAA club and grow their local membership.
The team is looking forward to the opportunity to play against other GAA clubs in the region and to help create a strong Gaelic games network across Latin America. In time, the team’s long-term ambition is to play a leading role in the creation of an official South American GAA.
If you are interested in getting involved in Bogotá Beithígh, or would like to know more about this fantastic sport, follow them on Instagram.