 GAA Rounders is one of the four official GAA sports. Along with Gaelic Football, Hurling and Handball, Rounders was included in the original GAA charter back in 1884. Rounders is a bat and ball game and is not that dis-similar to baseball. Indeed it is now generally accepted that Baseball is derived from Rounders in some form or other, as it has been played on this island for a couple of hundred years now and was probably brought over to America by the early settlers.  As Rounders is a limited contact sport it is perfect for both recreational and competitive play. It also draws on a different set of skills than the conventional GAA games and is very good for developing hand eye coordination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- History of GAA Rounders  Until 1958, no initiatives were evident in clubs to play Rounders despite the availability of written rules in An Chlár Oifigiúil, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. Antrim club Erins Own approved the running and funding of a Rounders match under the rules in the Official guide. Over the next twelve years one member of the Erins Own club, current National Development Officer, Peadar Ó’ Túatain kept the initiative alive with efforts which led to the formation of teams in the Air Corps in Baldonnell, Co. Dublin and in St. Joseph’s Teacher Training College in Belfast.  In 1970, Erins Own club were again to the fore, supporting the launch of the Primary Schools Rounders Championships in the Toomebridge area of County Antrim and County Derry . Those championships have continued yearly since then and have become more widely played in Derry , Antrim & Tyrone Schools. Senior & Minor Championships are played across Ireland and there is an annual Féile weekend for juvenile players. In 2008, GAA Rounders celebrated 50 years since its revival. |