History of Toronto GAA

Gaelic games have been played in Toronto since the late 19th century, with records of competitions taking place on Toronto Island in its early years. Toronto GAA was formed in 1947 to establish a governing body to oversee annual league and championship competitions, and to grow the sport in the wider area

1884

The GAA was founded on November 1st 1884, at a meeting in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, by a group of spirited Irishmen who had the foresight to realise the importance of establishing a national organization to make athletics more accessible to the masses and to revive and nurture traditional, indigenous sports and pastimes.

Some of the founders of the Gaelic Athletic Association

1910's

By the early 1900s, Gaelic Games were already being played in Toronto. A report from the Toronto Globe outlines the minutes of the proceedings of the 1915 Toronto GAA AGM, which took place at St. Mary’s Hall on Bathurst Street. Training took place at Don Flats, an area where the Don Valley Parkway now runs through.

1930's

In the 1930s Gaelic football was being played in Island Stadium, Hanlan’s Point, on Toronto Island. An estimated crowd of 3,000 to 4,000 people turned out to see the sport during a tournament in May 1932.

1947

In 1947 Toronto GAA, in its current format, was established and began organizing competitions in the city and taking part in games in other Canadian cities and in the United States.

1950's & 1960's

The GAA in Toronto grows from strength to strength, with burgeoning numbers of new players emigrating from Ireland in the post-war period. Toronto teams find success against rivals from other North American cities.

Newspaper snippet of four gaelic footballers that played in the Rochester vs Toronto gaelic football game in the 1950's

1970's & 1980's

By the 1970s the GAA is active and vibrant in Toronto, with several clubs competing in both Gaelic football and hurling. Thanks to easier air travel, Toronto teams are able to take on some of the best players from Ireland, with teams travelling to Canada for challenge games.

Poster for exhibition gaelic football and hurling games between Garryowen from Ireland and St. Mikes and Clanna Gael at the C.N.E stadium in Toronto

1990's

In the early 90s, Toronto GAA made history when it hosted the All-Stars series in the home of the Toronto Bluejays, the Skydome. In 1990 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions Tipperary faced an All-Star team, while Dublin played Tyrone in Gaelic football.

Exhibition hurling game between Tipperary and an all-star team in the Toronto Skydome, now called the Rogers Centre in 1990

21st century

Today, the GAA remains as strong in Toronto as ever, with teams playing men's and ladies football, hurling and camogie. Teams are comprised of players from Ireland, Canadian-born players, and newcomers to Canada who have fallen in love with the sport.

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Roll of honour

2022

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Toronto Gaels‍

Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Pat’s Gaelic Football Club ‍

Senior Hurling Championship Cuala Sarsfields‍

Senior Camogie Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Hurling League Na Piarsaigh

Senior Camogie League Le Cheile

North American Senior Camogie Le Cheile

2021

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent’s GAA‍

Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Hurling Championship Na Piarsaigh‍

Senior Camogie Championship Le Cheile

‍

2020

No competitions due to COVID

2019

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Hurling Championship Na Piarsaigh

Senior Camogie Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Hurling League Na Piarsaigh

Senior CamogieLeague Le Cheile

2018

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent’s GAA Senior

Ladies Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Hurling Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Camogie Championship Toronto Camogie

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Hurling League Clan Na Gael

Senior Camogie League Toronto Camogie

North American Intermediate Ladies Football St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

North American Intermediate Camogie Le Cheile

2017

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Hurling Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Hurling League Clan Na Gael

North American’s Junior A Ladies Football St. Pats Gaelic Football Club

2016

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

‍

2015

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

2014

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

North American’s Intermediate Camogie Toronto Camogie

‍

2013

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

North American’s Junior A Hurling Toronto Hurling

‍

2012

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

North American’s Senior Camogie Toronto Camogie

2011

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

2010

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍

2009

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's ‍

Senior Ladies Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍

2008

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Ottawa Gaels

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football League Ottawa Gaels

‍

2007

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football Championship Ottawa Gaels

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's Durham Robert Emmets

2006

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Ottawa Gaels

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Ottawa Gaels

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Vincent's

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's Michael Cusacks

2005

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football Championship Michael Cusacks

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Michael Cusacks

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Vincent's

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's Michael Cusacks

2004

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Ottawa Gaels

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Ottawa Gaels

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

2003

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football Championship Michael Cusacks

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football League Michael Cusacks

‍

2002

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football Championship Ottawa Gaels

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Ottawa Gaels

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's Toronto Gaels

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's Durham Robert Emmets

2001

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club Senior Ladies Football Championship Ottawa Gaels

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Ottawa Gaels

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's Durham Robert Emmets

2000

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club Senior Ladies Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football League Ottawa Gaels & Michael Cusacks

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1999

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club Senior Ladies Football Championship Ottawa Gaels

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1998

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Vincent's

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1997

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's Durham Robert Emmets

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's St. Anne's, Detroit

1996

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's Durham Robert Emmets

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Women's Durham Robert Emmets

1995

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Le Cheile

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Denis Leyne Memorial Tournament Men's St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1994

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League Ottawa Gaels

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's St. Pat's

1993

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Durham Robert Emmets

Senior Ladies Football League Michael Cusacks

Owen Nolan St. Tournament Men's Durham Robert Emmets

1992

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Ottawa Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League Le Cheile

1991

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Mikes & Clan Na Gael

Senior Ladies Football League Le Cheile

1990

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

Senior Ladies Football League Le Cheile

1989

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League Irish Canadians

1988

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Ladies Football Championship Le Cheile

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

Senior Ladies Football League Irish Canadians

‍

1987

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Pat's

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Toronto Gaels

1986

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Clan Na Gael

1985

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Pat's

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1984

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

‍

1983

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Vincent's

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

1982

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

1981

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Vincent's

1980

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1979

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1978

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

North American Senior Hurling Toronto (St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club & St. Pats Gaelic Football Club)

1977

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1976

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1975

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

North American Senior Hurling (Toronto) St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1974

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

‍Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Clan Na Gael

1973

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship St. Michael’s Hurling and Football Club

1972

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

1971

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

1970

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

North American’s Senior Hurling Toronto (Garryowen)

1969

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Clan Na Gael

1968

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

1967

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

1966

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Clan Na Gael

1965

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Clan Na Gael

North American Senior Hurling Toronto (Garryowen)

1964

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Garryowen

‍

1963

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Clan Na Gael

1962

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football Championship Clan Na Gael

Senior Men’s Gaelic Football League Clan Na Gael

1961

North American’s Senior Hurling Montreal Shamrocks

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