Article Contributed on: 1/28/2009 7:08:52 PM
Denver Gaels' Paddy Wagon & Spring League Arrive
It is par for the course that each year, come February, rumblings begin about the legendary Denver Gaels "Paddy Wagon" Pub Crawl. Dare I say that few pub crawls, if any, rival this incredible event the Gaels have perfected? YES - I DO dare in fact! I dare anyone reading this (and of the appropriate legal age, of course) to join the Gaels and their hundreds of friends and sponsors, new and old, for a night not to be forgotten - despite all efforts to the contrary during the event! The happy chaos is slated for Saturday, February 28th from 4:30 to 11:30 p.m. and will once again begin from two different starter pubs.
For $40, the "Paddy Wagon" offers, well, non-stop paddy wagons cycling through the pub crawl routes, all the beer you can drink on said paddy wagons, all the song you can sing to your heart's content, a commemorative Paddy Wagon t-shirt (which may come in handy after you've lost yours!), and of course exclusive drink specials at sponsor pubs. Hop onto
www.denvergaels.com to purchase your tickets now before the paddy wagons are too full to squeeze you on.
This year's crawl has been modified somewhat in order to accommodate the hordes of crawlers (over 375 during the 2008 Crawl). Last year, four pubs just weren't enough. The Gaels have added a fifth to the mix. Welcome to the "Paddy Wagon", Highland Tavern! Other participating pubs include: The Celtic Tavern/Delaney's, The Irish Rover, Scruffy Murphy's Irish Pub, and another new addition, Dougherty's Irish Pub.
In line with tradition, the Gaels recover from the "Paddy Wagon" Pub Crawl not long before diving right into recruitment and actual physical expenditure. Two short weeks after the "Paddy Wagon" Pub Crawl, the Gaels will be an integral part of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Downtown Denver on Saturday, March 14th. As one of the Gaels' largest recruiting events, the Irish athletes will appear in the parade and also host recruiting and merchandise tables at its LoDo sponsor pubs, The Celtic Tavern/Delaney's and Scruffy Murphy's Irish Pub. Come get your latest Gaels garb and kit at one of the booths, take a look at playing one or more of our grand Irish sports, and give the true Irish scalawags a shout as they march by with pride.
After the crowds have settled and new recruits are organized, the Gaels will host numerous new player clinics beginning Sunday, March 29th. Additional Sunday clinics include, April 5th, April 19th, and April 26th. For this final clinic on April 26th, the Gaels are hosting special sessions in Boulder and Colorado Springs to encourage member participation from the north and south. New players are invited to come try their hand at the ancient Irish sports of hurling, Gaelic football, and camogie at any or all of these dates. Check the website for updated times and locations.
From the best hurler on the pitch, to the newest member of the club, all members are invited to participate in the annual Spring Hurling Pub League at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The first Pub League session is scheduled for Sunday, May 3 rd. Last year the Gaels fielded the largest Pub League ever with four full squads and a much higher level of competition. Now they look to 2009 to break the mold for continued local expansion.
While the Gaels are devoted to expanding locally, they are also focused on competing nationally. Amid new player clinics and the commencement of the Pub League, the Gaels are sending squads all across the country to compete in events. The Gaels will once again field teams at the annual Hurl 'Til You Drop tournament in Chicago the weekend of April 17th-19th. Also, the Rio Grande Celtic Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is scheduled for May 16th-18th, where the Gaels are appearing for the second time in as many years.
For more information on any of these events, especially tickets for the Paddy Wagon Pub Crawl (they're going quickly!), please visit
www.denvergaels.com. You can also find and/or sign up for regular updates on the site, or email the club at
denvergaels@yahoo.com.
The Denver Gaels GAA club is non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and an official member of Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the governing body of Irish sport.