Belfast Asian Women’s Academy and GAA Club come together to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month

Image by Belfast Asian Women’s Academy (BAWA)

Women from the Belfast Asian Women’s Academy (BAWA) are set to learn how to play Gaelic football, another skill added to their long list of talents.

The BAWA comprises of women from across Asia who have made the Northern Irish city their home.

To mark South Asian Heritage Month this year, a Co Antrim football club is hosting a free Gaelic Football taster session for the women and young girls.

Wolfe Tones GAC in Greencastle will host the event this Thursday, July 21 at 7pm at The Valley V36, Newtownabbey.

After the session, the BAWA ladies will be introducing Asian culture to their local community by treating them to some mouth-watering delicacies.

This isn’t the first time the BAWA ladies have embraced the Gaelic Athletic Association

(GAA) culture. The group have also been getting to grips with camogie at taster sessions with coaches from the recently formed Mary Ann McCracken camogie club at Alexandra Park in North Belfast.

Armed with their helmets and sliotars, group members have quickly taken to the sport and the coaches have even recruited some new players for their team.

South Asian Heritage Month, which runs from July 18 to August 17, began in 2020 to celebrate the heritage of people with roots in the South Asian countries. First started in 2020, this year South Asian Heritage Month is focusing on celebrating and commemorating South Asian culture and educating the public.

Chair and founder of BAWA Ana Chandran told Belfast Live that the group are looking forward learning another new skill while also making new friends.

Chandran said, “The theme for SAHM 2022 is Journeys of Empire so we want to learn about the culture here of the GAA. We also want to take the opportunity to introduce South Asian Heritage Month and talk about our own Journeys of Empire.”

“The camogie with Mary Ann McCracken has been very successful and one of our girls is now playing for the club so we hope someone will be inspired by Ladies Gaelic Football too,” she added. To be part of this event, drop a message to the Belfast Asian Women’s Academy BAWA Facebook page or email info@belfastasianwomen.co.uk.