For the second year in a row the All-Ireland Senior Football semi-finals and final will be broadcast live on the public TV station, TVG, in Galicia in northern Spain.

The feed will come from RTE which will be overlayed with local Galician commentary.

Last year’s All-Ireland Final broadcast reached an estimated 100,000 people in the region, which has quickly become a hot-bed of Gaelic Football.

There are currently 12 GAA clubs in Galicia with the numbers of those participating growing all the time.

What makes Galician GAA clubs particularly noteworthy is that their members are almost all native Galicians rather than Irish abroad.

Where does this affinity for Gaelic Football come from? According to Gaelic Games Europe’s Coaching and Games Development Officer, Alexandre San Martin, himself a native of Galicia and a founding member of the Estrela Vermelha club, it’s multifaceted.

“In my experience in Galicia it is due to three main themes,” says Sanmartin Costa.

“First, Gaelic football is a sport that sounds quite similar to soccer, so it gets your attention straight away when you first hear about it.

“Secondly, because of the culture. In Galicia our culture is related to the celtic culture and have somewhat similar celtic roots and traditions and culture.

“And, finally, probably because of the opportunity Gaelic Games gives you to play for a Galician team.

“The Galician team is the selection of the best players in Galicia and we compete against other countries in the World Games.

“And for Galicians to put on the jersey of Galicia is just the best feeling. Those who do it feel very, very proud to represent Galicia. The jersey of Galicia represents so much for us.

“So I think these three things are the most important things for getting players involved in Galica.”