Origins

Though it has existed for centuries, the game was formally arranged into an organised playing code by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in the late nineteenth century. Although there are similarities with Australian Rules Football, this appears to be due to convergent evolution rather than conscious influence of one code on the other. International Rules matches are now organised between Irish and Australian representative sides, using a hybrid of the two codes.

The female version of the game has become increasingly popular since the 1970s.