Welcome European GAA – Brittany have their own league, there are 15-hour overnight trips to get to games, they teach Gaelic Football in school and you would underestimate Belgium at your peril.
This Saturday will see GAA go international, in Paris, as two French national teams [male and female] take on an Irish and Belgian selection.
The France v Belgium ladies match is set to be a close-run affair while the French men go into their encounter with Irish counterparts as favourites.
Alan Jennings, who plays club GAA for Clermont, reveals the French men’s team are taking Saturday’s game ‘very, very seriously’.
He tells us, “They did very well at the Euro Games and will be in the World Games next year. We are not expecting it to be easy. In fact, I’m a little nervous.”
Champion d'Europe ma gueule !! Cc @ParisGaelsGAA #GAA pic.twitter.com/jeGLFCiq1N
— Matt Hieu (@Matt_Hieu_) October 17, 2015
At present, there are more than 600 people taking part in GAA across France. Brittany, in the North West, has its own league and cup competition for 10 local sides.
Jennings says, “Three news clubs have been set up in France in the past year. Around six years ago, you would have had seven teams. Now, we have 24, including development clubs in Angers, Antibes, Nice, Sophia and Caen.
“Within the next three to four years, there should be over 1,000 players registered with French teams.”
One might expect the bulk of the Gaelic players to be Irish ex-pats or students but, one or two clubs aside, they are mainly French. The breakdown of players across the entire country is 20% Irish, 80% French.
Jennings, a Ballina native, explains that most teams in Brittany are all French. Indeed, GAA has been taught on the P.E cirriculum for the past decade.
He continues, “I took a job in an English language university [a couple of years ago] and an Irish girl who was working there told me about the local team.
“I went down expecting to meet up with a load of Irish but it was mainly French – coaches and players.”
Eh au fait… On est champions 😉 #bougnats #faitotpetarmiladiu #gaa #gaelic #guerande pic.twitter.com/XGGgUW6UMn
— Clermont Gaels (@ClermontGFC) June 7, 2015
Of course, travel to a club game in France dwarves even the longest trip Ireland can throw up. The shortest journey for Jennings and his Clermont teammates is a four-hour round-trip to Lyon.
“Eight hour round-trips are the norm while going by car to Bordeaux would take about six hours. You might have to do an overnight for that.
“Sponsors are vital when it comes to these trips but each of the lads will chip in for fuel or hotel stays; otherwise it wouldn’t be possible.”
The longest trek Jennings undertook was from Clermont to Vienna for a championship event this year.
“It was a 14 or 15 hour drive. We had a mini bus and we all crammed into that. We switched drivers and went through the night. We arrived at 8am and played our first game, against Jersey, at 9am.”
All teams competing at the weekend will be play 11 vs. 11. This is due to pitch sizes [the only proper-sized GAA pitch is in The Netherlands] and player numbers. It leads to a game that is slightly different from its forebears.
Jennings says, “Handball is huge in France and the skills transfer so well from sport to sport.
“You find that the teams that have more of an Irish influence play a lot more kick passes. My team, and sides like Marseilles and Rennes, will have a heavy French influence.
“The French dominated sides tend to play a more hand-pass based game. The ball being on the floor quite a bit is something that is widespread throughout all the clubs in France! “C’est Pas le Foot!” (Which translates to “It’s not Soccer!) has become somewhat of a catchphrase for me as I tend to shout it at least once a match!
“It can be often frustrating but you do get some great goals from it.”
While the Irish XI [and subs] will be a collection of the best and brightest from club sides across the country, they will be playing together for the first time. They will also be up against a French side fully committed to the GAA cause.
Jennings says, “Clermont narrowly missed out on getting into the senior championship, last year, and many of my French teammates were heartbroken. They were in tears.
“As gutted as I was, it was great to see these guys who are not from Ireland giving so much to our national sport.”
