Surely a contender for the most romantic name ever heard for a GAA club.
The romance isn’t just in the name either; so taken were a bunch of locals in Saint Brieuc in Brittany with the game of Gaelic Football that they set up their own club in 2009 and are still going strong seven years later.
The establishment of ladies’ and underage teams are well underway and plans are afoot to set up a hurling team too; needless to say, they’re not messing around.
Continuing what is a growing trend in European circles, Bro Sant Brieg is almost entirely made up of non-Irish members, with Kenneth from Kildare currently the only Irish representative amongst 30 or so members.
Currently going strong in the Breton D2 League – they won it with a Grand Slam recently – and with big plans for the future, Bro Sant Brieg is a club going places in a hurry and we found out a little more about them in conversation with clubman Nico Omnes a little earlier this year.
Focus on Football Gaélique – Bro Sant Brieg
Year established: 2009
Number of members: 30 this year. We were up to 46 back in 2013.
Biggest rivals: Entente Finistère in Brittany and Clermont-Ferrand in the rest of France.
Biggest representation from a club/county in Ireland: Kildare with only one player, Kenneth. Otherwise we’re 100% French, born and bred.
Most famous ever member(s): Arnaud “Bubulle” Poisson, team captain, club secretary and French selection player.
Most memorable moment in the club’s history: Meeting with Michael D. Higgins in Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2014 (see main image above).
Most eye-catching scoreline in the club’s history: 13-7 (46) – 1-5 (8) against Entente 22, January 2016.
Player who makes the longest commute to training: Greg from Merdrignac makes a 60 km journey to training.
Most dedicated club person: Francis, our chairman, who does massive work to promote the club and the sport.
Loudest in the dressing room: Tony!
Number of romances that started in the GAA club (feel free to name names): Quite a few! A special cheer for Solal, nine months old, the first club baby from Francis (chairman) and Margot (treasurer).
Duck to water award – Best new player who had never played GAA before: Damien, also called Gipsy!
Best story involving a club member that’s fit for print: Meeting Tom, who was walking his dog, and Pat Spillane unexpectedly while walking around Templenoe during a group trip in 2014.
If you’re a member of a GAA club abroad and would like to be featured on the site, feel free to send a mail to editorial@JOE.ie or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
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