EuropeanIrish.com News Stories

Wouldn’t it be great to hear more about top Irish sports stars who are competing for Ireland all across the Continent.

EuropeanIrish.com will feature any sport and all age groups too, if you are Irish and competing in Europe – you are just as important as the Irish Senior soccer team or Munster Rugby, or the Olympic Athletes.EuropeanIrish.com wants to hear from you all - simply visit http://www.europeanirish.com/ News and add the News story.

or maybe you are based in Europe and run a club or a member of one which features a number of irish players, - if you have a news story add it.The Irish in Europe would love to read about it.

Do you think that Gaelic Games should be an Olympic Sport.

Gaelic Football and Hurling are now played in  Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic,  Guernsey island, Jersey Island, Hungary, Croatia.

Add in the Asian Gaelic Games, Gaelic Games in Australia, Canada, UK, USA and you find gaelic football and hurling growing in global profile.

http://europeanirish.com

Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport ?

30th November 2007
At the GAA European County Board Convention, being held in Budapest Hungary on 1st and 2nd December 2007, wording is being agreed to submit a motion to Ireland’s Annual GAA Congress to ‘pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport’.

The motion being submitted by the European County Board looks to establish an International Gaelic Games Federation. This Federation would drive the development of Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie across the globe. It would look for recognition as a sport from official authorities in countries where Gaelic Games are played, and pursue the recognition of Gaelic Games as an Olympic Sport.

“This is just one of more than 75 Motions being discussed this weekend at the County convention of the European GAA County Board.” reports Siasy Collins editor of EuropeanIrish.com.

ECB Secretary Tony Bass of Maastricht Gaels explained that “Almost 30 clubs and one national federation …, over 600 men and 200 women played Gaelic Games on European soil during the year”

Chairperson of the ECB Eileen Jennings (Paris Gaels) is delighted “to welcome Helen O’Rourke (Ladies Football Association), Pat Toner (GAA Overseas Committee) and GAA club development personnel Con Hogan, Pat Fitzgerald and Kieran Leddy from Ireland and all European Club delegates to the 2007 ECB convention”
Delegates from every club arrive in Budapest Hungary for the weekend which comprises of a GAA Club Development Training Seminar, a Games Workshop, and the ECB Convention.

Follow a morning Training Seminar, the Convention opens at 16:30 on Saturday 1st December, with reports from the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The election of 2008 officers and voting on ECB Motions continues on Sunday from 10:00.

European County Board (ECB) is an official Gaelic Athletics Association County, under Croke Park (Dublin, Ireland) and the Leinster Council, similar to Kilkenny County Board or Dublin County Board.
In fact, Killurin from Offaly ,  Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Champions  travel to The Netherlands next weekend December 8th and will take on County Europe – a team comprising hurlers from Brussels, Paris, Luxembourg, Zurich and host club Den Haag, in the away final of the Leinster Special Junior Club Hurling Championship.

Read More on European GAA at www.EuropeanIrish.com

Gaelic football was played in Brittany last weekend by 4 teams with no Irish players.
“With 4 teams in the Brittany Gaelic Football Championship, and 2 new emerging clubs, Gaelic Football is taking on a world of its own,” according to Siasy Collins of EuropeanIrish.com
There is no english spoken. GAA Clubs de Bretagne have websites entirely in French.
These clubs simply have a passion for playing Gaelic Football.

This week, the second round of the Championnat de Bretagne was played in Brest, with the hosts playing Rennes, Sens de Bretagne and Nantes, each fielding 11-a-side teams, in a round-robin League format.
In Brittany, new teams are building in Vannes and Monterfil.

“Sens de Bretagne won the tournament. We (Brest) were second with a lot a new players, who only started Gaelic Football two months ago. Rennes are 3rd and Nantes were 4th.” Gaetan Danet, secretary of Bro-Leon Brest Gaelic Football Club.

Results
Brest 1-0 - 7-4 Sens de Bretagne
Rennes 1-1 - 1-0 Nantes

Nantes 1-0 - 3-1 Brest
Brest 3-3 - 3-0 Rennes

Rennes 1-0 - 3-0 Sens de Bretagne
Sens 3-3 - 1-0 Nantes.
de Bretagne
Round 2 (17 November)
1st Sens de Bretagne
2nd Brest
3rd Rennes
4th Nantes

Round 1 in Rennes (20 October):
1.Sens de Bretagne
2.Rennes
3.Nantes
4.Brest.

more details on http://www.EuropeanIrish.com

After 30 minutes, Ulster led french side Bourgoin away by 11 points, even after each side scored a penalty each, it remained  6 - 17.

Bougoing onslaught started with a 38th minute penalty.
Start of the 2nd half, 16 minutes passed before Bourgoing crossed the line. As the French crowd came to life behind the hosts, they pushed forward putting prssure on the Ulster defence again, scoring over the try-line 7 minutes later.

The french side pulled ahead and added another penalty to win 24-17 over a distraught Ulster side.

Connacht 75 Cetransa El Salvador 8
Connacht opened their win account in this season’s European Challenge Cup with a whopping 13-try victory over Spanish outsiders Cetransa El Salvador at the Sportsground on Friday night
http://www.rugby.ie/news/story/?jp=MHMHGBIDKFID&s=breaking&d=new

Newport Gwent Dragons 17 London Irish 45
Mike Catt let his rugby do the talking as London Irish romped to a second successive Heineken Cup bonus point victory

http://www.rugby.ie/news/story/?jp=MHMHGBIDIDCW&s=breaking&d=new

Munster 36 Clermont Auvergne 13

Munster put themselves right back in the picture in Heineken Cup Pool Five as they ran five tries past a much-changed Clermont Auvergne side at Thomond Park.
http://www.rugby.ie/news/story/?jp=MHMHGBSNQLSN&s=breaking&d=new

Three-time European champions Toulouse crushed Irish province Leinster 33-6 to go top of Pool Six.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2007/1118/leinster.html

Women’s UEFA Championship Group 2 Qualifier
Republic of Ireland 2 – 1 Romania
Michelle O’Brien 18           Simona 40
Stefanie Curtis 31

The Republic of Ireland Women’s have beaten Romania in their vital UEFA Women’s Championship, Group 2 Qualifier at Richmond Park today. Goals by Michele O’Brien and Stefanie Curtis sent Ireland on their way to a third win in four games from the campaign so far.
Full details :
http://www.fai.ie

http://europeanirish.com/blog/category/sport/soccer/

Germany 2-3 Ireland. The Ireland Under-18 team put Tuesday’s defeat to Germany behind them by recording victory in today’s rematch in Hassfurt. James McCarthy scored in each half to help Ireland to a memorable win.
http://www.fai.ie

The team will play two friendly matches against the U20 Futsal teams of Lisbon giants Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.

The FAI Development squad has been formed primarily from players who participated in the successful first ever Under21 FAI Futsal league earlier this year which was won by Shamrock Rovers.

…
http://www.fai.ie
The matches to be played are as follows:

Tuesday 4th December 2007 at7.30m
FAI Futsal U21 Development Squad V Sport Lisboa Benfica Futsal U20s (Benfica Sports centre).

Wednesday 5th December 2007 at 7.30pm
FAI Futsal U21 Development Squad V Sporting Clube de Portugal Futsal (Hall Paz Amizade-Loures).

FAI Futsal U21 Development Squad
1. John Perkins (Shamrock Rovers)
2. Dane Massey (Shamrock Rovers)
3. Kieran Kilduff (Shamrock Rovers)
4. Mark Langtry (Shamrock Rovers)
5. Alan Lynch (Bohemians)
6. David O’Sullivan (Bray Wanderers)
7. Ian Byrne (Bohemians)
8. Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers)
9. Keith Gallagher (Bluebell United)
10. Philip McDonagh (Bohemians)
11. Gareth Whelan (Drogheda United)
12. Brendan Dawson (Mount Merrion / YMCA)

Montenegro 1-0 Ireland. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 team are still searching for the first points of their 2009 UEFA qualifying campaign after losing to Montenegro today in Podgorica. Ireland are next in action on Tuesday when they host Bulgaria in their fourth Group 3 tie.

http://www.fai.ie

Maastricht Gaels, supported by the ECB, will host a foundation level football coaching course with two coach tutors from Dublin on Saturday, November 24th, between 10:00 & 17:30.

The couse is targeted at those who would like to introduce those interested in bringing gaelic football into schools etc. The principal objective is to qualify coaches to teach 8-12 y.o’s.

Both coaches are qualified tutors.
Damian Byrne is a former Dublin hurling goalkeeper and one of the first full-time coaches in the GAA. He was recently appointed Hurling Development Manager for Dublin and is currently a senior county team selector.
Ken Fitzgerald is full-time coach with a leading Dublin club and coach of a third level (DLIADT) college football team.

The course will be broken into a theory session in the morning and a practical skills session in the afternoon. A light lunch (soup/sandwiches) will be available. Copies of the slides etc will be made available. Participants should wear a tracksuit and bring football boots.

Please let Tony Bass (Secretary ECB) know as soon as possible if your club has anyone interested in attending.
Or indeed if you wish to introduce Gaelic Football or Hurling to a new area in Europe. Contact Tony at maastricht GAA club - details here:

http://www.europeanirish.com/Sport/GAA/gaaclubs.html

“The Gaelic Football Championship of Brittany (France) begins this weekend in Brest, at the Stade de Petit Kervu.” explained Gaetan Danet of Bro-Leon GAA Club.
“Teams from Rennes, Nantes and Sens de Bretagne will compete with Bro-Leon Brest Gaelic Footballers.”
There are 6 GAA clubs in all in Brittany: Bains sur Oust (35), Brest (29), Merdrignac (22), Nantes (44), Rennes (35) et Sens de Bretagne (35).

These clubs play and train weekly with have hardly any Irish players at all in each club.

Tournoi de Brest, samedi/Saturday 17 novembre 2007.
Starting at 14h until 18h.
The next round will be in Nantes in December,
Rounds 3 and 4 in Rennes and Sens de Bretagne, will be hosted in March and April of next year.

Good News is also of New Gaelic Football players in Monterfil, with a challenge match already planned between the new outfit and Nantes at the end of June next year.

Find Irish Pubs in Tourlouse:
http://www.europeanirish.com/pubs/west/france.html
Sunday’s Toulouse clash is another mouth-watering prospect.
Leinster 22-9 Leicester Tigers

Sun 18th Nov 07 21:00 P6 Toulouse   v   Leinster Stade Ernest Wallon

Fri 7th Dec 07 20:00 P6 Leinster   v   Edinburgh Rugby Royal Dublin Society
Sat 15th Dec 07 15:30 P6 Edinburgh Rugby   v   Leinster Murrayfield
11/12/13 Jan TBC P6 Leinster   v   Toulouse Royal Dublin Society
18/19/20 Jan TBC P6 Leicester Tigers   v   Leinster Welford Road

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_7459.php
2006 champions Munster carried the fight but lost to reigning champions Wasps last weekend and face another mouth-watering tie this weekend against Clermont Auvergne.

The red army suffered their first ever Heineken Cup home defeat against Leicester in their pool match last season and captain Paul Connell will want to guide his men on the start of another run of wins.

Clermont have World Cup winning captain John Smit in their ranks and the highly-fancied French side have the opportunity to claim a major scalp to prove they can win the tournament this season.

Ulster hope to kick their Heineken European Cup into action against Bourgoin away, on Friday evening

Fri 16th Nov 07 21:00 P2 Bourgoin   v   Ulster Stade Pierre Rajon

Ulster travel to France for caretaker boss Steve Williams’ first match in charge  and it is at Bourgoin’s Stade Pierre Rajon.

Williams takes temporary charge of the Irish outfit after Mark McCall stepped down as head coach following their 32-14 mauling by Gloucester.

Bourgoin are also looking for their first win but will be confident after their impressive display against the Ospreys in Wales.

Bourgoin have lost their last four games at home and will be looking to put the brakes on that unenviable record by putting the boot into an Ulster team short on confidence.

ULSTER (v Bourgoin): Mark Bartholomeusz; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Paul Steinmetz, Simon Danielli; Paddy Wallace, Isaac Boss; Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best (capt), Bryan Young, Matt McCullough, Carlo Del Fava, Neil Best, Kieron Dawson, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Caldwell, David Pollock, Kieran Campbell, Niall OConnor, Rob Dewey.
http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_7453.php

A 4 year old girl turned to her Dad -
“Dad” she looked puzzled ” how do whales play football !”

This weekend that’s about where the joke ends -

Republic of Ireland plays Wales in Cardiff.
Watch this match live across Europe:

http://www.europeanirish.com/Sport/GAA/liveirishsport.html

 
Irish players - many with a string of international caps, have declared themselves unfit, injured and unavailable for selection.

Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly and Andy O Brien have all pulled out of the Millinnium Stadium clash.

Don Givens caretaker boss - having stepped up from the U21 role, contacted Ian Harte and Kevin Foley of Sunderland and Wolves. Both withdrew with injury.

With no manager, are the players half-hearted?

Were the players half-hearted even with a manager in place?
Who is needed to turn this tide for Ireland?

A new player? or a new manager?

With Steve Finnan, Paul McShane and John OShea  all available, it may not be too bad.
Ireland needs to win on Saturday to guarantee 3rd place inth group.

Failing that Ireland’s rankings and seeding for the next World Cup draw would drop - and face a team with potentially 3 or 4 teams better than Rep Ireland. 

How do you think Ireland will play on Saturday? will irish win, or will Wales win - under similar pressure to the Irish - ?

New clubs are emerging across Spain every year or 2, Valencia and Pamplona have nmade their marks this year, Valencia making its debut in Barcelona last week.

In the Barcelona Regional tournament earlier in the year, Barcelona defeated Madrid 6-19 to 1-09.

In the ladies match Madrid 1-05, Barcelona 2-12.

The Tournament in Madrid, Pamplona made their appearance,
Madrid got revenge on Barcelona winning 3-11 to 10-9 in the opening game of that tournament.
Newcomers Pamplona kept with Madrid and Barcelona in their encounters, scoring 1-00 and 1-01 in each match, which is good against experienced clubs.

In the Ladies Tournament, Madrid defeated Barcelona by 2 scores - 2-10 to 0-10. Pamplona again provided a new Ladies team, scoring twice and three times respectively against Madrid and Barcelona.

Pamplona then hosted their own tournament,

Results Pampalona Tournament Men
MAD 2-5 BCN 3-14
>     MAD 0-14 PAM 0-02
>     BCN 4-15 PAM 1-02
Results Pampalona Tournament Ladies
MAD 1-03 BCN 2-10
>     MAD 1-9 PAM 0-00
>     BCN 4-16 PAM 1-02The 2007 European GAA
Men’s and Women’s
Regional and All-Europe
Championships & Shields

are all available on an easy to follow spreadsheet - with scores, points per tournament, and matches and tournaments  played.

Thanks to Mike Cryan of Paris Gaels GAA and European GAA County Board, for compiling the comprehensive details from the year.
Step 1. Go to: http://europeanirish.com/Sport/GAA/index.html

Step2. Click on
European Men’s and Women’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie - Championship, Shield, European Regional and all-Europe competitions
CLICK HERE NOW

Step 3.  Read the Spreadsheet - check page Iberia Football Regionals