The training sessions & practise matches for boys & girls continue in the British School's Elephant Pitch every 2 weeks (next session next Sun 3 June). At this stage, arrangements are well advanced for the kids' "Trip to Tipp" representing Europe for the second year running in the GAA's Feile Peil na nOg in Thurles from Thu-Sun 6-8 July next. There was a fire in the British School's equipment shed last week in which one of our sets of goalposts (fortunately, the second had been left standing on the Elephant Pitch from the previous Sun …) and all of our footballs, nets, canvas bags and plastic uprights were destroyed. We will try to replace the burnt gear ASAP. To the British School which lost a great deal more sports equipment in that fire, we were very sorry to hear of this misfortune. Indeed, it is worth reminding everyone involved with Brux GAA of the enormous debt of gratitude we owe the BSB (Dave, Jackie & Co) for putting its facilities at the disposal of our kids', ladies' and mens' GAA players here in Brussels for many years now …

Sat 26 May saw another big breakthrough with the Brux Ladies playing in the first-ever competitive Ladies' GAA match to take place in Europe. Taking their cue from the efforts of the Brux Ladies over the past 15 months or so, Paris have now also assembled a Ladies team which they sent to Luxemburg (which was hosting Round 4 of the European GAA League - more below). The Brux Ladies playing were Jennifer Buckley, Lise Buckley, Patricia Hickey, Lise Libo, Veronique Lorient, Audrey Reinier, Niamh Smith, Maja Van Develde & Natasha Woods, The teams met in blistering Lux sunshine to play a very close & competitive game which finished:-

Round 3 of the Euro League: On Sat 3 March, the Guernsey Gaels Club hosted the Third Round of the GAA Euro League at their cricket grounds base there. Brux GAA didn't attend this Round (League decided on the basis of best 5 out of 6 Tournaments & this is the one we skipped). Full set of results played in a 6 team round-robin was:-

Round 4 of the Euro League: On Sat 26 May, the Gaelic Sports Club of Luxemburg hosted Round 4 of the Euro League at the Cessange Soccer & Rugby Sports Complex. Our thanks to Liam, John, Eoghan & Co for their organisation etc. Our thanks also to Phil & Co from the Black Stuff Bar in Lux who sponsored the day and provided food & drink for all teams (not to mention putting on one hell of a good party for everyone later in the night !). On the positive side, we had 2 completely new Clubs playing for the first time, Barcelona Gaels & Munich Colmcilles (the latter were joined by a few visiting players from Mountmellick, Co Laois) - indeed, this made quite a few headlines in Ireland, most notably a long slot on RTE Radio's Ian Dempsey show last Thu where the prospect of Barcelona & Munich locking GAA horns was contrasted with the Valencia-Munich Champion's league final the night before !!! Unfortunately, Lux traditionally play the final Sat in May which this year clashed with the long double-holiday Ascension weekend and this decimated both the Brux and Paris contingents (us worse than them), so we ended up amalgamating for the day. In Group 1, The Hague won all their games and, despite Paris/Brux beating the Liberty Lads from Dublin well, the latter qualified for the semi.s with a score difference 2 points better. In Group 2, Lux B won all matches and were joined in the semi.s by the Lux winners for the past 2 years Guernsey Gaels. In the semi.s, the 2 teams from Group 2 both won through. In the final, the anything-but-B-team Lux B repeated their earlier Group win over Guernsey to deny Guernsey their 3-in-a-row and take the Round 4 win for the home Club. Full set of results was :

Having taken part in earlier Rounds in Rennes, Paris & Lux, it's now our turn to host Round 5 here in Brussels on the last day of June in the British School. Full details later but at minimum there will be kids', ladies' and mens' Gaelic football played on that occasion.

***********************************************************************************