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EC CLUB, BRUSSELS

EUROPEAN GAA LEAGUE 2001

ROUND 5, BRUSSELS ON SAT 30 JUNE

On Sat 30 March, our Brux Club hosted the 6-team-6-country round-robin 5th Round of the Euro GAA League on the cricket grounds of the British School of Brussels (as usual, Jackie & Dave again did the biz for putting all the necessary facilities at our disposal despite the extensive ongoing renovations in the BSB).

On the field, the fate of our local Brux team was

1. a good start by beating Guernsey
2. lost to Lux after conceding 2 goals against the run of play
3. beat The Hague well
4. lost the crunch match to Paris (& with it their last chance of making the Final) by 1 point and
5. lost their last match to Munich (nothing at stake, weaker team fielded to give everyone a run)

Paris beat Lux by a single point in the Mens' Final. Refusing to be upstaged, the Paris ladies then went on to win the 3-team Ladies' event. Lastly, the Brussels kids had their final workout before Feile Peil na nOg. The full list of Brux men & women playing on the day was:-

• MEN - Pat Ahern, Michel Arrets, Ken Hatton, Mark Kieran, Alan Norton, Micheal O'Conchuir, Sean O'Connor, Eoghan O'Sullivan, Niall Quinn, Enda Rice, Jonathan Riordan & Paul Staunton.
• WOMEN … Maggie Bowers, Lise Buckley, Karina De Boeure, Sonja Dockx, Stella Handley, Patricia Hickey, Lise Libo, Veronique Lorient, Jaana Mettala, Maja Van Develde, & Nadia Von Bassewitz & Patricia Willaert.

The full series of results of Round 5 of the Euro GAA League was as follows:

Munich-Hague not played (time pressure)
Paris-Lux not played (both already qualified for Final)

PS … All matches were superbly reffed by inter-county referees Gerry Kinneavy, Roscommon & Michael Monaghan, Kildare, both of whom were sent over by Croke Park for the day.

Off the field, a most enjoyable meal took place that evening on the premises of Brux GAA sponsor, The Wild Geese Bar (our thanks to Cian & his team for all their hard work - & their patience too as the meal started well behind schedule). The centrepiece of this evening event was the presentation of the Finnegan Brothers Perpetual Cup to Paris, medals to mens' winners Paris & runners-up Lux and, to mark the first competitive Ladies GAA tournament played here, medals to ALL the ladies who played on the day. Gifts to mark their visit were also presented to the hard working refs Gerry & Michael.

Finally, on Sun morning, the European GAA Board met amongst other things to review progress the Euro League. The current standings going into the 6th & final Round in The Hague on Sat 13 Oct are as follows:-

• Paris: 28
• Guernsey: 26
• The Hague: 25
• Luxemburg: 19
• Rennes: 18
• Brussels: 16
• Brest: 8
• Munich: 6
• Barcelona: 2

No title for Brux this year mainly due to our inability to send a team to Lux on 26 May (because of the bridging holiday weekend). However, in the Rounds we did play with a full team, we haven't been more than 1-2 points from making the Final. Our remaining aim now is to finish on a high note by winning Round 6 on 13 Oct …

Check out the 4 earlier Rounds on www.geocities.com/european_gaa in particular on the Brux slot under the "European GAA Clubs" icon.

Contact Points:

• Cathal Lynch 0478 214153 (mobile) or e-mail to [email protected]
• Patricia Hickey 02 282 3275 (work) or e-mail to [email protected]
• Gerry McGovern 02 296 7371 (work), or e-mail to [email protected]
  

UNDER-AGE FOOTBALL

Summer break

After a month or so of frantic activity, the time has come for all to enjoy their Summer holidays. The kids GAA will resume in Sept (dates & times to be notified later).

Sylaun kids in Brussels - from 22-25 June

Brux GAA hosted a visit by kids & adults from Sylaun GAA Club, Co Galway (near Corofin). On the Sat, they indulged themselves in the course of a long day out down in the Six Flags Park in Wavre (formerly Walibi). On the Sun, the Brux kids took them on at the Irish Sports Day in the British School as a warm-up for their "Trip to Tipp" 2 weeks later - more below - with the regular-playing visitors winning by 4 points (the Sylaun kids also put on a display of the skills of hurling for all present). On the Mon, the visiting adults & kids visited the European Parliament as well as the Grande Place & environs. Our sincere thanks to the following for helping make a success of the weekend:-

• The visitors themselves:-
  KIDS … Paul Burke, Stephen Burke, Sean Cooney, Pierce Connors, Liam Cooney, Kevin Courtney, Alan Cullinane, Shane Glynn, Joe Hanley, Colm Gibbons, Emmet Keane, Catherine Ludden, Ciaran Ludden, Brendan Martin, Damien Martin, John Martin & Daniel Murray;
  ADULTS … Rita Burke, Walter Burke, Albert Connors, Patricia Connors, John Cullinane, Sean Glynn, Triona Hanley, Danny Ludden and Michael Martin;
• The Breslin, Clancy, Daly, Ludden, McGovern, Morrisey, Nevin & Smith families here in Brux who each hosting at least 2 of the visiting kids for 3 nights;
• The organisers of the Irish Sports Day who made plenty of time available for football & hurling in an already packed schedule; and
• Pat The Cope Gallagher MEP who organised the European Parliament tour for his Connacht-Ulster constituents (& treated every last one of them to lunch while he was at it).

Brux kids in Thurles, Co Tipperary - 5-9 July 2001

For the second year running, the Brux kids travelled to Ireland to represent the European GAA Board in the GAA's annual Feile Peil na nOg for under-14 yoa. From humble beginnings a few years back, this Feile has now grown to become one of - if not the - biggest single sporting event for kids anywhere in the world (90 boys teams & 40 girls were in Thurles & surrounds this year).

On the field, the Brux kids played 3 competitive matches, unfortunately a little disadvantaged as their ages ranged from 10-14 compared to most of the others in the 13-14 age group. On Fri afternoon, they lost to their hosts Killenaule & another Tipp team Mullinahone. However, Sat started off on a positive note with major press coverage of their efforts by Cliona Foley in the Irish Independent Sports Section (attached separately). This high profile stuff continued when GAA President Sean McCague of Monaghan and Munster Council Chair Sean Kelly of Kerry (the latter is also a good friend of Brux & all the other Euro GAA Clubs in his capacity as Chair of the GAA's International Dimension Committee) decided to attend their match against Killrossanty GAA Club from Waterford. All this media & celebrity attention spurred the Brux lads on to score the late goal that earned them a famous draw & with it their first ever point in Feile. Having started, it was difficult to stop the Brux lads and, apart from the Feile matches, they played friendly matches against their hosts on both Fri & Sun mornings.

Off the field, it has to be said that the Brux kids & accompanying adults received an extraordinary degree of hospitality & friendship from hosts, Killenaule GAA Club. Apart from the accommodation provided (more below), the Brux kids were able to bop the Sat night away in a specially organised under 14 disco while the Brux adults' itinerary included a visit to the famous Coolmore Stud (not to mention the opportunity to discuss the finer points of the operation of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy in disadvantaged areas over liquid refreshments !!!). Kids & adults alike also attended some top class under-age & adult hurling matches on the Sun.

There are so many thank you.s for this marvellously successful weekend that it's hard to know where to begin but here goes anyway:-

• Since starting up in March 1999, the Brux kids have benefited greatly from the facilities provided for them by the British School - thanks again Jackie & Dave for your help;
• As for training & skills, the main coaches have been John Ludden & Mick Nevin;
• While there were various Brux backroom organisers, the one who covered the detailed paperwork that really made Feile 2001 happen was Brigid McGovern;
• The Brux kids (plus their families): Peter & Paddy Barrett, Sean Breslin, Marc Buckley, Darragh Clancy, Eamon Conway, William Courtney, Kristian & Laurie Dunn, Christopher Fernandes, Marc Ludden, Oisin McArdle, Paul & Thomas McGovern, Barry Nevin, Stephen O'Malley, Ronan O'Rourke, Conor O'Sullivan, Colm & Ruairi Scott-Byrne, Gearoid & Conor Smith and Fionan & Conor Smyth;
• The Brux adults who accompanied the kids to Thurles - Liam Breslin, Ann & Joe Buckley, John Ludden, Brigid & Gerry McGovern and Aileen & Robbie Smith;
• The Brux sponsorship provided by Jack O'Sheas Butchers Shop and The Wild Geese Bar;
• The Killenaule GAA Club organising team of Aileen & Christy Blake, Pat O'Connell & Dickie O'Dwyer;
• The Killenaule accommodation/transport etc network of Nicholas & Margaret Bergin, Frank & Pearl Codd, Liz & Paul Guinan, Ann & Tom Kelly, Marion & John Kelly, Mary & Phil Kelly, Mary Kennedy, Shirley Kennedy, Bernie Murphy, Mary & Anthony O'Dwyer and Mary Webster;
• Killenaule GAA Official - & hand-maker of hurls - Eddie Grant who not only put up a few Brux kids but also gave every Brux kid a present of a one of those hand made hurls with a sliotar thrown in to bring back with them (hopefully not too many broken windows here this Summer as a result !!!).

Finally, it should also be emphasised that the Brux kids participation in Feile was supported at every turn by Sean Kelly & Pat Daly, respectively Chair & Secretary of the GAA's International Dimension Committee.

LADIES' FOOTBALL

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, Ann Donnelly, Patricia Hickey, Lise Libo, Veronique Lorient, Emma Ni Dhonaill, Audrey Reinier, Niamh Smith, Maja Van Develde & Natasha Woods.
The Paris ladies team comprised of Mariek Amerlynck, Alison Bermingham, Sarah Hughes, Antoinette Kelly, Siobhan Lynch, Angela Maguire, Maeve Ní Fhallúin, Catherine Nolan, Geraldine O'Flynn, Satu Vänzä.
The teams met in blistering Lux sunshine to play a very close & competitive game which finished:-

MENS' FOOTBALL

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 5 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 :

MENS' HURLING

We haven't had too many hurlers here in Brussels in recent years. However, the Lux GAA Club is having their 15th Annual Hurling Weekend on the weekend of 22-24 June to Langres/Luxeuil in France (between Nancy & Dijon). An exhibition of hurling will take place on Sat 23rd involving players from Ireland, Paris, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and anywhere else interested. As usual, there will also be a Poc Fada na hEorpa competition after the exhibition game. Anyone interested should contact Liam Egan of Lux GAA at mailto:[email protected]t or [email protected] directly.

EURO GAA NOW IN CYBERSPACE ! ! !

For those interested in checking out the spread of Gaelic Clubs & sports right across Europe, please see www.geocities.com/european_gaa which owes its existence to Cork-man & former Paris player Proinsias Collins who we thank for the time & effort he took to get this going.