Irish woman finds home away from home through GAA in France

They say home is where the heart is, and for Leitrim woman, Aisling Fee, since she doesn't often get back to her home county, her heart is rooted on a GAA pitch in Bordeaux.

Having moved to France for work after completing her Bachelor's degree in Applied Languages at the University of Limerick, Aisling joined the local GAA club in Rennes with a friend to enjoy a taste of home. To their surprise, they were the only two Irish people there. "Even the training session was in French, so we got to improve our language skills and get involved in the culture".

Little did the Drumkeerin woman know that her GAA journey abroad would also lead her to love. At a tournament in Clermont-Ferrand, she crossed paths with Jean-Baptiste, affectionately known as JB. Now, the couple both live and work in Bordeaux, sharing their sporting passion as they play for both the men's and women's teams at Bordeaux-Blanquefort GFC.

JB playing for Bordeaux in the French Federal Final against Paris, May 2022 | PICTURE: @Pamisire

While Aisling, raised in The Wild Rose County, boasts strong GAA roots, JB, originally from Brittany, discovered the sport through social media. 

"I found a Facebook page of the club, and I was interested in it, so I sent a message and I went to try it out," he shared. Unfortunately JB's first training session didn't go quite to plan. "I got injured and dislocated my shoulder," he said. "So for my first training I went to the hospital," he chuckled.

After a four-month recovery, the nuclear engineer was back on top form, and similar to the resilient Irish, went back to try the sport again. "I was like a survivor," he laughed.

Presently, the pair actively participate in monthly tournaments with their team, and have recently expanding their activities to include hurling, which they say is rising in popularity in France. They recently took part in their first hurling tournament, where the limited number of Bordeaux players led to a collaborative effort with the Paris team.

Having played in Leitrim as a girl for her local club, Aisling, and even JB who more lately experienced some of Aisling's Leitrim-based trainings, shared their observations about the differences between GAA in France and the intensity of the sport back in Ireland. 

"I feel like GAA over here isn't like it is at home, it's definitely more communal," Aisling stated. "It's still a really good level, but it's not as competitive. Back home in Ireland, sometimes it used to stress me out."

While she stressed the love she has for her home club, her impressive teammates, and the tremendous support from her mentors and wider community with fundraising and on-pitch spectating, she candidly added: "Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but there were times for big games, I would be so nervous. Then when you mess up, your teammates and people in the stands would give you abuse." 

All of this, while tough at times, the local woman agreed built her into the triumphant player she is today.

"It's funny because the level here is good, and when it comes to tournaments, the stakes are high and it's competitive on the pitch," she shared. "Still, when the whistle is blown, everyone is shaking hands, everyone is friends, whereas it's not so much like that at home".

Aisling playing for Europe in the World Games, July 2023, in Derry

For JB, he played soccer from a young age, and found a strong rivalry within the sport. "[The rivalry] was on the pitch and off the pitch too," he said. After trying his hand at Gaelic football, he found that compared to other sports, "it's not the same competitive atmosphere, it's like a family." 

While enjoyable, logistical challenges persist for Aisling, JB, and their teams, as they navigate tournaments across the country, facing long journeys and financial constraints. The South West League covers regional tournaments, while the national French League takes them to distant locations like Brittany, Paris, and Strasbourg.

Financial support has become a crucial concern, prompting players and the club to engage in fundraising efforts.

JB described the role the club plays in managing to get the players to their matches. With regards to their club, she says that they pay €30 for each player for each tournament, this helps to cover their travel costs and registration fees, while also helping pay for materials like jerseys.

Outside of that, there is a lot of work which goes on behind the scenes. "We have to do a lot of fundraising on our own behalf to promote the sport and get sponsors," Aisling shared. "It is difficult because, especially in the south of France, Gaelic football isn't that well known, so it's hard to talk to people when they don't even know what the sport is".

More importantly, they both continue to fight to get the sport more widely recognised. In an extraordinary milestone, gaelic games have even been included in the PE curriculum for the baccalaureate (France's Leaving Cert) and the duo hope to see the spread of Irish culture even further across The Hexagon.