Watch one Irishman’s experience of Gaelic football played in France.
Mayo man Alan Jennings has been living in Clermont-Ferrand, France for the past two years teaching English and while there has gotten involved with local GAA team, the Clermont Gaels.
Picture: Tony D. Photography
The club started from humble beginnings, with just 15 people showing up to training when they first formed in 2008.
Since then it has developed into a flourishing side and for the last four years the Gaels have been the French intermediate football champions.
Jennings wanted to record the experience of playing gaelic games in a foreign country.
“I decided to try and document what playing GAA on the continent was like,” he explained.
“I only had a GoPro camera to record and had to juggle recording with playing but I managed to get plenty of interesting footage throughout the year.”
The film follows the team from the European Championships in Maastricht in October 2014 through the 2015 French GAA Championship to the Finals that were held in June this year.
Eh au fait... On est champions ;) #bougnats #faitotpetarmiladiu #gaa #gaelic #guerande pic.twitter.com/XGGgUW6UMn
— Clermont Gaels (@ClermontGFC) June 7, 2015
The film has an unusual name – “C’est Pas Le Foot!” which translates to “It’s not football!” in English.
“The name became my catchphrase after I would get annoyed with French players “reluctance” to pick up the ball at times,” Jennings explained.
Note – occasional strong language in the film.
The club are trying to raise the funds to travel to the 2015 European Championships in Vienna in October. If you would like to help you can contribute through their sponsorship page.
Fair play Alan, helping spread the gaelic games gospel far and wide.