GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 31 – August 8, 2015 | Page 32

GALICIA, SPAIN
AUGUST 6, 2015

THE CELTIC CLASSIC
BRITTANY V GALICIA
BY WENCES GARCIA ZAPATA

Gaelic football is an Irish sport and mostly played by
Irish players. But something different is happening in the
last year, especially in two parts of Europe.
LOCAL PLAYERS
The first Gaelic football league (no one-day-tournaments championship, I mean, a proper league) was established in Brittany [France] and made by 99% local players. Galicia [northwest Spain] grew a lot since the first
club (A Coruña Fillos de Breogán) was founded in 2010
and now have two leagues of 60 minutes matches in men’s
league and ladies league). And, the players in Galicia are
also 99% locals as well.
That’s why the very first match of National Teams in
Gaelic Football (with no Irish on the pitch) was a game
between Galicia and Brittany. The match was played in
Campo do Cadaval, Narón, A Coruña Province in Galicia
the 20th of July of 2012. I had the honour of being the
captain that day, and we won! - Galicia 5-08 / Brittany
3-08.

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In 2013, Brittany organized the second Celtic Classic.
This time the place for the match was Lorient, the host
city of the famous Interceltic Festival. The 11th of August of 2013, Brittany got revenge: Brittany 3-12 / Galicia
1-08. I was the Galician captain again. Lorient was the best
place to play in that game. Amazing atmosphere with all
the Celtic Nations represented in the city.
LATEST CLASSIC
Now, the 16th of August of 2015 Lorient will host a new
Celtic Classic. This time, Galicia will play as runners up
of the first World GAA Games (in the International Division) played in Abu Dhabi last March. Brittany will take
part in the 2016 World GAA Games in Dublin and it will
be a fantastic game in this event at Lorient. And this time,
Brittany Ladies National Team will also debut against
Galicia Ladies National Team (3rd in Abu Dhabi). This is
a new step ahead for Breton Gaelic football.
In Lorient, the Gaelic football day will be opened by a
clubs game: Lorient Gaelic Athletic Club vs. A Coruña