Gaelic with a Gallic twist!

St.Marys Rasharkin U13 players who travel to Rennes, France next month. inbm23-15 s

The players and management depart from Belfast for their exciting trip on June 12th and return Monday 15th June.

The trip was a year in the planning and came about through a discussion with Ulster GAA on the development of Gaelic Games in Europe and when an invitation to compete was received, Rasharkin answered the call.

The Liffre club in France are nine times French champions and compete in the Munster Junior football championship. This will be the second year they have run an international youth football tournament with teams from France, Spain, the Channel Islands and Belgium taking part as well as Rasharkin representing Antrim and Ulster.

Darren OBoyle on behalf of Vent Controls Ltd pictured with Club Chairman Michael Hardy and Ethan Mc Mullan, Ruairi OBoyle and Rory Telfer. inbm23-15 s

The St Mary’s lads will be guests of honour at the launch night in Liffre City Hall, meeting the Mayor and other dignitaries from the Brittany region as well as representatives of the European GAA.

Many thanks go to the businesses who sponsored this wonderful venture - Kelly Landscape and Stone, Vent Controls Ltd, Fullans Euro Spar, The Bush Tavern and E McMullan Ltd. Thanks also to everyone who bought tickets, took part in the Fun Run or went to a “Come Dine With Me”, along with all the parents for their hard work fundraising.

Special recognition goes to Paddy Kelly, Darren O’Boyle, Kevin Higgins and Cathal McMullan for all their work organising and developing this ground breaking trip for St Mary’s Rasharkin, Antrim and Ulster GAA. The club would like to wish the players and management “bon chance”!