This summer, two of Europe’s brightest young stars, Tomás Bell (16) and Gaspard Flaguel (17) from Vannes GAA in Brittany, stepped up in style. Newly qualified as coaches, they stood not on the sidelines but front and centre — leading as coaches at a Cúl Camp in Castlehaven GAA Club, West Cork, one of the most storied Gaelic football clubs in Ireland.
Tomás and Gaspard didn’t travel to Ireland to play; they went to teach, to lead, to give back. For the first time, homegrown European coaches were directly involved in training Irish children on Irish soil – a landmark moment for Gaelic Games as a truly global movement.
Coaching with Cork’s Finest
Word of Europe’s coaching elite making waves in West Cork travelled fast, and soon enough Castlehaven’s top brass came knocking. The French Coaching Gurus found themselves joined by two local volunteers keen to pick up a few tips. Brian Hurley, Castlehaven’s all-time scoring machine and Cork captain, and John Cleary, Cork senior manager and Castlehaven royalty.
What began as a quiet weekend of coaching turned into a masterclass – as Europe met Munster in a uniquely Gaelic Games exchange of drills, skills, and stories.
Richie O’Mahony, Castlehaven Coaching Officer, had great things to say about the lads;
They brought energy, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and interacted brilliantly with all the kids. Within no time, they became local celebrities!
Apart from assisting and learning from a variety of head coaches during the week, they also got to experience so much more than just coaching. They attended training sessions, watched Senior training and wemt to Championship matches which gave them both a real feel for Castlehaven GAA club.
They’re missed and will be welcome back anytime.
We look forward to the follow-up!
Thanks to Richie and all at Castlehaven
At an age group often considered high-risk for dropouts, we are seeing something remarkable. The 16–18 bracket is fast becoming one of the most vibrant and engaged in Europe. Instead of stepping away, these young players are filling the gap between youth and adult GAA by upskilling, mentoring, and committing.
This has been proven in the sign-ups to the many Introduction to Coaching Gaelic Games courses so far in 2025 – every single course has included ambitious coaches under the age of 18.
They’re not just staying involved; our youth players are soaring into leadership roles, and Tómas and Gaspard are at the forefront of this lift-off. They’re turning the Player Pathway into a runway.
This is what Europe’s player pathway looks like now: not a one-way street to Ireland, but a two-way exchange of skill, culture, and leadership. We’re not just producing players – we’re producing mentors, organisers, referees, coaches. And they’re thriving.
Tómas and Gaspard return to Brittany not just with new drills and ideas, but new skills. We look forward to seeing the players they will carve from the Breton countryside in the future.
Their journey started at Féile in 2021.
The success of Tómas and Gaspard didn’t appear out of thin air; it began in Vannes, France, when the very first European Féile was held there in 2021. Where they stand today is a direct result of targeted growth investment, and the results have exceeded expectations.
The Féile has proven to be more than just a tournament in Europe; it’s the incubator for the future of our games. From grassroots fun to structured development, it builds talent and confidence. If done right, this is what it becomes – a pathway that keeps young players engaged, connected, and inspired to stay in the game.
Since 2021, each Féile has built on the last. We now look forward to the busiest period of Youth activity in Europe so far, with 8 Cúl Camps taking place across continental Europe!
This year’s record-breaking Féile in Amsterdam was made possible thanks to the continued support of our partners. A sincere thank you to the Leinster Council in Ireland, to Sport Ireland, and to Jones Engineering for investing in our future and adding so much to the success of this year’s event.
