Our 2009 Girls were delighted to get an invite to the inaugural Samhain Cup hosted by Gwened Vannes Gaelic Football Club in France, who Ballinteer St Johns are proud to be twinned with!
The connection is through Pearse Bell. Pearse is European Youth Officer with the GAA & still has family connections with Ballinteer St Johns. His niece plays for Ballinteer St Johns & his nephew coaches our 2009 girls. Pierce often catches a game or more when he is home 🧡🖤
It will be a special occasion for Pearse & his family with his niece playing & his nephew coaching Ballinteer St Johns!
On October 31st, 2025, Vannes will make history by hosting the inaugural Samhain Cup, the first international girls U15 Gaelic football tournament in continental Europe.
🇫🇷 Organised by Gwened Vannes Gaelic Football Club, this groundbreaking tournament will bring together young athletes from Ireland and Brittany, establishing Vannes as a European hub for women's Gaelic football.
🇮🇪 Participating clubs from Ireland include Bellaghy Wolfe Tones (Derry), St Sylvester's (Dublin), Ballinteer St Johns (Dublin), St Michael's (Roscommon), and St Ronan's (Roscommon), alongside a Brittany select team composed of players from Vannes, Lorient, and Liffré.
A Milestone for Women's Sport
"The Samhain Cup represents a major step forward in the development of women's Gaelic football in Europe," says Pearse Bell, GGE Youth Officer. "This event demonstrates our commitment to providing young girls with the same opportunities for international competition as their male counterparts."
"This tournament is a proud moment for Brittany," adds Jean-Marie Flageul, Youth Officer for the Ligue Bretonne de Football Gaélique. "Bringing teams from Ireland to play alongside our Breton girls showcases the strength and ambition of our regional development programs and reinforces the cultural bonds that unite our Celtic nations through sport."
🫶🏻Building Skills, Confidence, and Friendships
The Samhain Cup's unique blitz format prioritizes fun, skills sharing, and confidence building. In the morning session, teams will compete representing their home clubs. The afternoon session introduces an innovative twist: all teams will be mixed, ensuring that players from every participating club play alongside each other, fostering international friendships and cultural exchange.
💪🏼As the number of U15 girls participants grows across Europe, organizers plan to extend invitations to clubs throughout the continent in future years, making the Samhain Cup a truly pan-European celebration of women's Gaelic football.
🎃 A Celtic Celebration
Scheduled for Samhain—the ancient Celtic festival from which Halloween originates—the tournament celebrates the deep cultural ties between Ireland and Brittany. With over 70 players expected plus many families, supporters and coaches, the Samhain Cup provides an excellent opportunity to promote the Brittany region and its sporting vitality to an international audience.
📈 Record Growth in Vannes
The timing of the Samhain Cup coincides with unprecedented growth at Gwened Vannes. The club's youth section now boasts 44 members, including 11 girls—the largest number of female players in the club's youth section history. This year saw 9 older youth members graduate to the adult section, while 26 new players signed up, marking the biggest recruitment year ever.
👻 "We're thrilled to have 11 girls in our youth section this year—our highest number ever," says Aideen Rodrigues, Youth Section Coordinator. "The Samhain Cup is the perfect showcase for where women's Gaelic football is heading."
A huge thank you to the organisers, coaches, FLOs and the Clubs who are supporting this wonderful opportunity for all the girls. 👏🏼
🫶🏻A big thank you to the parents & supporters who are also travelling!
Ballinteer St Johns are delighted to be part of the Samhain Cup which promises to be a great occasion for everyone involved! We wish Gwened Vannes Gaelic Football Club and everyone taking part all the very best this weekend!
