By Jack Hickey and Padraig Daly
As part of the EMERGE Alliance cultural immersion programme, a group from the University of Limerick GAA club, including two PESS representatives, Jack Hickey, PhD researcher, and Padraig Daly, fourth-year Physical Education and Mathematics student, travelled to UBS Sud in Brittany, France, for a week of academic, cultural and sporting exchange.
The visit provided an opportunity to experience French higher education, meet Sport Sciences students and explore how sport can create connections between people and communities across different countries.
Exploring Sport Science in France
A key part of the visit was meeting students studying STAPS (Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives), France’s Sport Science degree pathway.
Through discussions and workshops, students exchanged experiences of their studies, practical placements and future career ambitions. The conversations highlighted both the similarities and differences between Sport Science education in Ireland and France, while demonstrating a shared passion for sport and physical activity.
The group also had the opportunity to tour the Sport Sciences facilities at UBS Sud, exploring teaching and laboratory spaces used for education and research. Demonstrations of specialist equipment provided an insight into how scientific principles are applied to areas such as performance analysis, physiology and athlete development.
Sharing Gaelic Games in Brittany
Sport was also central to the cultural exchange, with the visit culminating in a Gaelic football coaching session at Lorient GAC.
The session focused on fundamental Gaelic football skills, including passing, support play, movement and game understanding. More than simply a coaching session, it provided an opportunity to share an important part of Irish sporting culture with the local community.
Gaelic football has a growing presence in Brittany, reflecting the region’s strong Celtic heritage. As one of the six recognised Celtic nations, Brittany has longstanding historical and cultural links with Ireland. Clubs such as Lorient GAC play an important role in bringing these shared traditions to life through sport.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Away from the formal programme, the group experienced the culture and hospitality of Brittany through local activities, shared meals and informal interactions with students and staff.
These experiences highlighted the value of international mobility programmes in creating opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, develop new relationships and gain a broader understanding of sport, education and culture in an international setting.
For Jack and Padraig, the visit provided a unique opportunity to connect their experiences at PESS and UL with students and sporting communities in France, while demonstrating how sport can act as a common language across cultures.
A huge thank you to the EMERGE Alliance team at UL, the team at UBS Sud, and Lorient GAC for their support and tremendous hospitality throughout the visit.
About the authors
Jack Hickey is a PhD researcher in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Limerick. Embedded within the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance project, his work focuses on athlete development, injury epidemiology and performance. Alongside his research, Jack is actively involved in coaching with UL GAA and Athletics and teaching within the PESS Department.
Padraig Daly is a fourth-year Physical Education and Mathematics student at the University of Limerick. His studies have sparked a strong passion for coaching Gaelic Games, and he has worked with various teams within the University as well as teams in his native county of Kildare.
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