Spanish student captains Roscommon club's U-16 team to league title

A Spanish student, who knew nothing about Gaelic football until he arrived in St. Brigid’s last September, captained the club’s U-16 footballers to Division Three League success on Friday week last.

Sixteen-year-old Guzman Ruiz lifted the silverware as Brigid’s defeated St. Michael’s/St. Ronan’s in their league decider at Kilbride. It capped off a remarkable journey for the Madrid native who only took up Gaelic football earlier this year.

The Spanish student’s host family — the Gallagher family from Corramore, Kiltoom — are immersed in Gaelic football and, in particular, St. Brigid’s.

Guzman’s first experience of Gaelic football was following the club’s senior footballers’ memorable march to county and provincial success in 2025. By the time St. Brigid’s reached the All-Ireland final in January, he was familiar with all the players, their positions, and playing styles.

Around the same time, he joined the St. Brigids U-16 football panel. Coaches were immediately struck by Guzman’s athleticism — standing around six feet, three inches tall. Hailing from a basketball background, his catching and fielding were described as “superb”.

Guzman applied himself diligently to mastering the skills of the game, which included kicking the ball out of his hands. The wet winter tested players at all grades, and it was certainly alien to what Guzman would have been used to in Madrid.

“We could see he had potential, but the weather was so miserable and the ground was so mucky — we didn’t think he would last,” remarked one of his coaches.

“But he did. With every session, we could see the improvement. He never missed a training session, and his enthusiasm for the game really endeared Guzman to the rest of the lads.

“I’m sure the lads were looking at him and thinking, ‘he’s giving everything to improve and help the team’. He was only part of the group for a few months.” 

The teenager, who became very popular with his team-mates, played in almost every position during the spring league — forward, half-back, midfield and even as goalkeeper in the semi-final and final when he was needed. Such was his love of Gaelic football that he was due to return to Madrid before the final but he postponed his trip in order to play the big game.

Guzman was also part of the St. Brigid’s panel ahead of the club’s Division One final against St. Ciaran’s on Saturday evening, but has since returned to Spain. But it is hoped that he will return at some point over the summer to don the “Green and Red of Brigid’s” and meet up with his team-mates and friends once again.