Wednesday, February 01, 2006

A FRENCH man who spent a year in Carlow IT was so inspired by his experience of Carlovian culture that he opened an Irish bar in La Rochelle, France.

Nicholas Bourdel came to Carlow in 1996 as an International Business student and lived in Browne Street. He never forgot his experience and dedicated a pub to its honour in February, 2004.

“I fell in love with Ireland and enjoyed the atmosphere in Carlow so much that, going back to France, I felt that I had to open an Irish pub one day,” he told The Nationalist.

“We decided to call the pub “The General Humbert’s” as a tribute to that French general who came to help the Irish in their rebellion in 1798. This general left France from La Rochelle, so it makes the link between La Rochelle in France and Ireland.”

The student-turned-businessman took some influences from Carlow life for his bar.

“My room was very small but not far from the college and it was great fun to live two minutes walk from the Dinn Rí, Scragg’s or Tully’s. It was very… convenient.

I do remember everything about Carlow and got back there twice since 1997.

“There is no denying that it is impossible to have a complete Irish bar abroad, especially in a non-English speaking country with a different culture. But there’s none of the usual Guinness posters on the walls or no green colour on the front.

“The Irish tourists that come to us every summer are amazed by the pub and we are really proud of it.”

Nicholas wanted to stay in Carlow to complete his degree but received a call up for military service and returned to France.

“My girlfriend was also in France so I returned and it turned out to be a good choice in one way because we are now married and have two children, the third one is due to August - we’re beginning to look like an Irish family now.”

He is not the only La Rochelle man with a gr· for Carlow and, coincidentally, has a regular customer living opposite his house who also went to the IT two years ago. Now he’s hoping to get some Irish visitors.

“It will be very easy in the near future as Ryanair are going to open a new route from Dublin to La Rochelle in Spring. It will allow people from Carlow to taste the real black stuff.”