The Celts were a mysterious people.
Unlike the Vikings or the Romans the passage of history has not left us with any stereotypical picture of what they looked like. Ancient descriptions of them are extremely varied and stereotypes of who they were generally evade us.
Archaeology has slowly filled in some details of how they lived. Imagery of icons and Celtic design are still expressed in monuments, crosses, gravestones and jewelry.
From the 16th century, the ‘Celts’ was used as an all encompassing description for the Pre-Roman period peoples of Western Europe. In the early 1700’s, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man were given the name of the ‘Celtic’ nations.
In the context of a continually shifting European political and religious landscape, the word ‘Celtic’ has acquired a new significance. The populations of the Celtic regions have sought to affirm their differences and individualism from others via separate Celtic traditions and identities.
Over the centuries a Celtic revival movement has led to the creation of a rich, re-imagined and romanticized Celtic past that is expressed in art, song and literature.
The overall idea of a separate Celtic identity resonates powerfully today, it is continually referred to in context of politics, sport, culture, power and religion.
The modern Celtic regions are Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.
Stade Rennes or Nantes might not sound that ‘Celtic’ in a present day sense. But these are two clubs from cities which have rich Breton heritages.
Brittany is the westernmost region of Metropolitan France.
It is a peninsular region bordered by the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south.
The capital of the administrative region is Rennes, although Nantes is considered the capital of historic Brittany.
Brittany once upon a time was made up of five Celtic tribes.
The Namnetes, who lived in the current Loire Atlantique Pays de la Loire department, gave their name to the city of Nantes.
Meanwhile, the Redonues or Rhedones gave their name to the city of Rennes (Roazhon in Breton language).
When the two play the national anthem of the region ‘Bro Gozh ma Zadoù’ is heard.
It is sung to the same tune as that of the national anthem of Wales, “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” or Land of my Fathers:
We, Bretons by heart, love our true country,
Armorica – famous worldwide.
Any fear in battle without, our such good fathers,
For thee shed their blood.
Brittany, my country, I love my country,
So long as the sea, like a wall surrounding thee,
My country shall be free!
The derby is a significant cultural event hence the singing of the anthem on the field before the game.
Derby football matches are rarity in France. As opposed to in England where inner city football derbies can arise almost weekly ‘regional’ derbies are very common and popular in France.
Rennes and Nantes first met in the 1949–50 Coupe de France, Rennes winning on that occasion.
But history is with Nantes – 44 wins to Rennes 35 wins. Not that this record made much difference to this clash on a rain soaked evening.
Breton symbols are on display as the night gathers pace towards kick off. In the early evening the hundreds of Nantes fans were bussed in under police escort – the mayor of Rennes banning them from the city center.
The fans ran for a drink in any number of the football bars that lined the road to the stadium. Other spilled out as kick off neared.
Fans were forced to queue for match tickets at booths that were increasingly under pressure as kick off approached.
The rain crashed down in Rennes but it did not dampen the enthusiasm for the derby as proceedings started.
Just 5 minutes in the Nantes fans set off a range of rockets into the night air.
The first half ended all square with each side having scoring opportunities but failing to score.
Just two minutes after half time the visiting team took the lead thanks to an own goal by Da Silva.
Rennes stormed back into things equalizing through Raphinha but again Nantes refused to lay down and hit back.
Left sided attacker Simon firing past Mendy to restore a lead.
In the final throws of the game a dramatic change occurred.
Benjamin Bourigeaud equalized in the 5th minute of additional time and with virtually the last kick of the game Raphinha won it for the home team.
Long after the final whistle at Roazhon Park the Nantes fans stood in disbelief that the game had been lost.
The bulk of those in black and red simply didn’t care.