An Irish football fan is having “one last hurrah” in Bordeaux before he follows his heart to be with his girlfriend in Toronto.
Gareth Daly, 32, from Glasnevin in Dublin, is in the picturesque French city ahead of the Republic’s clash with Belgium on Saturday.
He is spending his final days having a leaving party with friends in Bordeaux before making the big move across the Atlantic next week.
“My girlfriend Orla Walsh is a paediatrician and she’s going to do a fellowship in Toronto and I’m going to follow her over.
“I quit my job to folllow her. We’ve been together three years and I’m taking a risk but following my heart to be with her.
“A lot of my friends came for a party last week in Dublin but some couldn’t make it because they were at the Euros.
“They’ve all come to Bordeaux for one last hurrah with the lads to say goodbye,” he said.
Mr Daly said he is looking forward to a new life together with his girlfriend and is looking at it as an “adventure”. He added: “I know it’ll be tough but we’re both excited about going over.”