Ballykelly GAA
Encyclopedia
Ballykelly Gaelic Football Club is a Monasterevin
based Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
club in County Kildare
, Republic of Ireland
. Following the progress of many modern GAA clubs, they field teams from U6 to senior in both ladies and men's football.
where they were comprehensively beaten by Two Mile House. The men who are known to have played for that club were as follows: Tom Conroy, Paddy Holligan, Patrick (Park) Dempsey, Chris Dempsey, Michael Byrne, Lar Byrne, Pat Malone, Tom Brereton, Patrick Kelly, Charlie Lovely, Joe Lawlor, George Byrne, Michael Leigh, Billy Leigh, Joe Martin, the Murphy brothers, Quinsboro, and the McDermott brothers,
The present-day club was founded in 1953, in similar circumstances to that of the 1930s. A number of players broke away from the Monasterevin club after feeling that they had been unjustly dropped in favour of other players who had not been training or playing in previous games. At their inaugural meeting, the room was packed to capacity, such was the interest aroused, and they immediately began fundraising. They started to train in An Cullen's field in Borraderra and so intense was their interest in the game that they even trained on Christmas Day.
With the dedication to duty it was not surprising that the fledgling club made an enormous impact and in the first year 1953 won the junior "B" Championship. They went on to win the Intermediate Championship in 1955 and again in 1960 - two major trophies in the space of five years - a feat many clubs have not achieved in their entire history. They have gone on to win the Junior "A" Championship in 1974, the Intermediate in 1975 and the Under 16 Championship in 1989, as well as the junior League Division 2 in 1972, the Senior League Division 2 in 1974 and 1978 and the Under 16 League in 1988. Between Ballykelly and Monasterevin during the 1970s almost every major Gaelic football honour came to the town.
The teams prospered in their first year and the following season saw six of the players called up for county teams. The team's success continued for a further year drawing fresh players from all over the parish but by in 1996 the successful run was over, partly due to the original squad becoming older. However, some of the girls did continue playing for the boy's team.
In 1997 an amalgamation between Ballykelly and Athgarvan
was arranged, meaning that some players were now representing Ballykelly on the boys panel and Athgarvan with the ladies team. During this season two of the players, Maire Dowling at centre half forward and Margeret McCormack in goal, contributed to the capture of the county shield with the under 14 boys team and the club was also being represented at intercounty level by several of the girls.
In 1999 saw the formation of an Under 12 team and the reformation of the Under 14 team; in 2001 a Senior Ladies team was formed.
In 2005 the club embarked on another major development plan to keep up with the growth in the local population and purchased 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) in the townland of Ballykelly. This new development was completed and officially opened on the 16th May 2010 and consists of two adult size all-weather pitches, one floodlit and one juvenile pitch, two astro-surfaced training pitches, a sports hall, ladies' and mens' dressing rooms, meeting rooms and car parking for 350 cars. The facility was named as Kildare Grounds of the Year for 2010.
in the 1956 Leinster Senior Football Championship
final, helped the club win Intermediate titles in 1955 and 1960. Tom Fitzgerald spear-headed the club’s resurgence in the 1970s, beating Johnstownbridge
1-9 to 1-7 to win the 1974 junior final and, beating Rathangan
by 3-6 to 2-8 in a replayed final to become intermediate champions a year later in 1975. The club endured something of a lean spell up until 2000 when they annexed the Junior B title, their first championship in 25 years.
Monasterevin
Situated 63 km from Dublin on the R445 road, Monasterevin has been relieved of much through traffic by the opening in 2004 of a new section of the M7 motorway bypassing the town on the N7 Dublin to Limerick route...
based Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Following the progress of many modern GAA clubs, they field teams from U6 to senior in both ladies and men's football.
Football Club
There had been a club in Ballykelly in the 1930s and it wore the same maroon and white colours as used by the present club. It affiliated for one year - 1936 - but continued on for some years afterwards. This earlier club had been formed because some players felt that they were being unjustly dropped from the Monasterevin team of the time. They had little success on the playing field and their only championship outing was in SuncroftSuncroft
Suncroft is a village in County Kildare, Ireland, south of The Curragh and east of Kildare Town.It has a population of 607.-See also:*List of towns and villages in Ireland...
where they were comprehensively beaten by Two Mile House. The men who are known to have played for that club were as follows: Tom Conroy, Paddy Holligan, Patrick (Park) Dempsey, Chris Dempsey, Michael Byrne, Lar Byrne, Pat Malone, Tom Brereton, Patrick Kelly, Charlie Lovely, Joe Lawlor, George Byrne, Michael Leigh, Billy Leigh, Joe Martin, the Murphy brothers, Quinsboro, and the McDermott brothers,
The present-day club was founded in 1953, in similar circumstances to that of the 1930s. A number of players broke away from the Monasterevin club after feeling that they had been unjustly dropped in favour of other players who had not been training or playing in previous games. At their inaugural meeting, the room was packed to capacity, such was the interest aroused, and they immediately began fundraising. They started to train in An Cullen's field in Borraderra and so intense was their interest in the game that they even trained on Christmas Day.
With the dedication to duty it was not surprising that the fledgling club made an enormous impact and in the first year 1953 won the junior "B" Championship. They went on to win the Intermediate Championship in 1955 and again in 1960 - two major trophies in the space of five years - a feat many clubs have not achieved in their entire history. They have gone on to win the Junior "A" Championship in 1974, the Intermediate in 1975 and the Under 16 Championship in 1989, as well as the junior League Division 2 in 1972, the Senior League Division 2 in 1974 and 1978 and the Under 16 League in 1988. Between Ballykelly and Monasterevin during the 1970s almost every major Gaelic football honour came to the town.
Ladies Football
The Ballykelly girls' Under 14 team was registered in the spring of 1994, twenty years after the first All Ireland ladies' football final was played. The squad consisted of 21 players in an age group from 10 to 14. The squad comprised players who came from families who supported all three clubs in the parish.The teams prospered in their first year and the following season saw six of the players called up for county teams. The team's success continued for a further year drawing fresh players from all over the parish but by in 1996 the successful run was over, partly due to the original squad becoming older. However, some of the girls did continue playing for the boy's team.
In 1997 an amalgamation between Ballykelly and Athgarvan
Athgarvan GAA
Athgarvan is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Athgarvan, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, which played a significant role in the development of the GAA in the 1890s.-History:...
was arranged, meaning that some players were now representing Ballykelly on the boys panel and Athgarvan with the ladies team. During this season two of the players, Maire Dowling at centre half forward and Margeret McCormack in goal, contributed to the capture of the county shield with the under 14 boys team and the club was also being represented at intercounty level by several of the girls.
In 1999 saw the formation of an Under 12 team and the reformation of the Under 14 team; in 2001 a Senior Ladies team was formed.
Grounds
The club purchased its first pitch in 1982 next to the Highbridge and developed it as money became available. The pitch and club rooms were opened on 16 October 1983 by Hugh Campion, former Chairman of Kildare County Board. The facilities were updated after that with the addition of new dressing rooms and showers.In 2005 the club embarked on another major development plan to keep up with the growth in the local population and purchased 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) in the townland of Ballykelly. This new development was completed and officially opened on the 16th May 2010 and consists of two adult size all-weather pitches, one floodlit and one juvenile pitch, two astro-surfaced training pitches, a sports hall, ladies' and mens' dressing rooms, meeting rooms and car parking for 350 cars. The facility was named as Kildare Grounds of the Year for 2010.
Gaelic Football
Monasterevin beat Ballykelly in a legendary Junior A final in 1954 for which a special train was run to Newbridge. The prolific scoring of Seamie Harrison, who scored seven points for KildareKildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
in the 1956 Leinster Senior Football Championship
Leinster Senior Football Championship
The GAA Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of...
final, helped the club win Intermediate titles in 1955 and 1960. Tom Fitzgerald spear-headed the club’s resurgence in the 1970s, beating Johnstownbridge
Johnstownbridge GAA
Johnstownbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Kildare, Ireland, winner of three county senior football championships and Kildare club of the year in 1983.-Football:...
1-9 to 1-7 to win the 1974 junior final and, beating Rathangan
Rathangan GAA
Rathangan GAA Club is a Gaelic football club based in Rathangan, County Kildare, Ireland. It was founded in 1889 and had many difficulties early on as there were many different local teams in the parish...
by 3-6 to 2-8 in a replayed final to become intermediate champions a year later in 1975. The club endured something of a lean spell up until 2000 when they annexed the Junior B title, their first championship in 25 years.
Honours
- Intermediate champions 1955, 1960, 1975
- Junior A champions 1974. 2007
- Jack Higgins Cup 2007
- Junior B champions 1953. 2000
- Senior League Div 2 1974, 1978.
- Junior League Div 2 1974.
- Minor B champions 2007 (St Evins Gaels)
- U16 Champions 1989
- U 16 A Shield 2007 (St Evins Gaels)
- U14 Board na Og Shield 1997
- Ladies Junior champions 2005
- Ladies Senior League Div 2 2004
- Ladies U 16 champions 2005
- Ladies u 15 champions 2007, 2008, 2009
- Ladies Senior League Div 3 2008
- Ladies minor champions 2008
- Ladies Junior A champions 2010
- Kildare best club grounds 2010
- U15 boys league 2010