The Wicklow County Board of the
Gaelic Athletic AssociationThe 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...
(GAA) or Wicklow GAA is one of the 32
county boardsA Gaelic Athletic Association county is a geographic region within the Gaelic Athletic Association , controlled by a county board and originally based on the counties of Ireland as they were in 1884. While the counties of Ireland have changed since the foundation of that date, the GAA counties have...
of the GAA in
IrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and is responsible for
Gaelic gamesGaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
in
County WicklowCounty Wicklow 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 Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The county board is also responsible for the Wicklow inter-county teams
History
Wicklow are one of two counties never to have won a senior provincial championship (the other is
FermanaghThe Fermanagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Fermanagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. The county board is also responsible for the Fermanagh inter-county teams-History:...
), but
BrayBray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
Emmets, the leading side of the early 1900s, won Leinster and All-Ireland honours when they were playing in the Dublin Championship. Wicklow were twice proclaimed Leinster champions for short periods. Bray were representing Wicklow in 1889, and when they beat Newtown Blues of Drogheda by 1-7 to 1-4 they claimed that they had won the "final of Leinster" because Queens County or Kilkenny had not shown up for a final. But four days later the result was quashed. In 1897 they became Leinster champions for a week. A downpour caused Dublin to presume the Leinster final would not be played, Dublin went home, the referee awarded a walk-over to Wicklow. But the following meeting of the Central Council ordered the match to be replayed and Wicklow lost by 1-9 to 0-3.
A League semi-final in frostbound 1947 came about in bizarre fashion: Wicklow were picked to represent an unfinished group in which some of the teams had not yet played. In 1954 Wicklow were leading
MeathThe Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
by two points after sixty minutes of play but Meath were saved by the clock. Nine minutes of lost time had elapsed before Meath scored the winning point! After surviving the "long count" Meath went on to win the All-Ireland, and Wicklow lost their best player of the decade, John Timmons, to Dublin.
A near thing against Meath, just off their four-match with
DublinDublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in 1991 (Wicklow drew 0-12 to 1-9 and lost the replay by three points) heralded a great start to the 1990s. But Wicklow's only championship wins since were against Longford and Westmeath, and a 1996 League quarter-final appearance against Donegal their nearest to a breakthrough. Lying in wait for complacent opponents, particularly in Aughrim, for unsuspecting opposition has been the Wicklow trademark since. Exploits included a 1986 win over newly crowned League champions Laois at Aughrim, and a 1981 defeat by just two points against Dublin in the Leinster quarter-final, after a miracle save in the last minute by Dublin's goalkeeper - the Wicklow—born
John O'LearyJohn O'Leary is a Dublin-born Irish Gaelic footballer who played inter-county football for Dublin and club football for O'Dwyers. He is an area manager for Permanent TSB and has recently been a political candidate for Fianna Fáil in the constituency of Dublin North...
.
Wicklow's biggest achievement remains the
All-Ireland Senior Club Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
won by the
BaltinglassBaltinglass or Baltinglas is a town in south-west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the River Slaney near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road. Its Irish name means "the way of Conglas", Conglas being a member of the mythological warrior collective, the Fianna...
club in 1990.
Recent Championships
Their biggest Leinster Championship win, and first ever in Croke Park, coming against Kildare in 2008 and then narrowly losing to Laois in the quarter finals in Dr. Cullen Park. In 2009 O'Dwyer again guided Wicklow past the first round as they beat Longford 2-12 to 1-13 in Portlaoise.
Understandably, Wicklow had not won a senior championship game at
Croke ParkCroke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
until May 2008 . On 18 May 2008, under
Mick O'DwyerMick O'Dwyer , is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He played Gaelic football with his local club Waterville and was a member of the Kerry senior team from 1956 until 1974...
Wicklow beat a very poor
KildareFor 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 Croke Park, with a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-09.
Under the management of Hugh Kenny Wicklow lined out against Meath in the opening round of the 2004 Leinster Championship. They were playing exceptionally well and were leading
MeathThe Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
by 1-6 to 0-7 early in the second half when midfielder Ciaran Clancy was harshly sent off. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Wicklow who never recovered and were hammered 2-13 to 1-8.
Against
KildareFor 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 opening round of the 2005 Leinster Championship they came very close to a first win leading Kildare but unfortunately for Wicklow, the age old problem of not being able to close out a game surfaced, and they were ultimately beaten by 1-17 to 2-12.
Then in the opening round of the 2007 Leinster Championship under the management of the great
Mick O'DwyerMick O'Dwyer , is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He played Gaelic football with his local club Waterville and was a member of the Kerry senior team from 1956 until 1974...
Wicklow almost had a highly fancied
LouthThe Louth County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Louth GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Louth. The county board is also responsible for the Louth inter-county teams....
side beaten but a couple of late scores saved Louth from being Wicklow's first ever Croke Park victims on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-14. It then took Louth two replays to finish off Wicklow which they ultimately did in style back at Croke Park.
As Wicklow were a Division 4 team they were not permitted to enter the 2007 backdoor and so instead they entered the
Tommy Murphy CupThe Tommy Murphy Cup is a Gaelic football competition, featuring senior county teams elimainated from the early stages of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and also Kilkenny when not fielding a team in the main All-Ireland...
. Wicklow did very well in reaching the final where they faced
AntrimThe Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
at Croke Park. They won the match in dramatic fashion with a late Tommy Gill goal in extra time, securing the Wicklow senior footballers second ever national trophy, and first ever win in
Croke ParkCroke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. The following year after defeat to Laois in the Leinster Championship, Wicklow got to the final of the Tommy Murphy Cup again but lost to
AntrimThe Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
.
Wicklow Football Team
- Manager: Harry Murphy
-Rathnew:Murphy won Leinster club with Rathnew in 2001 and also led the Wicklow side to seven senior football county titles during his 12-year tenure, including an impressive four in a row from 2000-2003.-Wicklow:...
Squad as per Wicklow vs Kildare (Leinster Prelimery Round 2011)
All-Ireland
- Tommy Murphy Cup
The Tommy Murphy Cup is a Gaelic football competition, featuring senior county teams elimainated from the early stages of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and also Kilkenny when not fielding a team in the main All-Ireland...
- 2007The fourth Tommy Murphy Cup Gaelic football competition began on June 30, 2007. The competition is in knockout format: the eight teams relegated to the National Football League 2007 Division 4 compete, plus Kilkenny. The competition was won by Wicklow in a final that was forced into extra-time...
- All-Ireland SFC B 1992
- All-Ireland JFC
The All-Ireland Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association competition for junior gaelic football inter-county teams in Ireland. The definition of what constitutes a junior player differs from county to county. In some, the junior team is the second team after the senior team...
- 1936, 2002
- All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
1967, 1971
- All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship
The All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association football and hurling competition. There are two levels of competition. Individual schools compete for county, provincial and All-Ireland competitions...
Football 1974, 1983, 2006
- All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship is a hurling competition played between the strong hurling counties of Ireland. In some cases the teams consist of players who are not on the senior squads for their county , or in others of players who are from junior or intermediate clubs...
finalists in 1971
- All-Ireland Junior Ladies' Football Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Ladies' Football Championship is a "knockout" competition in the game of Ladies' Gaelic football played by women in Ireland...
1990, 2011
- All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
- Baltinglass 1990
Leinster
- 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...
finalists 1897, (Semi-finalists 14 times - last in 1995)
- Leinster Minor Football Championship
The Leinster Minor Football Championship is a Gaelic football "knockout" competition played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council. Each county in the province fields a team in the competition. The term "minor" is given to players who are...
1975
- Leinster Junior Football Championship
The Leinster Junior Football Championship is a junior "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council. The competition began in 1906, with Wicklow winning during the inaugural year. The...
1906, 1909, 1936, 1949, 1969, 2002
- O'Byrne Cup
The O'Byrne Cup is a Gaelic football competition organised by the Leinster GAA. The competition is named after Matt O'Byrne, a former Wicklow GAA club officer. Participants include the twelve county teams and four colleges. The O'Byrne Cup 2011 champions are Kildare, who beat Louth in the final by...
- 1955, 1957, 1986, 1996
Hurling
Wicklow hurlers' greatest achievement was a draw with
GalwayThe Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the 1971
National Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
. Only a late point from John Connolly saved Galway from defeat. Wicklow also won the
All-Ireland Junior Hurling ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
s in 1967 and 1971.
The Wicklow Senior Huling Championship 2007 consists of 7 clubs:
Carnew Emmets, Glenealy(2007 Champions),Kiltegan(2007 Finalist), St. Patricks Wicklow Town, Avondale, Kilcoole(2007 Billy Byrne Cup Winners) and Bray Emmets(Billy Byrne Cup Finalist). They have won the
Kehoe CupThe Kehoe Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1977 for inter-county and third-level hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The Kehoe Cup is named after Michael Kehoe , former GAA President and Chairman of...
7 times in 1989, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.
Wicklow have enjoyed a successful 2007 league campaign saw them beat all teams in their division including Laois, Carlow and Meath.
Roll of Honour
- All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship was an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association between 1974 and 2004 for the so-called 'weaker' hurling teams in Ireland....
: 1
- 2003
- All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
: 2
- 1967, 1971
- Leinster Junior Hurling Championship
The Leinster Junior Hurling Championship is a junior "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland...
: 5
- 1954, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1971
- Kehoe Cup
The Kehoe Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1977 for inter-county and third-level hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The Kehoe Cup is named after Michael Kehoe , former GAA President and Chairman of...
: 7
- 1989, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
- National Hurling League Div 3A: 1
- 2011
- National Hurling League Div 3B: 1
- 2010
Camogie
Wicklow was among the foundation members of the
Camogie AssociationThe Camogie Association organises and promotes the sport of camogie in Ireland and across the world. The Association has close ties with the Gaelic Athletic Association.-History:...
, several Bray members won All Ireland medals with Dublin, and the county supplied all the members of the Irish team that controversially competed in the 1924
Tailteann GamesThe Tailteann Games were an ancient sporting event held in Ireland in honour of the goddess Tailtiu. They ran from 632 BC to 1169-1171 AD when they died out after the Norman invasion....
.
Lucy Cullen-ByrneLucy Cullen-Byrne from Wicklow was the ninth president of the Camogie Association. She was born Lucy Florence Cullen in Rathmore, Ashford, Co Wicklow, daughter of Laurence Cullen, farmer, and Julia Cullen .-Activist:...
served as president of the
Camogie AssociationThe Camogie Association organises and promotes the sport of camogie in Ireland and across the world. The Association has close ties with the Gaelic Athletic Association.-History:...
). The county contested the Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup finals of 2008, 2009 and 2011. They won Division 5 of the National Camogie League in 2009. Avoca won the Caithlín Ní Thoimín Shield in 1979 and Kiltegan won the Coiste Chontae an Chláir Shield at
Féile na nGaelFéile na nGael , Irish for "Festival of the Gaels") is an annual tournament comprising the sports of hurling, camogie and handball organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association...
in 1999.
Under Camogie’s National Development Plan 2010-2015, “Our Game, Our Passion,” five new camogie clubs are to be established in the county by 2015.
Wicklow Schools GAA
There is a very strong emphasis on Gaelic games in schools in Wicklow, both primary and secondary schools. In almost all cases coaching is done on a voluntary basis by teachers who may have links to local GAA clubs.
In the Cumann na mBunscoil league for primary schools, St Cronan's BNS and St.Joseph's
NewtownmountkennedyNewtownmountkennedy is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It developed within the historic townland of Ballygarny . It is just off the N11 road to Wexford, just south of Kilpedder and south-west of Greystones. It is about north of Wicklow Town approximately from Dublin.The R772 regional road...
continue to be dominant forces in
Gaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
.
The county's Vocational Schools team has won 12 Leinster and 3 All-Ireland Championships, the last coming in 2006.
Ladies Gaelic Football
Ann McGillycuddy of Wicklow won the inaugural ladies' All-Ireland Kick Fada Championship in 2001.
External links