100 YEARS OF GAA HISTORY IN WEST CONNEMARA NAOMH FEICHIN AN CLOCHÁN 1912-2012 John D’arcy founded the town of Clifden on his ancestral estate in the year 1812 and the town celebrates it’s 200 birthday this year. The Clifden GAA club is one of the oldest clubs in Clifden. Gaelic football has been played in West Connemara, dating back as far as the 1800's, but there were no clubs, as we know them today. In those days it was town-lands or roads versus other town-lands or roads. The Clifden Town GAA club is one of the first clubs registered in Connemara, it dates back to the early 1900’s and perhaps even further, but no documentary evidence in relation to it is available. The main advantage that the club had in the early years was the train service, which existed between Clifden and Galway. Teams travelled to and from Clifden by train to play games. Records show that Clifden played Athenry (another train station town) in 1913. The first official club was formed at the beginning of 1912 under the name Clifden Shamrocks, its first secretary was Toby Joyce and the first Captain was P. K Joyce. In 1914 The Clifden Shamrocks team were the only senior team in the west and competed in one of the senior groups in North/East Galway. There are also records available that show a University College Galway team travelled to Clifden to play a game in 1912. GAA activity in the west Connemara area was dramatically curtailed from 1914 to the late 1920's due to the first world war, war of independence, and the civil war. When the Parish rule came into force in the late 1950's, the Omey Parish had just one Club, The Naomh Feichin GAA Club. The Omey Parish has a long and proud GAA history. County Representation A number of the players from this parish have represented Galway in both football and Hurling at different levels over the years. Jack Cosgrove played for Galway at all levels. He was the first Galway man to win an All Star in the full- back position. Michael King (1960) and John O Brien (2007) won All-Ireland Minor Football Medal with Galway. Lisa Cohill played for the club up to under 14's level, and then went on to win a senior All-Ireland medal with Galway for Ladies Football. Juvenile Section The juvenile section has worked hard in the Parish over the years and has put a lot of work into coaching the under-age teams. The most important Team in this Club at the moment is the Under 8's, {all 35 players} the most experienced coaches are coaching this age group at the present time. The Motto of this age group is to have fun. The coaches like to concentrated on three main areas, team building, skills development and supports andcommunications. The main skills of football, soloing, passing, kicking and catching, these skills are all learnt through different games. The Third is very simple everyone gets a game and a chance to wear the club Shirt. The Under-age coaches have learned over the last 10 years that winning a game at this level is not important, giving all the players a game is and the Club has gone from strength to strength as a result of adopting this motto, we have over 130 young players, boys and girls registered and participating in our games. Gaelic Football is now being played in the Clifden Community School and the Club are particularly happy with this development and Gaelic sports are now competing on a level playing pitch in West Connemara area. Naomh Feichin roll of honour: Senior Football Championship Titles: None 1912: PK Joyce was Captain; Dunmore beat Clifden Shamrocks in the semi-final. Intermediate County League Titles: One 1992: Willie Mc Donagh Captain. Junior Football Championship County titles: Seven 1950: Micko Collins Captain 1953: Peadar O’Toole Captain 1957: Sean Bartley Captain 1977: Pat King Captain 1986: Willie McDonagh Captain 2006: Tomas King Captain BY ANN MITCHELL Mongan Cup Team 1948 Back row l to r: Paddy Hynes, Fr. Ned Stankard, Fr. Stevie Ludden, Tom Summers, Miko Collins, Joe Gibbons, Francie Mannion. Front row l to r: Joe Conneely, Ulick Joyce, Sean Mannion, Paraic Joyce, Frank Casey, Paddy Joe Conroy, Peadar O’Toole Clifden 1938. Back Row: Peter Joyce Goalkeeper, A Another, Packie Conneely, Paddy Gallagher, Dick Harley. Front Row: Peter Carvey, John Hehir, Stephan Hehir, Marty Mc Grath, John Conroy 88
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