Ballyboden Wanderers
Encyclopedia
Wanderers are a small Gaelic Athletic Association
club located in Ballyboden
, Dublin, Ireland
.
in the grounds of Scoil Eanna, Grange Road Rathfarnham
. The club won the inaugural Dublin Junior Football Championship
in 1928.
The club disbanded in 1932 and while there some fixtures played in the intervening years, it was not officially reformed until 1961. After winning the Dublin Junior Football Championship
in 1968, under the captaincy of Seán Doherty, the Ballyboden
Club amalgamated with Rathfarnham St. Enda's in order to join the senior ranks under the name Ballyboden St. Enda's
In 1980, a group of breakaway members formed Wanderers. Since then, the club has gone from strength to strength, now fielding 4 very successful football teams, catering for anyone between the ages of 8 and adulthood. The club boasts 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) of ground incorporating two playing pitches, and a training area at the panoramic Frank Kelly Park, which was officially opened by former Dublin County Secretary, Mr. Jim King (R.I.P.) in 1991.
The turning of the first sod of their new clubhouse development, which was performed by Minister Tom Kitt
in March 1998, heralded a new era for our club. The clubhouse was officially opened early in 1999.
In 2006 Wanderers opened the latest phase of their development. This included a meeting room and a weights room.
Sean Doherty who is now a club trustee is perhaps our most famous member. Having captained us to Junior Championship victory in 1968, Sean later captained Heffo's Army to two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
s. He now owns a bar and restaurant adjacent to our grounds at Rockbrook, Rathfarnham. Many G.A.A. members visit the hostelry, which displays many relics and memorabilia from the decade of the Dubs.
Jim Mannion our former club chairman played inter-county senior football for his native Galway, and was a member of the all-conquering Dunmore McHales
club before he won a Dublin Junior Championship with Ballyboden Wanderers in 1968. Jim is currently club treasurer.
Jim Kearns who is a nephew of Frank Kelly, has been synonymous with our club since 1961. He was a member of the executive committee all his life and has worked tirelessly as secretary for many years. Jim was club treasurer at the time of his death in September 2006
The new crest features the Whitechurch Carnegie Library at Taylor's Lane. The Library was built in 1910 and has been synonymous with the club ever since. Generations of Wanderers players have assembled outside the library before matches, while the club committee has met there every Thursday for many years prior to the opening of our oun clubhouse. Many club social events including card-playing, Irish-dancing and quizzes have also been hosted there. The Hell Fire Club at the summit of Mount Pelier is in the backdrop, while the blue coloured foreground symbolises the Owendoher and Little Dargle River which are boundaries of the Ballyboden parish. The triangular shape of the crest is significant as it symbolises a modern club built on strong foundations, embracing all sections of the local community and striving for the summit of Dublin Football. It mirrors the G.A.A. Coaching Emblem, which is considered a high priority in the club. And of course triangles are very prominent in the elevation of the Carnegie Library and the club's new social centre at Frank Kelly Park.
Here we have two playing pitches, a training ground, and a new 250 square metre clubhouse.
The club also use pitches at Scoil Mhuire school, Ballyboden.
Dublin AFL Conlon cup 3
Dublin AFL Div 5 (Junior 2)
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 located in Ballyboden
Ballyboden
Ballyboden is a locality within the suburb of Rathfarnham in South Dublin, at the foot of the Dublin mountains between Whitechurch, Ballyroan and Knocklyon....
, Dublin, 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,...
.
Background
Ballyboden Wanderers G.A.A. Club was founded in 1910. They played their first match against Clanna Gael Fontenoys in April 1910. The match was played by permission of Padraig Mac PiaraisPatrick Pearse
Patrick Henry Pearse was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916...
in the grounds of Scoil Eanna, Grange Road Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
. The club won the inaugural Dublin Junior Football Championship
Dublin Junior Football Championship
The Dublin Junior Football championship is the Junior Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic football competition of Dublin. The winners of the Junior championship go on to qualify for the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship. The winners will also represent Dublin in the Leinster Junior Club...
in 1928.
The club disbanded in 1932 and while there some fixtures played in the intervening years, it was not officially reformed until 1961. After winning the Dublin Junior Football Championship
Dublin Junior Football Championship
The Dublin Junior Football championship is the Junior Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic football competition of Dublin. The winners of the Junior championship go on to qualify for the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship. The winners will also represent Dublin in the Leinster Junior Club...
in 1968, under the captaincy of Seán Doherty, the Ballyboden
Ballyboden
Ballyboden is a locality within the suburb of Rathfarnham in South Dublin, at the foot of the Dublin mountains between Whitechurch, Ballyroan and Knocklyon....
Club amalgamated with Rathfarnham St. Enda's in order to join the senior ranks under the name Ballyboden St. Enda's
In 1980, a group of breakaway members formed Wanderers. Since then, the club has gone from strength to strength, now fielding 4 very successful football teams, catering for anyone between the ages of 8 and adulthood. The club boasts 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) of ground incorporating two playing pitches, and a training area at the panoramic Frank Kelly Park, which was officially opened by former Dublin County Secretary, Mr. Jim King (R.I.P.) in 1991.
Major Events In The Club's History
The opening of Frank Kelly Park in 1991 was an important milestone in the club's development. It was also very significant because it occurred while our eminent Club President Frank Kelly was still alive, making our grounds the first to be dedicated in tribute to a living member of the association. This was clearly in breach of the official GAA Rules but did we care? Frank had given a lifetime of service to the club. He went to his eternal rest in 1995.The turning of the first sod of their new clubhouse development, which was performed by Minister Tom Kitt
Tom Kitt
Tom Kitt is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He served as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency from 1987 to 2011. He also served as Government Chief Whip from 2004–08.-Early and private life:...
in March 1998, heralded a new era for our club. The clubhouse was officially opened early in 1999.
In 2006 Wanderers opened the latest phase of their development. This included a meeting room and a weights room.
Eminent Members
Frank Kelly was the father of Wanderers. He was held in such high esteem by all of the members, that the grounds were named after him. Frank was noted for his kindness and thoughtfulness, and used to provide all members with home grown shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day.Sean Doherty who is now a club trustee is perhaps our most famous member. Having captained us to Junior Championship victory in 1968, Sean later captained Heffo's Army to two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
s. He now owns a bar and restaurant adjacent to our grounds at Rockbrook, Rathfarnham. Many G.A.A. members visit the hostelry, which displays many relics and memorabilia from the decade of the Dubs.
Jim Mannion our former club chairman played inter-county senior football for his native Galway, and was a member of the all-conquering Dunmore McHales
Dunmore McHales
Dunmore MacHales is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of Galway GAA. Teams at underage level and Senior play in the Galway League and Championships....
club before he won a Dublin Junior Championship with Ballyboden Wanderers in 1968. Jim is currently club treasurer.
Jim Kearns who is a nephew of Frank Kelly, has been synonymous with our club since 1961. He was a member of the executive committee all his life and has worked tirelessly as secretary for many years. Jim was club treasurer at the time of his death in September 2006
Jersey Colours
The club has a distinctive black jersey with a red band, black shorts and black socks with red and white trimmings. The club's alternative jersey is red with a black band. The club tracksuit is black with red and white trimmings.Club Crest
Catchment Area
The vast majority of the club's 600 members were born or reside in Ballyboden, which is a large parish at the foothills of the Dublin mountains. All of the club's juvenile players attend the local primary and secondary schools. While the club has concentrated mainly on the promotion of gaelic football, with considerable success at juvenile level, members are also involved in many social and cultural activities, as the club has become a focal point for the community.Location and Buildings
The club's headquarters are at Frank Kelly Park, Mount Venus Road, Rockbrook, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16;Here we have two playing pitches, a training ground, and a new 250 square metre clubhouse.
The club also use pitches at Scoil Mhuire school, Ballyboden.
Current teams
- Junior A men's
- Junior B men's.
- Junior ladies.
- U9s boys / girls.
- U11s boys / girls.
Adult
- Dublin Junior Football ChampionshipDublin Junior Football ChampionshipThe Dublin Junior Football championship is the Junior Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic football competition of Dublin. The winners of the Junior championship go on to qualify for the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship. The winners will also represent Dublin in the Leinster Junior Club...
s: 2- 1928, 1968
Dublin AFL Conlon cup 3
-
- 1967,1999,2002, 2011
Dublin AFL Div 5 (Junior 2)
-
- 2005.
- Dublin AFL DIV 12 (Junior 9)
- 2009.
- Dublin Ladies Junior E Football Championship: 1
- 2008