Clontarf RFC
Encyclopedia
Clontarf Football Club. Having played firstly in a field at the bottom of Vernon Avenue, then on a site currently used by Dublin Bus
as a Depot., the club moved to its present location in 1896 and celebrated 100 years at Castle Avenue in 1996. The Bull Emblem used in the logo is that of the district - Cluain Tarbh, translates, The Field of the Bull. The Red and Blue colours are used by most sporting clubs in the Parish.
The minutes of early club meetings show that the members used the Boat Club premises as changing rooms and that goal posts were erected each Saturday morning and taken down after the match. The Club was also approached by a local group who wished to play Gaelic Football
on Sundays and it was agreed to make the pitch available provided the footballers dismantled the goalposts after their matches.
In 1902-03 Clontarf was admitted to Senior Ranks - Leinster League - and in the following year reached the final of the Leinster Club Senior Cup
but were beaten by Landsdowne one goal (5 points) to one try (3 points).
Since 1896 the grounds at Castle Avenue have been jointly occupied by the Clontarf Cricket Club and Football Club. Until 1947 both games were played on the same ground, the wicket was fenced off in the winter. In 1982 following a disastrous fire which destroyed the bar and lounge an agreement was reached between both clubs to go their separate ways, each club was provided with separate premises and the use of a common main bar and hall for each clubs season.
The official Club title is Clontarf Football Club rather than Clontarf Rugby Football Club. The explanation for this gives an insight into the rich history of the club - the club was formed before the establishment of the Irish Rugby Union. One of the clubs finest hours was the defeat of Athletic Rugby Football Club from New Zealand in 1966. It was the only defeat during their world tour. Among the teams played were Blackheath from England and Cardiff of Wales. Athletic was captained by I.N. McEwan. This win is still regarded as one of Clontarf's greatest rugby feats.
Other highlights of the Club's history include the winning of the Leinster Club Senior Cup
in 1936 a feat which was to elude Clontarf teams for another 63 years until the much sought after cup was returned to Castle Avenue in April 1999. However, the intervening years were not without success as various teams representing the Club won leagues and cups in the 1940s, 1950's, 1960's and 1970s. But it has been the last two decades of the Millennium that have witnessed some of Clontarf's proudest moments with the winning of the Leinster Floodlight Competition in 1989, 1990,1997 and 1998, the All Ireland Floodlight Competition in 1990 and the All Ireland League Division II in 1996/97. Since attaining Division 1status in 1997, Clontarf has maintained its position as one of the top twelve Clubs in Ireland. It has reached three All Ireland League division one finals, two of them to record winners Shannon
.
In May 2009, Bernard Jackman
was appointed Director of Rugby and forwards coach.
The club has had a close association with the local St. Paul's,Mount Temple, Belvedere and Blackrock Colleges for many years. The Clontarf club also has a strong active social committee, annual swimming competition, golf outings, race nights are popular with members.
.jpg)
< in the final. They were also a runner-up in the J1 Section A league, and runners-up in the J4 league. The J2 team won the J2 section B gaining promotion to J2 section A.
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus is a public transport operator in Ireland. It operates an extensive bus network of 172 radial, cross-city and peripheral routes and 18 night routes in the city of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area. The company, established in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann which is...
as a Depot., the club moved to its present location in 1896 and celebrated 100 years at Castle Avenue in 1996. The Bull Emblem used in the logo is that of the district - Cluain Tarbh, translates, The Field of the Bull. The Red and Blue colours are used by most sporting clubs in the Parish.
History
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
on Sundays and it was agreed to make the pitch available provided the footballers dismantled the goalposts after their matches.
In 1902-03 Clontarf was admitted to Senior Ranks - Leinster League - and in the following year reached the final of the Leinster Club Senior Cup
Leinster Club Senior Cup
The Leinster Senior Cup is a major rugby competition in Ireland.The Leinster Senior Cup has been competed for by the strongest clubs in the province of Leinster since 1882...
but were beaten by Landsdowne one goal (5 points) to one try (3 points).
Since 1896 the grounds at Castle Avenue have been jointly occupied by the Clontarf Cricket Club and Football Club. Until 1947 both games were played on the same ground, the wicket was fenced off in the winter. In 1982 following a disastrous fire which destroyed the bar and lounge an agreement was reached between both clubs to go their separate ways, each club was provided with separate premises and the use of a common main bar and hall for each clubs season.
The official Club title is Clontarf Football Club rather than Clontarf Rugby Football Club. The explanation for this gives an insight into the rich history of the club - the club was formed before the establishment of the Irish Rugby Union. One of the clubs finest hours was the defeat of Athletic Rugby Football Club from New Zealand in 1966. It was the only defeat during their world tour. Among the teams played were Blackheath from England and Cardiff of Wales. Athletic was captained by I.N. McEwan. This win is still regarded as one of Clontarf's greatest rugby feats.
Other highlights of the Club's history include the winning of the Leinster Club Senior Cup
Leinster Club Senior Cup
The Leinster Senior Cup is a major rugby competition in Ireland.The Leinster Senior Cup has been competed for by the strongest clubs in the province of Leinster since 1882...
in 1936 a feat which was to elude Clontarf teams for another 63 years until the much sought after cup was returned to Castle Avenue in April 1999. However, the intervening years were not without success as various teams representing the Club won leagues and cups in the 1940s, 1950's, 1960's and 1970s. But it has been the last two decades of the Millennium that have witnessed some of Clontarf's proudest moments with the winning of the Leinster Floodlight Competition in 1989, 1990,1997 and 1998, the All Ireland Floodlight Competition in 1990 and the All Ireland League Division II in 1996/97. Since attaining Division 1status in 1997, Clontarf has maintained its position as one of the top twelve Clubs in Ireland. It has reached three All Ireland League division one finals, two of them to record winners Shannon
Shannon RFC
Shannon Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby union team from Ireland, they hail from Limerick near the banks of the Shannon river. The club is a member of the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch and as one of the top amateur sides in Ireland has seen many of its players progress to...
.
In May 2009, Bernard Jackman
Bernard Jackman
Bernard Jackman is an Irish former rugby union player who played for Leinster. At international level, he has also played for Ireland.-Early career:...
was appointed Director of Rugby and forwards coach.
In the community
On a local level the club runs a " Mini" rugby team and Youth Rugby is of large importance to the Clontarf Club who have invested a lot of time and energy in this section. The club has swept the boards of Mini Rugby over recent seasons in home and international competitions.The club has had a close association with the local St. Paul's,Mount Temple, Belvedere and Blackrock Colleges for many years. The Clontarf club also has a strong active social committee, annual swimming competition, golf outings, race nights are popular with members.
Teams
Clontarf have teams from senior level down as young as under-8. At senior level there are five teams, the firsts play in the AIL Division 1, while the rest of the senior teams play in the Leinster Metropolitan Leagues. In 2007/2008 the first team won the Leinster League cup beating St Mary's CollegeSt Mary's College RFC
St. Mary's College Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1900 by former pupils of St. Mary's College, Dublin and was originally known as Old St. Mary's. They club won the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time in 1958...
< in the final. They were also a runner-up in the J1 Section A league, and runners-up in the J4 league. The J2 team won the J2 section B gaining promotion to J2 section A.
2010/11 Squad
- Full-backs: Philly Howard, Daragh O'Shea, Colin Murphy, Brua David
- Wings: Michael McGrath, Michael Keating, Sean MacKay,
- Centres: Evan Ryan, Conor Keegan, Killian Lett, Justin Wilson, Colm O'Shea
- Out-halves: Martin Dufficy, Noel Reid
- Scrum-halves: Hugo Nolan, Paul O'DonohoePaul O'DonohoePaul O'Donohoe is a professional rugby union player. O'Donohoe plays at scrum half for Connacht Rugby after signing from Leinster Rugby in the Summer of 2011...
, Sam Cronin, Erwann Legendre - Front-rows: Ben Barclay, Tadhg Furlong, Cian HealyCian HealyCian Healy born 7 October 1987 in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland, is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Leinster and for the Ireland national team. He is registered to Clontarf RFC who play in AIB League Division 1...
, Ciaran Kavanagh, Niall Treston, Johnny Wickham - Hookers: Turlough Considine, Aaron Dundon, Jason Harris-Wright, Jonathan Larbey,
- Second-rows: Ben Gissing, Ben Reilly, Conor O'Keefe, Mick Kearney, Eoghan Browne
- Wing-forwards: Simon Crawford, Eoin Cremin, Ross McAuley, Sean O'BrienSean O'Brien (rugby player)Sean Kevin O'Brien is an Irish professional rugby union player from Carlow, Ireland. He plays provincial rugby for Leinster and club rugby for Clontarf RFC....
, Barry O'Mahoney - Number 8s: Martin Garvey, Paddy Mallon, Phil Purdue, Stephen Boyle