County Carlow Football Club
Encyclopedia
County Carlow Football Club is a rugby
club in Carlow
, County Carlow
, Ireland
. The club was founded in October 1873, and is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland. As was usual in the days preceding the development of Gaelic Football and Soccer and prior to the foundation of the Rugby Football Union, the earlier clubs were known simply as Football Clubs with no mention of rugby in the title. The Co. Carlow club was formed, therefore, (and is correctly known) as "Co. Carlow Football Club." Other clubs with this distinction include Dublin University FC
- founded in 1854; Queen's University
(1869); Wanderers FC (1870); Lansdowne FC (1872) and Garryowen FC
(1884).
, Laois
and Carlow
was a keen sportsman of the time. He was also the founder of the County Carlow Cricket Club in 1831, and the founder and first secretary of the All Ireland Polo Club in the Phoenix Park
, Dublin, in 1873, having founded the County Carlow Polo Club in 1872.
Co. Carlow Football Club played unofficially for the first 25 years of its existence, with Trinity (Dublin University
), Wanderers and Kingstown providing the most frequent early opposition. Fixtures with Bective
and Lansdowne were recorded in the 1880s, and in the late '80's the formation of Athy
, Baltinglass, Carlow College and Portarlington College provided an alternative opposition to the Dublin clubs and heralded the early days of provincial rugby.
Affiliation of Co. Carlow FC to the Leinster Branch
of the IRFU
was achieved on the 1st December 1899 when it was proposed by T.Thornhill of Wanderers and seconded by J.B. Moore of Lansdowne. Hence the club became eligible to compete in the Leinster Junior Challenge Cup
, which they won in 1904, becoming the first provincial club to do so. Co. Carlow FC won the Junior Cup on four subsequent occasions before the competition was restructured to become the Provincial Towns Cup
in 1926.
Co. Carlow FC have appeared in 16 finals of the Provincial Towns Cup
and were victorious on 12 occasions - (the most appearances and the most wins by any club). In 1997, they became the first club ever to achieve the Provincial Cup and League double. The Provincial League win of that year earned them a place in the All Ireland Round Robin qualifier competition with Midleton
(Munster), Connemara (Connaught) and Omagh Academicals (Ulster). Co. Carlow won the play off, and became a senior club for the first time in its history for the 1997/1998 season.
In 1997/1998 - their first season as a senior club - Co. Carlow FC won Division 4 of the All Ireland League
. Promotion to Division 2 was achieved two years later, and by the end of the 2000/2001 season they attained Division 1 status, finishing second in Division 2 to UCD.
Historically, Co. Carlow FC won the Leinster Senior Cup
in 2003, becoming the only club to have won both the Provincial Towns Cup
and the Leinster Senior Cup
. The win in 2003 was also the first time in the 120 year history of the competition that the Leinster Senior Cup
was won by a non-Dublin club. This historic win was repeated in 2004 when Co. Carlow FC recorded back to back wins, beating DLS Palmerston
in the final on both occasions.
Co. Carlow FC played for 5 consecutive seasons in Division 1 but were relegated to Division 2 for the 2006/2007 season and subsequently to Division 3
for the 2007/2008 season. The club currently plays in Division 1A of the Leinster Senior League.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club in Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The club was founded in October 1873, and is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland. As was usual in the days preceding the development of Gaelic Football and Soccer and prior to the foundation of the Rugby Football Union, the earlier clubs were known simply as Football Clubs with no mention of rugby in the title. The Co. Carlow club was formed, therefore, (and is correctly known) as "Co. Carlow Football Club." Other clubs with this distinction include Dublin University FC
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
- founded in 1854; Queen's University
Queen's University RFC
Queen's University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of Queen's University Belfast. Founded in 1869, it is the second oldest rugby union club in Northern Ireland . They originally played as Queen's College, Belfast and have won the Ulster Senior Cup a record 21 times...
(1869); Wanderers FC (1870); Lansdowne FC (1872) and Garryowen FC
Garryowen Football Club
Garryowen Football Club , usually referred to as Garryowen, is a rugby union club from Limerick, Ireland. Historically it has been one of the most successful clubs in Irish rugby union leagues.-Name:...
(1884).
History
The Club was constituted at a meeting in The Club House Hotel, Carlow in October 1873. It was to be known as the Co. Carlow Football Club. The founder, Colonel Horace Rochfort of Clogrennan, Co. Carlow, was elected the first president. The club colours were registered as black and amber. Colonel Rochfort, a landowner of approximately 3000 acres (12.1 km²) in DublinCounty Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
and Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
was a keen sportsman of the time. He was also the founder of the County Carlow Cricket Club in 1831, and the founder and first secretary of the All Ireland Polo Club in the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
, Dublin, in 1873, having founded the County Carlow Polo Club in 1872.
Co. Carlow Football Club played unofficially for the first 25 years of its existence, with Trinity (Dublin University
Dublin University Football Club
Dublin University Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
), Wanderers and Kingstown providing the most frequent early opposition. Fixtures with Bective
Bective Rangers
Bective Rangers is a rugby union club in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1881.The Club is affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union and play in Division 2 of the All Ireland League....
and Lansdowne were recorded in the 1880s, and in the late '80's the formation of Athy
Athy Rugby Club
Athy Rugby Football Club was founded in 1880 and plays its home games at The Showgrounds, Athy, County Kildare. The club currently play in Leinster League Division 2B of the Leinster League and field a 1st, 2nd and 3rd XV's as well as a U19's and youth teams from U17's to U6's. The club also...
, Baltinglass, Carlow College and Portarlington College provided an alternative opposition to the Dublin clubs and heralded the early days of provincial rugby.
Affiliation of Co. Carlow FC to the Leinster Branch
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
of the IRFU
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
was achieved on the 1st December 1899 when it was proposed by T.Thornhill of Wanderers and seconded by J.B. Moore of Lansdowne. Hence the club became eligible to compete in the Leinster Junior Challenge Cup
Leinster Junior Challenge Cup
The Leinster Junior Challenge Cup was the forerunner of the Leinster Towns Cup.It was established as a competition for clubs below senior level who were affiliated to the Leinster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union...
, which they won in 1904, becoming the first provincial club to do so. Co. Carlow FC won the Junior Cup on four subsequent occasions before the competition was restructured to become the Provincial Towns Cup
Leinster Towns Cup
The Provincial Towns Cup is one of the oldest trophies in existence in Irish rugby union.It was purchased in 1892 for £25 from Wests in Dublin. The cup bears the title of Leinster Junior Challenge Cup, but is not as old the competition itself, which was established in 1888.In 1925, the Leinster...
in 1926.
Co. Carlow FC have appeared in 16 finals of the Provincial Towns Cup
Leinster Towns Cup
The Provincial Towns Cup is one of the oldest trophies in existence in Irish rugby union.It was purchased in 1892 for £25 from Wests in Dublin. The cup bears the title of Leinster Junior Challenge Cup, but is not as old the competition itself, which was established in 1888.In 1925, the Leinster...
and were victorious on 12 occasions - (the most appearances and the most wins by any club). In 1997, they became the first club ever to achieve the Provincial Cup and League double. The Provincial League win of that year earned them a place in the All Ireland Round Robin qualifier competition with Midleton
Midleton RFC
Midleton RFC is an Irish rugby union club that currently plays in Division 2 of the All-Ireland League.-History:The club was originally founded in the 1927/28 season, but disbanded in 1934. Midleton RFC was reformed on 4 March 1967.more famous ex players include Tom Mulcahy, Gary Johnson, Ian...
(Munster), Connemara (Connaught) and Omagh Academicals (Ulster). Co. Carlow won the play off, and became a senior club for the first time in its history for the 1997/1998 season.
In 1997/1998 - their first season as a senior club - Co. Carlow FC won Division 4 of the All Ireland League
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
. Promotion to Division 2 was achieved two years later, and by the end of the 2000/2001 season they attained Division 1 status, finishing second in Division 2 to UCD.
Historically, Co. Carlow FC won the Leinster 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 2003, becoming the only club to have won both the Provincial Towns Cup
Leinster Towns Cup
The Provincial Towns Cup is one of the oldest trophies in existence in Irish rugby union.It was purchased in 1892 for £25 from Wests in Dublin. The cup bears the title of Leinster Junior Challenge Cup, but is not as old the competition itself, which was established in 1888.In 1925, the Leinster...
and the Leinster 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...
. The win in 2003 was also the first time in the 120 year history of the competition that the Leinster 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...
was won by a non-Dublin club. This historic win was repeated in 2004 when Co. Carlow FC recorded back to back wins, beating DLS Palmerston
De La Salle Palmerston
De La Salle Palmerston FC is an Irish rugby team. The senior team currently play in Division 2 of the All-Ireland League. The senior side had a short spell in Division 1 starting in the 1998-99 season...
in the final on both occasions.
Co. Carlow FC played for 5 consecutive seasons in Division 1 but were relegated to Division 2 for the 2006/2007 season and subsequently to Division 3
AIB Division Three
The AIB Division Three is a rugby union league in Ireland.-Past winners:-Current Teams:*Ards*Banbridge*Barnhall*Connemara*Corinthians*County Carlow*Midleton*Naas*Nenagh Ormond*Old Wesley*Portadown*Queen's University*Rainey Old Boys...
for the 2007/2008 season. The club currently plays in Division 1A of the Leinster Senior League.
Club honours
- Leinster Senior CupLeinster Club Senior CupThe 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...
(2) 2003, 2004
- AIB LeagueAIB LeagueThe Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
Division 4 (1) 1998
- Navan 10-a-side (1) 2002
- Leinster Junior Challenge CupLeinster Junior Challenge CupThe Leinster Junior Challenge Cup was the forerunner of the Leinster Towns Cup.It was established as a competition for clubs below senior level who were affiliated to the Leinster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union...
(5) 1904, 1912, 1913, 1919, 1922
- Provincial Towns CupLeinster Towns CupThe Provincial Towns Cup is one of the oldest trophies in existence in Irish rugby union.It was purchased in 1892 for £25 from Wests in Dublin. The cup bears the title of Leinster Junior Challenge Cup, but is not as old the competition itself, which was established in 1888.In 1925, the Leinster...
(12) 1929, 1931, 1933, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997
- Provincial Towns Plate (4) 1964, 1968, 1971, 1973
- South East Cup (8) 1975, 1976, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996
- IRFU Award Top Club in Leinster 1993
- IRFU Award Top non-league club in Ireland 1997