Edmonton Wolfe Tones
Encyclopedia
The Edmonton Wolfe Tones are a Gaelic football
club based in Edmonton, AB, Canada. They play during the summer months with a very active and vibrant group of people involved. The Wolfe Tones are members of Western Divisional Board
of the Canadian County Board
of the Gaelic Athletic Association
.
Jack Bell
played senior football for Louth
and emigrated to Edmonton
in 1956. Louth
went on to win the All-Ireland in 1957 and Bell took on the role of Gaelic football missionary in Edmonton. Bell, who was named to the Irish Millennium Gaelic All-Star team, formed a team in Edmonton, which folded after a few years due to lack of competition. At that time, a team would have to travel several thousand miles to compete. Jack Bell died on March 23, 2010.
In 1975, Christy Whelehan from Westmeath was responsible for the second coming of Gaelic football
with the modern day Wolfe Tones. Christy’s stewardship guided the team through the good and bad years and he still wears the team jersey with pride.
Gerry Muldoon, from Tyrone
, is another notable and influential figure for the club in the 90's & early part of the new Millennium. Karen Hansen & Ultan Peters have staged a sort of young player revolution, and their efforts & contributions have led to the Wolfe Tones club leading in terms of participation in the Games in the West in recent years, and, also, in helping the Ladies team dominate in the Championships.
The Wolfe Tones compete every year in the Western Canadian Championships
in both Men's & Ladies Gaelic football.
The men's team has been very close to victory in the Championship
on 2 occasions. In the 2004, they drew twice with the eventual winners, the Calgary Chieftains
, and in 2006, were beaten in the final game of the Championship by the Vancouver Harps
, who went on to win on points difference.
In 2009 the Wolfe Tones secured the Western Canadian Championship for the first time under the current format and the first Western Championship overall since 1991. The 2nd round of the competition took place in Edmonton on July 25. Edmonton defeated the Vancouver Harps 3-7 to 1-4 in the Semi-Final setting up a final featuring the Wolfe Tones and the Calgary Chieftains. During the final Calgary took an early lead and continued to control the match until a Chieftains player was sent off in the second half; from that point the Wolfe Tones carried the majority of the play. The Edmonton club staged a dramatic late comeback including two goals and a two late scores to secure a narrow one point victory, 2-4 to 0-9.
The Edmonton Ladies are one of the most successful teams in the Western Divisional Board, having won three Championships in 2004, 2005, 2006.
Edmonton Ladies have dominated their own Tournaments, often fielding more than one team. However the only blips on their impressive home record have come in 2001, 2007 & 2009 when Vancouver's Ladies were victorious.
Edmonton Men, to their dismay, have endured some Calgary victories on home soil. Vancouver Harps have also won the Edmonton tournament on their last two visits to the Albertan Capital.
Edmonton however have always been the leaders in terms of numbers of players, consistently field 2 teams at the home tournaments, and in 2004, notably, playing 3 Men's teams and 2 Ladies teams. Fort McMurray also fielded a team at the 2004 tournament.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club based in Edmonton, AB, Canada. They play during the summer months with a very active and vibrant group of people involved. The Wolfe Tones are members of Western Divisional Board
Western Divisional Board
The Western Canada Divisional Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is part of the Canadian County Board and is responsible for Gaelic Games in Western Canada. The county board is also responsible for the football, hurling, camogie and Ladies' Gaelic football, known collectively as Gaelic games...
of the Canadian County Board
Canada GAA
The Canadian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Canada GAA, is one of the county boards of the GAA outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games all across Canada. The county board is also responsible for Canadian inter county teams-History:Gaelic games have been played...
of the Gaelic Athletic Association
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...
.
Jack Bell
Jack Bell
John Bell was an early Scottish football player and manager. He was instrumental in organising the Association Footballers' Union in February 1898....
played senior football for Louth
Louth GAA
The 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....
and emigrated to Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
in 1956. Louth
Louth GAA
The 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....
went on to win the All-Ireland in 1957 and Bell took on the role of Gaelic football missionary in Edmonton. Bell, who was named to the Irish Millennium Gaelic All-Star team, formed a team in Edmonton, which folded after a few years due to lack of competition. At that time, a team would have to travel several thousand miles to compete. Jack Bell died on March 23, 2010.
In 1975, Christy Whelehan from Westmeath was responsible for the second coming of Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with the modern day Wolfe Tones. Christy’s stewardship guided the team through the good and bad years and he still wears the team jersey with pride.
Gerry Muldoon, from Tyrone
Tyrone
The name Tyrone can refer to:*County Tyrone, a county in Northern Ireland, roughly corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Tír Eogain*An Earl of Tyrone*A small steam train which runs between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland-Places:...
, is another notable and influential figure for the club in the 90's & early part of the new Millennium. Karen Hansen & Ultan Peters have staged a sort of young player revolution, and their efforts & contributions have led to the Wolfe Tones club leading in terms of participation in the Games in the West in recent years, and, also, in helping the Ladies team dominate in the Championships.
The Wolfe Tones compete every year in the Western Canadian Championships
Western Canadian Championships
The Western Canadian Championship is a Gaelic football championship tournament of the Western Divisional Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, played every year in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada...
in both Men's & Ladies Gaelic football.
The men's team has been very close to victory in the Championship
Western Canadian Championships
The Western Canadian Championship is a Gaelic football championship tournament of the Western Divisional Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, played every year in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada...
on 2 occasions. In the 2004, they drew twice with the eventual winners, the Calgary Chieftains
Calgary Chieftains
The Calgary Chieftains are an Gaelic football club based in Calgary, Canada. They play at the Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club grounds and are members of Western Divisional Board of the Canadian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association....
, and in 2006, were beaten in the final game of the Championship by the Vancouver Harps
Vancouver Harps
The Vancouver Harps are a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Vancouver, Canada. They club represents the Vancouver Irish Sporting & Social Club...
, who went on to win on points difference.
In 2009 the Wolfe Tones secured the Western Canadian Championship for the first time under the current format and the first Western Championship overall since 1991. The 2nd round of the competition took place in Edmonton on July 25. Edmonton defeated the Vancouver Harps 3-7 to 1-4 in the Semi-Final setting up a final featuring the Wolfe Tones and the Calgary Chieftains. During the final Calgary took an early lead and continued to control the match until a Chieftains player was sent off in the second half; from that point the Wolfe Tones carried the majority of the play. The Edmonton club staged a dramatic late comeback including two goals and a two late scores to secure a narrow one point victory, 2-4 to 0-9.
The Edmonton Ladies are one of the most successful teams in the Western Divisional Board, having won three Championships in 2004, 2005, 2006.
Edmonton Tournament - Roll of Honour
| Season | Ladies | Men's |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Wolfe Tones | Wolfe Tones |
| 2009 | Harps Vancouver Harps The Vancouver Harps are a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Vancouver, Canada. They club represents the Vancouver Irish Sporting & Social Club... |
Wolfe Tones |
| 2008 | Wolfe Tones | Chieftains Calgary Chieftains The Calgary Chieftains are an Gaelic football club based in Calgary, Canada. They play at the Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club grounds and are members of Western Divisional Board of the Canadian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.... |
| 2007 | Harps Vancouver Harps The Vancouver Harps are a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Vancouver, Canada. They club represents the Vancouver Irish Sporting & Social Club... |
Harps Vancouver Harps The Vancouver Harps are a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Vancouver, Canada. They club represents the Vancouver Irish Sporting & Social Club... |
| 2006 | Wolfe Tones | Chieftains Calgary Chieftains The Calgary Chieftains are an Gaelic football club based in Calgary, Canada. They play at the Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club grounds and are members of Western Divisional Board of the Canadian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.... |
| 2005 | Wolfe Tones | Harps Vancouver Harps The Vancouver Harps are a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Vancouver, Canada. They club represents the Vancouver Irish Sporting & Social Club... |
| 2004 | Wolfe Tones | Wolfe Tones |
| 2003 | Wolfe Tones | Chieftains Calgary Chieftains The Calgary Chieftains are an Gaelic football club based in Calgary, Canada. They play at the Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club grounds and are members of Western Divisional Board of the Canadian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association.... |
| 2002 | Wolfe Tones | Wolfe Tones |
| 2001 | Harps Vancouver Harps The Vancouver Harps are a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Vancouver, Canada. They club represents the Vancouver Irish Sporting & Social Club... |
Wolfe Tones |
Edmonton Ladies have dominated their own Tournaments, often fielding more than one team. However the only blips on their impressive home record have come in 2001, 2007 & 2009 when Vancouver's Ladies were victorious.
Edmonton Men, to their dismay, have endured some Calgary victories on home soil. Vancouver Harps have also won the Edmonton tournament on their last two visits to the Albertan Capital.
Edmonton however have always been the leaders in terms of numbers of players, consistently field 2 teams at the home tournaments, and in 2004, notably, playing 3 Men's teams and 2 Ladies teams. Fort McMurray also fielded a team at the 2004 tournament.
Ladies' Gaelic football
- Western Canadian Champions, 3 Times (2004, 2005, 2006)
- Edmonton Tournament Champions, 6 Times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010)
- Calgary Tournament Champions, 5 Times (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010)
Men's Gaelic football
- Western Canadian Champions, 1 time (2009)
- Edmonton Tournament Champions, 4 times (2001, 2002, 2004, 2009)