Lucan Sarsfields
Encyclopedia
Lucan Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club based in Lucan, Dublin, Ireland
. It was founded in 1886, making it one of the oldest GAA clubs in Dublin. Sarsfields were one of 16 teams which contested the Dublin Senior Championship in 1887. They were also involved in the Senior Championship of 1892 and the club has fielded Gaelic football
, hurling
and camogie
teams ever since.
. The story goes that in 1902 a team call Balbriggan Wanderers won the Intermediate League and then for some reason or other went out of existence in 1904. One of the players on that team was a man named Paddy Richardson, who was a fish merchant and regularly attended the Dublin market. At the market he met up with Mickey Ashe who was secretary of Lucan and who also worked in the fish market. With the assistance of Tom Clarke, another fish market worker, the Balbriggan men were persuaded to throw in their lot with Lucan and the result was the winning of the league that year. The Lucan players who played on that team were M. O’Connor, P. Murray (Captain), J. Kelly, M. Downes (Treasurer), R. Kane (Vice Captain), M. Ashe (Secretary), J. Fagan, J. Murray, C. Brien, G. Thornberry, T. Kelly, J. Fitzpatrick (President), C.J. Keogh, R. Maher, T. Byrne, M. Merriman and J. Brien.
The same season also saw the hurlers win their league and being presented with the Michael Smith Cup. Lucan had to wait another 70 years to see this cup again when they won the Junior A League in 1974. A link between these two wins was Michael Downes who played on the 1905 team and his grandsons, Larry Downes and Dessie O’Brien who played on the 1974 team. Another link between both teams was Club President Tom Slattery who attended both games.
In 1904-05 Lucan Sarsfields also won the Camogie Championship. Some of those who played on that team were Bridget Nugent, Annie Hughes, Kitty Brady, Dill Thornberry, Chrissie Murray, Margaret Feeney, Kate Nugent and Margaret Gannon.
The club's footballers were prominent in the 1920s and 30s. The highpoint of this era was undoubtedly a famous victory over a star-studded Garda team in 1929 who were the Dublin Senior Football Championship winners at the time.
The hurlers captured the limelight in the 60s winning the Junior 'B' Hurling League. They won the Corn Céitinn in 1966 and so became the first Junior Hurling team ever to capture this title.
in 1977 and entry into Intermediate ranks quickly followed success at Under 21 level.
In 1988 a huge ambition was realised when Senior status was achieved. They beat St. Anne's in the Intermediate League Final. Some lean times followed and it reverted to Intermediate status.
victory over St Vincents
after a replay in Lawless Park in Swords
. Further success followed and the footballers now compete in Division 1 of the Senior Football League. 1998 was a tremendous year for our hurlers. The intermediate hurlers won three cup competitions, Corn Céitinn, Corn Fogarty and Corn . They followed up with a season to relish in 1999 winning the Intermediate League and Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship
and were competing in Division 2 of the Senior Hurling League.
In 1952, the Dublin County Board leased grounds in Ballydowd, behind the Foxhunter Pub and gave the Club official use of these grounds. This was home for the Club for the next 18 years. Dressing rooms consisted of old wooden railway carriages - a far cry from some of the facilities that exist today but a lot more than some other clubs had at the time.
In 1970 however, the County Board lost control of the ground and the club was again homeless until granted the use of County Council pitches in Doddsboro where Airlie Heights is now situated.
1976 saw the Club move again, this time to County Council grounds near Arthur Griffith Park.
It was around this time that the Club realised the need for a home of its own and in 1978 the grounds at the 12th Lock were purchased from Shackletons for the sum of £51,500. Initial finance was provided by members by way of an interest free loan of £50 per head. The area of Lucan itself has expanded beyond all recognition during the period since the foundation of the club. In 1901 the population of the village of Lucan was recorded at 872, by 1981 it had increased to 13,508. Today the Lucan area is one of the fastest growing suburbs of Dublin with the present population estimated at 50,000 people living in the Lucan area. Lucan Sarsfields is continuing to grow with the community that it serves, because of the explosion in membership numbers a new clubhouse was built in 2001. The modern design includes a bar and function room, viewing balcony, 5 dressing rooms with showers, gym and club shop. The pitches in the 12th lock are known around the county for their excellent condition when it comes to championship. Sarsfields are currently planning to construct a state of the art all weather playing surface. This project was delayed by the ongoing saga between thomas davis gaa and shamrock rovers in south county dublin. With the conclusion of this it is expected the new pitch should be ready by 2010.
In response to this need, and to provide facilities for the future growth and development, the Club decided to undertake a Project to develop an All-Weather Playing Facility at our grounds at 12th Lock.
It was decided that the training pitch would be developed into a 100M X 60M high quality synthetic surface. Work commenced during the summer of 2009 and was completed by December 2009. The fully flood lit pitch suitable for all codes is enclosed in high quality fencing and netting and was officially opened by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen in February 2010. He congratulated the Club and the community in Lucan on bringing this project to fruition, especially in these times and stressed the importance of sport to young peoples lives and to Irish culture. Club Chairman, Paul Stapleton, thanked all who made the development possible, he acknowledged the support of local public representatives across all parties who did everything within their power to secure funding, and guide the club through the planning process. He went on to thank the club members who pulled out all the stops to raise funding locally through the €100 ticket draw and the people of Lucan who supported the draw.
Minor 'B' Hurling Championship
Junior Ladies Football All-Ireland Champions
2003
U-15 'B' Hurling Championship
2005
Minor 'A' Hurling Championship
Minor 'B' Football championship
2006
Minor Hurling Div 1 champions
U-21 'A' Football Championship
Div 3 Football Feile Champions
2007
U-11 Div 1 Camogie Champions
U-11 'A' Camogie Championship
U-14 Div 2 Camogie Champion
2008
Div 1 Dublin Camogie Feilé Champions
Div 1 All Ireland Camogie Feilé Champions
2009
Minor 'B' Football Championship
2010
U-14 Div 1 Camogie Champions
U-14 Div 3 Camogie Champions
U-14 'A' Camogie Championship
Div 1 Dublin Camogie Feilé Champions
Div 1 All Ireland Camogie Feilé Champions
Minor 'A' Camogie Championship
U-21 'A' Football Championship
2011
Div 2 Football Feilé Champions
U-13,14,15,16 Div 1 Camogie League and Championship double Champions
Minor 'A' Camogie Championship
Senior Hurling - To be confirmed
Senior Camoige - Seaghan O Lanagain
Intermediate Football - Barry Whelan
Intermediate Ladies Football - Colm Hickey
Junior A Hurling - Seamus Clandillon
Junior B Hurling - Pat O'Keefe and Joe Byrne
Junior A Football - John Costello
Junior B Football - Gerry McAndrew and Paul McGann
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 based in Lucan, 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,...
. It was founded in 1886, making it one of the oldest GAA clubs in Dublin. Sarsfields were one of 16 teams which contested the Dublin Senior Championship in 1887. They were also involved in the Senior Championship of 1892 and the club has fielded Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
teams ever since.
Early success
Lucan won the Intermediate Football League in the 1904-05 season. It is reported that they did this with the help of five players from BalbrigganBalbriggan
Balbriggan is a town in the northern part of the administrative county of Fingal, within County Dublin, Ireland. The 2006 census population was 15,559 for Balbriggan and its environs.- Name :...
. The story goes that in 1902 a team call Balbriggan Wanderers won the Intermediate League and then for some reason or other went out of existence in 1904. One of the players on that team was a man named Paddy Richardson, who was a fish merchant and regularly attended the Dublin market. At the market he met up with Mickey Ashe who was secretary of Lucan and who also worked in the fish market. With the assistance of Tom Clarke, another fish market worker, the Balbriggan men were persuaded to throw in their lot with Lucan and the result was the winning of the league that year. The Lucan players who played on that team were M. O’Connor, P. Murray (Captain), J. Kelly, M. Downes (Treasurer), R. Kane (Vice Captain), M. Ashe (Secretary), J. Fagan, J. Murray, C. Brien, G. Thornberry, T. Kelly, J. Fitzpatrick (President), C.J. Keogh, R. Maher, T. Byrne, M. Merriman and J. Brien.
The same season also saw the hurlers win their league and being presented with the Michael Smith Cup. Lucan had to wait another 70 years to see this cup again when they won the Junior A League in 1974. A link between these two wins was Michael Downes who played on the 1905 team and his grandsons, Larry Downes and Dessie O’Brien who played on the 1974 team. Another link between both teams was Club President Tom Slattery who attended both games.
In 1904-05 Lucan Sarsfields also won the Camogie Championship. Some of those who played on that team were Bridget Nugent, Annie Hughes, Kitty Brady, Dill Thornberry, Chrissie Murray, Margaret Feeney, Kate Nugent and Margaret Gannon.
The club's footballers were prominent in the 1920s and 30s. The highpoint of this era was undoubtedly a famous victory over a star-studded Garda team in 1929 who were the Dublin Senior Football Championship winners at the time.
The hurlers captured the limelight in the 60s winning the Junior 'B' Hurling League. They won the Corn Céitinn in 1966 and so became the first Junior Hurling team ever to capture this title.
Moving through the ranks
The club's footballers were back to the forefront in the 70s with the help of the club's active juvenile section. The winning of the Dublin Junior Football ChampionshipDublin 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 1977 and entry into Intermediate ranks quickly followed success at Under 21 level.
In 1988 a huge ambition was realised when Senior status was achieved. They beat St. Anne's in the Intermediate League Final. Some lean times followed and it reverted to Intermediate status.
1990s
After a magnificent campaign the footballers again achieved Senior status in 1995 with a thrilling Dublin Intermediate Football ChampionshipDublin Intermediate Football Championship
The Dublin Intermediate Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Dublin Clubs. The winners of the Dublin Championship qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship and in turn, go on to the...
victory over St Vincents
St Vincents GAA
St Vincents is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Marino, on the northside of Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1931, originally in Raheny, but it moved to its home in Marino in 1987. St Vincents merged with Marino Camogie Club in 1997 to form the St Vincents Hurling, Football and...
after a replay in Lawless Park in Swords
Swords
A sword is a cutting/thrusting weapon made of metal. Sword or swords may also refer to:* Swords, County Dublin, Ireland* Suit of swords, a suit in Latin-suited playing cards and Tarot decks* SWORDS, a ground-based military robot...
. Further success followed and the footballers now compete in Division 1 of the Senior Football League. 1998 was a tremendous year for our hurlers. The intermediate hurlers won three cup competitions, Corn Céitinn, Corn Fogarty and Corn . They followed up with a season to relish in 1999 winning the Intermediate League and Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship
Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship
Dublin Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the Intermediate Dublin Clubs. The winners of the Dublin Championship qualify for the Dublin Senior Hurling B Championship. The 2006 intermediate champions were Round Towers who beat Thomas...
and were competing in Division 2 of the Senior Hurling League.
Club grounds
For many years the Club had no permanent pitches. In the early years, games were played at the 12 Lock, Bleach Green in the Demesne (close to Weir View), in a field behind Vesey Park and later on land belonging to Mr. Hickey in Doddsboro, Mr. Royce in Tandy’s Lane and Mr. Kavanagh in Ballydowd, On the morning of a game some of the club members would go to one of these fields and erect posts which would have to be taken down that evening.In 1952, the Dublin County Board leased grounds in Ballydowd, behind the Foxhunter Pub and gave the Club official use of these grounds. This was home for the Club for the next 18 years. Dressing rooms consisted of old wooden railway carriages - a far cry from some of the facilities that exist today but a lot more than some other clubs had at the time.
In 1970 however, the County Board lost control of the ground and the club was again homeless until granted the use of County Council pitches in Doddsboro where Airlie Heights is now situated.
1976 saw the Club move again, this time to County Council grounds near Arthur Griffith Park.
It was around this time that the Club realised the need for a home of its own and in 1978 the grounds at the 12th Lock were purchased from Shackletons for the sum of £51,500. Initial finance was provided by members by way of an interest free loan of £50 per head. The area of Lucan itself has expanded beyond all recognition during the period since the foundation of the club. In 1901 the population of the village of Lucan was recorded at 872, by 1981 it had increased to 13,508. Today the Lucan area is one of the fastest growing suburbs of Dublin with the present population estimated at 50,000 people living in the Lucan area. Lucan Sarsfields is continuing to grow with the community that it serves, because of the explosion in membership numbers a new clubhouse was built in 2001. The modern design includes a bar and function room, viewing balcony, 5 dressing rooms with showers, gym and club shop. The pitches in the 12th lock are known around the county for their excellent condition when it comes to championship. Sarsfields are currently planning to construct a state of the art all weather playing surface. This project was delayed by the ongoing saga between thomas davis gaa and shamrock rovers in south county dublin. With the conclusion of this it is expected the new pitch should be ready by 2010.
All weather pitch
The club has grown hugely over the past 10 years with numbers of players and teams more than doubling in that period. Gaelic games is now a year-round activity and it is vital to have proper facilities to cope with our increased membership.In response to this need, and to provide facilities for the future growth and development, the Club decided to undertake a Project to develop an All-Weather Playing Facility at our grounds at 12th Lock.
It was decided that the training pitch would be developed into a 100M X 60M high quality synthetic surface. Work commenced during the summer of 2009 and was completed by December 2009. The fully flood lit pitch suitable for all codes is enclosed in high quality fencing and netting and was officially opened by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen in February 2010. He congratulated the Club and the community in Lucan on bringing this project to fruition, especially in these times and stressed the importance of sport to young peoples lives and to Irish culture. Club Chairman, Paul Stapleton, thanked all who made the development possible, he acknowledged the support of local public representatives across all parties who did everything within their power to secure funding, and guide the club through the planning process. He went on to thank the club members who pulled out all the stops to raise funding locally through the €100 ticket draw and the people of Lucan who supported the draw.
Honours
2001Minor 'B' Hurling Championship
Dublin Minor Hurling Championship
The Dublin Minor Club Hurling Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association competition between the top teams in minor club hurling in County Dublin. The most successful team in resent years have been Kilmacud Crokes...
Junior Ladies Football All-Ireland Champions
2003
U-15 'B' Hurling Championship
2005
Minor 'A' Hurling Championship
Dublin Minor Hurling Championship
The Dublin Minor Club Hurling Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association competition between the top teams in minor club hurling in County Dublin. The most successful team in resent years have been Kilmacud Crokes...
Minor 'B' Football championship
Dublin Minor Football Championship
The Dublin Minor Club Football Championship A is a Gaelic Athletic Association competition between the top teams in minor club football in County Dublin. The trophy awarded for the championship called the FitzGerald Cup. The current minor champions of Dublin are Ballyboden St...
2006
Minor Hurling Div 1 champions
Dublin Minor Hurling Championship
The Dublin Minor Club Hurling Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association competition between the top teams in minor club hurling in County Dublin. The most successful team in resent years have been Kilmacud Crokes...
U-21 'A' Football Championship
Dublin Under 21 Football Championship
For the current Senior Championship see 2007The Dublin Under 21 Football Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the under-21 Gaelic footballers of Dublin clubs.-Roll of honour:-Under 21 B Football Championship:...
Div 3 Football Feile Champions
2007
U-11 Div 1 Camogie Champions
U-11 'A' Camogie Championship
U-14 Div 2 Camogie Champion
2008
Div 1 Dublin Camogie Feilé Champions
Div 1 All Ireland Camogie Feilé Champions
2009
Minor 'B' Football Championship
2010
U-14 Div 1 Camogie Champions
U-14 Div 3 Camogie Champions
U-14 'A' Camogie Championship
Div 1 Dublin Camogie Feilé Champions
Div 1 All Ireland Camogie Feilé Champions
Minor 'A' Camogie Championship
U-21 'A' Football Championship
Dublin Under 21 Football Championship
For the current Senior Championship see 2007The Dublin Under 21 Football Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the under-21 Gaelic footballers of Dublin clubs.-Roll of honour:-Under 21 B Football Championship:...
2011
Div 2 Football Feilé Champions
U-13,14,15,16 Div 1 Camogie League and Championship double Champions
Minor 'A' Camogie Championship
Management
Senior Football - Mick Bohan and Eiven ShanahanSenior Hurling - To be confirmed
Senior Camoige - Seaghan O Lanagain
Intermediate Football - Barry Whelan
Intermediate Ladies Football - Colm Hickey
Junior A Hurling - Seamus Clandillon
Junior B Hurling - Pat O'Keefe and Joe Byrne
Junior A Football - John Costello
Junior B Football - Gerry McAndrew and Paul McGann
Notable players
- Jack SheedyJack SheedyJack Sheedy is a former Dublin senior Gaelic football player. He played his club football for Dublin based club Lucan Sarsfields.-Football career:...
- former Dublin inter-county footballer. - Tommy CarrTommy CarrTommy Carr is a former inter county Gaelic football player for Dublin. He has also managed Dublin, Roscommon and Cavan. He was awarded an all star in 1991 in the same year that he won a National Football League medal with Dublin...
- former Dublin inter-county footballer and manager - Paul CaseyPaul Casey (Gaelic footballer)For the article about the professional golfer, see Paul Casey.Paul Casey is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Dublin. He plays his club football for Lucan Sarsfields. He is a wing-back. Casey's father was a Munster Minor Football Championship winner with Kerry in 1968. Paul has won four...
- current Dublin inter-county footballer. - Stephen O’Shaughnessy - current Dublin inter-county footballer.
- Kevin O'ReillyKevin O'ReillyKevin O'Reilly is Hurling player for Dublin Senior Team and Lucan Sarsfields. Kevin "Chap" Reilly as he is known as both on and off the pitch by his peers, was named on the 2007 3rd Level All-Star XV for DIT due to his performance in the Fitzgibbon Cup...
- current Dublin heavy weight inter-county hurler. - John McCaffreyJohn McCaffrey (hurler)John McCaffrey is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Lucan Sarsfield's and has a member of the Dublin senior inter-county team since 2006.-Club:...
- current Dublin inter-county hurling captain - Pádraig O'DriscollPádraig O'DriscollPádraig O'Driscoll is a Dublin Senior Hurler at Lucan Sarsfields. O'Driscoll made substitute appearances with Dublin in the 2006 championship against Clare and Limerick although he made his first start against Wexford on June 7, 2007. While Pádraig "Tubridy" O'Driscoll is ofter mistaken for the...
- Former Dublin inter-county Hurler - Peter KellyPeter KellyPeter Kelly may refer to:*Peter Kelly , Irish Fianna Fáil politician and TD for Longford-Roscommon*Peter J. Kelly, current mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada...
- Current Dublin inter-county hurler.