Naomh Mearnóg
Encyclopedia
The greatest achievement of this team was beating Fingallians in the final of 1936 Dublin Junior Football Championship
in Parnell Park
. This promoted the club to senior ranks but they played very few games at this level. The reason for this was they lost three of their key players: Gilsenan, Michael Reilly and Tom Tighe, all from Malahide
. The team did not remain senior for very long after that. The team that lined out in the Junior Final was: J. McManus, F. Morris, J. Brady, N. Morton, J. Rafferty, J. Connor, F. Donnelly, T. McLernon, M. Reilly, D. Fitzgerald, P. French, T. Tighe, E. Kealy, M. Gilsenan and J. Fogarty.
St. Marnocks' home games were played at different venues during those years:
Other clubs that St. Marnocks would have played against during those years were: Pioneers (Balbriggan
), Ballyboughal, St. Maurs, Parnells
, Wild Geese, Peadar Mackens (Ringsend
), St. Laurences (Howth
) and many others.
panel including Jimmy Keaveney
, David Hickey
and Robbie Kelleher
were present. The club was not officially registered with Dublin County Board
during that first year. The first year, under the chairmanship of Paddy Doherty, was spent putting the club on a proper footing in terms of organising football and hurling at adult level and putting a juvenile structure in place with the co-operation of St. Marnock’s National School. In 1975, St. Helen's National School did not exist, nor was there a community school in existence.
Having made the initial breakthrough, it was deemed appropriate to have the club affiliated to the County Board
. The first proper meeting of the club was held on 29 January 1976 at the North Coast Hotel. Paddy Doherty chaired that meeting with Jackie Hughes acting as Secretary and his brother-in-law Éanna Mac Cába acting as Treasurer. Records show that that meeting was attended by Frank McNulty, Patsy Haran (later to become Lord Mayor
of Portmarnock
), Danny McCormick, Vincent Hughes, Mícheál Ó Braonáin, Jim Carroll, Eugene Keaveney, the Hanley brothers, Tom, Pat and Jack, Pat Keaveney (Principal of St. Marnock’s School), Christy Dwyer, Tony Jordan, Pat Dillon and Robert Kenny as well as the five original founding members. The meeting was also attended by Liam Price of Naomh Maur, who was later to become chairman of the Fingal Football Board. Éanna Mac Cába, as acting Treasurer, reported to the meeting that the club’s finances were in a healthy state, showing a credit balance of £27 made up of subscriptions from Jackie Hughes, Brother O’Fearghail (Coláiste Mhuire
), Ray Burke T.D. and Shay Corrigan. In the course of his report, the Secretary in waiting reported that the visit of the Dublin
team to the parish, in 1974, proved very valuable. The meeting decided that a football and hurling team be registered with the County Board
under the name St. Marnocks.
At this meeting, Patsy Haran commenced his long and distinguished career in football management when he was chosen to manage the club’s adult football team. Eugene Keaveney was selected team Captain and Pat Dillon was chosen as Vice-Captain. Robert Kenny was selected as trainer of this team. Selectors on the junior football side were to be Danny McCormick, Jackie Hughes and Vincent Hughes. This first meeting set up a Finance Committee with the following members: Tom Farrelly, Pat Keaveney, Brendan Shannon, Martin McDonagh and Frank McNulty. A juvenile committee was also set up to organise underage games in the club under the auspices of the following: Frank McNulty, Patsy Haran, Mícheál Ó Braonáin, Pat Keaveney and Christy Dwyer.
On the playing side, two teams were registered at under 11 and under 13 in the Dublin Football League. This historic event took place on 25 February 1976. Just over a month later, on 29 March, an adult hurling team was formed with John Joe Lane selected as team Manager with Danny McCormick and Vincent Hughes as Selectors. Dermot Kennedy was selected as Captain with Jim Carroll (he of Camogie fame) as Vice-Captain.
In May 1976, Fr. Philips was appointed Club President, a position he held until his departure some years later to Ballymun
. Two years later, Dublin County Council
made 2 pitches available to the club at Carrickhill, Portmarnock
.
club in Ireland
, covering almost 32 acres (129,499.5 m²). There is a modern clubhouse containing dressing rooms, club bar, function hall, hand ball alley, gym, catering facilities, meeting rooms and club shop. There are three adult pitches, a flood lit AstroTurf
pitch, a juvenile pitch, training areas and a hurling wall. The two county council pitches in Carrickhill are also still in use.
The club made history on 19 September 2009, when the Senior A camogie team won the club's first ever Dublin Senior Championship title, beating Good Counsel
1-10 to 1-8 in the final.
The club grounds were officially named "Páirc Mhearnóg" in 2010 to mark the tenth anniversary since the clubhouse was built.
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 Parnell Park
Parnell Park
Parnell Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Donnycarney, Dublin, Ireland with a capacity of about 11,500. It is the home of the Dublin GAA hurling, football, camogie and ladies' football teams at all levels of competition...
. This promoted the club to senior ranks but they played very few games at this level. The reason for this was they lost three of their key players: Gilsenan, Michael Reilly and Tom Tighe, all from Malahide
Malahide
Malahide is a coastal suburban town, near Dublin city, located in the administrative county of Fingal, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. It has a village-like centre and extensive residential areas to the south, west and northwest.-Name:...
. The team did not remain senior for very long after that. The team that lined out in the Junior Final was: J. McManus, F. Morris, J. Brady, N. Morton, J. Rafferty, J. Connor, F. Donnelly, T. McLernon, M. Reilly, D. Fitzgerald, P. French, T. Tighe, E. Kealy, M. Gilsenan and J. Fogarty.
St. Marnocks' home games were played at different venues during those years:
- A field behind Freaney’s house in Old Portmarnock.
- The site of the old St. Anne’s Church.
- The site of the present St. Anne’s Church. (By sheer coincidence the newly formed Naomh Mearnóg played many of their early games on the same site.)
Other clubs that St. Marnocks would have played against during those years were: Pioneers (Balbriggan
Balbriggan
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 :...
), Ballyboughal, St. Maurs, Parnells
Parnells GAA
Parnells GAA or Parnells Gaelic Athletic Association club Gaelic football club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in davids bhs artane Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1893 and at that time was known as Parnell Volunteers. Parnells have won the Dublin senior football championship on...
, Wild Geese, Peadar Mackens (Ringsend
Ringsend
Ringsend is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, about two kilometres east of the city centre, and is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll Bridge....
), St. Laurences (Howth
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
) and many others.
Naomh Mearnóg Re-launch
At the relaunch of the club, chaired by Mr. Leo Nealon, some members of the DublinDublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
panel including Jimmy Keaveney
Jimmy Keaveney
James "Jimmy" Keaveney is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club St. Vincents and was a member of the Dublin senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1978. Keaveney is regarded as one of Dublin's greatest-ever players.-Club:Keaveney played his club football...
, David Hickey
David Hickey
David Hickey is a retired Gaelic football player and current selector for Dublin, now a doctor and the current Director of Transplantation in Ireland....
and Robbie Kelleher
Robbie Kelleher
Robbie Kelleher is a former all-Ireland winning Gaelic footballer for Dublin.-Biographical Information:He grew up in Glasnevin, County Dublin. He was educated at Coláiste Mhuire, where he excelled in his studies which included an A in Higher Level Mathematics...
were present. The club was not officially registered with Dublin County Board
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
during that first year. The first year, under the chairmanship of Paddy Doherty, was spent putting the club on a proper footing in terms of organising football and hurling at adult level and putting a juvenile structure in place with the co-operation of St. Marnock’s National School. In 1975, St. Helen's National School did not exist, nor was there a community school in existence.
Having made the initial breakthrough, it was deemed appropriate to have the club affiliated to the County Board
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. The first proper meeting of the club was held on 29 January 1976 at the North Coast Hotel. Paddy Doherty chaired that meeting with Jackie Hughes acting as Secretary and his brother-in-law Éanna Mac Cába acting as Treasurer. Records show that that meeting was attended by Frank McNulty, Patsy Haran (later to become Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Portmarnock
Portmarnock
Portmarnock is a small suburban village to the north of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the administrative county of Fingal.-Location:Portmarnock lies on the coast and, owing to its proximity to Dublin city, is a form of dormitory village north-northeast of the city centre...
), Danny McCormick, Vincent Hughes, Mícheál Ó Braonáin, Jim Carroll, Eugene Keaveney, the Hanley brothers, Tom, Pat and Jack, Pat Keaveney (Principal of St. Marnock’s School), Christy Dwyer, Tony Jordan, Pat Dillon and Robert Kenny as well as the five original founding members. The meeting was also attended by Liam Price of Naomh Maur, who was later to become chairman of the Fingal Football Board. Éanna Mac Cába, as acting Treasurer, reported to the meeting that the club’s finances were in a healthy state, showing a credit balance of £27 made up of subscriptions from Jackie Hughes, Brother O’Fearghail (Coláiste Mhuire
Coláiste Mhuire
Coláiste Mhuire, which is part of the Marino Institute of Education , is a primary teacher training college which is affiliated with Trinity College, Dublin. It is located on Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Coláiste Mhuire is primarily focused on providing for pre-service primary education...
), Ray Burke T.D. and Shay Corrigan. In the course of his report, the Secretary in waiting reported that the visit of the Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
team to the parish, in 1974, proved very valuable. The meeting decided that a football and hurling team be registered with the County Board
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
under the name St. Marnocks.
At this meeting, Patsy Haran commenced his long and distinguished career in football management when he was chosen to manage the club’s adult football team. Eugene Keaveney was selected team Captain and Pat Dillon was chosen as Vice-Captain. Robert Kenny was selected as trainer of this team. Selectors on the junior football side were to be Danny McCormick, Jackie Hughes and Vincent Hughes. This first meeting set up a Finance Committee with the following members: Tom Farrelly, Pat Keaveney, Brendan Shannon, Martin McDonagh and Frank McNulty. A juvenile committee was also set up to organise underage games in the club under the auspices of the following: Frank McNulty, Patsy Haran, Mícheál Ó Braonáin, Pat Keaveney and Christy Dwyer.
On the playing side, two teams were registered at under 11 and under 13 in the Dublin Football League. This historic event took place on 25 February 1976. Just over a month later, on 29 March, an adult hurling team was formed with John Joe Lane selected as team Manager with Danny McCormick and Vincent Hughes as Selectors. Dermot Kennedy was selected as Captain with Jim Carroll (he of Camogie fame) as Vice-Captain.
In May 1976, Fr. Philips was appointed Club President, a position he held until his departure some years later to Ballymun
Ballymun
Ballymun is an area on Dublin's Northside close to Dublin Airport, Ireland. It is infamous for the Ballymun flats, which became a symbol of poverty, drugs, alienation from the state and social problems in Ireland from the 1970s...
. Two years later, Dublin County Council
Dublin County Council
Dublin County Council was a local authority for the administrative county of County Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1898....
made 2 pitches available to the club at Carrickhill, Portmarnock
Portmarnock
Portmarnock is a small suburban village to the north of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the administrative county of Fingal.-Location:Portmarnock lies on the coast and, owing to its proximity to Dublin city, is a form of dormitory village north-northeast of the city centre...
.
Modern Naomh Mearnóg
Naomh Mearnóg has some of the best facilities available in any GAAGaelic 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 in 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...
, covering almost 32 acres (129,499.5 m²). There is a modern clubhouse containing dressing rooms, club bar, function hall, hand ball alley, gym, catering facilities, meeting rooms and club shop. There are three adult pitches, a flood lit AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
pitch, a juvenile pitch, training areas and a hurling wall. The two county council pitches in Carrickhill are also still in use.
The club made history on 19 September 2009, when the Senior A camogie team won the club's first ever Dublin Senior Championship title, beating Good Counsel
Good Counsel GAA
Good Counsel GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Dublin, Ireland. The club is based in Drimnagh in the south of Dublin.-History:The club was formed in 1954. The clubs most famous player was Kevin Moran...
1-10 to 1-8 in the final.
The club grounds were officially named "Páirc Mhearnóg" in 2010 to mark the tenth anniversary since the clubhouse was built.
Camogie
- Dublin Senior A Championship: 1
- 2009
- Dublin Senior B Championship: 1
- 1999
- Dublin Junior B Championship: 1
- 2005
- Dublin Junior C Championship: 1
- 1990
- Dublin Senior B League: 1
- 1999
- Dublin Intermediate League: 2
- 2002, 2007
- Dublin Junior A League: 1
- 1991
- Dublin Junior C League: 1
- 1990
- Orla Ryan Shield: 2
- 2005, 2006
- Dublin Intermediate Open Cup: 2
- 2002, 2007