Walsh Island GAA
Encyclopedia
Walsh Island is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club located in the village of Walsh Island
in County Offaly
, Ireland
. With 12 Senior Football wins and 2 Leinster Championship
wins, they are one of the most successful clubs in the Offaly.
After many years the club became the dominant force in Offaly once more in 1977, losing the Championship Semi Final to Tullamore GAA
that year and winning it for the next six consecutive years. In 1979 and 1980 Walsh island won the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship
, becoming one of the only clubs in Leinster to have 2 consecutive wins in the competition and the second club from Offaly to win it.
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 located in the village of Walsh Island
Walsh Island
Walsh Island is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It takes its name from the surrounding hinterland which is a fertile area of land on a hill located in a vast area of bogland known as the Bog of Allen,...
in County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
, 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,...
. With 12 Senior Football wins and 2 Leinster Championship
Leinster Senior Club Football Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of senior football clubs in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Portlaoise from Laois. Offaly side Gracefield were the first winners of the Leinster senior club...
wins, they are one of the most successful clubs in the Offaly.
History
Before the club was formed in 1930, many players from Walsh Island played for nearby Geashill GAA. It was decided that the clubs colours would be the green and white hoops of Shamrock Rovers, the top football club in Ireland. The hoops did not clash with any club colours in North Offaly and were adopted as the colours. The first match played by Walsh Island was against Ballykeane. The club won the Offaly Senior Football Championship in 1933, their first year in the competition. Walsh Island was now the dominant team in the county and remained so until 1943.After many years the club became the dominant force in Offaly once more in 1977, losing the Championship Semi Final to Tullamore GAA
Tullamore GAA
Tullamore GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. The club is concerned with both hurling and Gaelic football. The club competes in Offaly GAA competitions. The club has won three senior football championships and one senior hurling...
that year and winning it for the next six consecutive years. In 1979 and 1980 Walsh island won the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship
Leinster Senior Club Football Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of senior football clubs in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Portlaoise from Laois. Offaly side Gracefield were the first winners of the Leinster senior club...
, becoming one of the only clubs in Leinster to have 2 consecutive wins in the competition and the second club from Offaly to win it.
Honours
- Offaly Senior Football Championships: 12
- 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1943, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
- Leinster Senior Club Football ChampionshipLeinster Senior Club Football ChampionshipThe Leinster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of senior football clubs in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Portlaoise from Laois. Offaly side Gracefield were the first winners of the Leinster senior club...
s: 2- 1979, 1980
Notable players
- Richie ConnorRichie ConnorRichie Connor is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Walsh Island and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1989...
- Willie BryanWillie BryanWillie Bryan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Walsh Island and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1966 until 1978. Bryan captained Offaly to the All-Ireland title in 1971.-References:-Teams:...
- Matt ConnorMatt ConnorMatt Connor is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Walsh Island and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1978 until 1984 when a car accident resulted in his need to use a wheelchair.-References:...
- Liam ConnorLiam Connor (Gaelic footballer)Liam Connor is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Walsh Island and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1979 until 1986.-References:...
- Tomás ConnorTomás ConnorTomás Connor is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Walsh Island and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1978 until 1986.-References:...