National Forum

Unique GAA Club Names

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The GAA is awash with unique GAA club names. Like for example in Fermanagh you have Newtownbutler First Fermanagh's. Netownbutler have the name First Fermanagh's, because, yes you guessed it, they were the first GAA club formed in Fermanagh, 131 years ago. Likewise, Kildallon in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan were the first GAA club formed in Cavan and they took the name 'First Ulsters'. Other unique names in Cavan are 'Mullahoran Dreadnoughts', Ramor United and Laragh United. Then you have Belnaleck Art McMurroughs in Fermanagh.

gaelicgab (USA) - Posts: 878 - 31/10/2018 17:30:24    2148914

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Man of War in North County Dublin.

But it is just the name of the place.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 31/10/2018 17:52:14    2148919

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Replying To gaelicgab:  "The GAA is awash with unique GAA club names. Like for example in Fermanagh you have Newtownbutler First Fermanagh's. Netownbutler have the name First Fermanagh's, because, yes you guessed it, they were the first GAA club formed in Fermanagh, 131 years ago. Likewise, Kildallon in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan were the first GAA club formed in Cavan and they took the name 'First Ulsters'. Other unique names in Cavan are 'Mullahoran Dreadnoughts', Ramor United and Laragh United. Then you have Belnaleck Art McMurroughs in Fermanagh."
Kildallon in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan were the first GAA club formed in Ulster that should read.

gaelicgab (USA) - Posts: 878 - 31/10/2018 18:26:09    2148923

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When I was about nine or ten I dabbled with a bit of soccer for my sins and played for a team in Dublin called The Baa Baa,s we were sponsored by a pub in Coolock called The Black Sheep, laugh at it even now the opposition used to tear strips off us. Most boring name in Dublin GAA Castleknock say no more , allways liked a bit of a rebel a Gael or even a saint thrown in with the name

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 31/10/2018 18:43:44    2148925

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I find it interesting how so many GAA clubs and grounds are named are named in honour of Protestants. Henry Grattan, Theobald Wolfe Tone, John Mitchel, Charles Stewart Parnell and Douglas Hyde.

Toney (Meath) - Posts: 298 - 31/10/2018 19:30:42    2148928

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Buffers Alley in Wexford certainly a unique name.

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1700 - 31/10/2018 19:36:26    2148929

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Fighting Cocks in Carlow.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7344 - 31/10/2018 20:06:05    2148931

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Replying To Toney:  "I find it interesting how so many GAA clubs and grounds are named are named in honour of Protestants. Henry Grattan, Theobald Wolfe Tone, John Mitchel, Charles Stewart Parnell and Douglas Hyde."
Yep. And there's a cup named after a fella called Sam Maguire too....

streaker (Galway) - Posts: 497 - 31/10/2018 20:51:03    2148936

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Fenians in Johnstown Kilkenny always stood out for me.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1908 - 31/10/2018 21:07:50    2148939

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Replying To Toney:  "I find it interesting how so many GAA clubs and grounds are named are named in honour of Protestants. Henry Grattan, Theobald Wolfe Tone, John Mitchel, Charles Stewart Parnell and Douglas Hyde."
Not every great Irishman was a great catholic, equally not every great Irishman was a GAA fan

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 01/11/2018 00:26:37    2148960

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Replying To gaelicgab:  "Kildallon in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan were the first GAA club formed in Ulster that should read."
Was it not Ballyconnell First Ulsters? Kildallon are a newer club formed as an amalgamation in the parish of Kildallon, so shouldn't really claim to be first club in Ulster.

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1073 - 01/11/2018 05:00:59    2148964

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Replying To Damothedub:  "Not every great Irishman was a great catholic, equally not every great Irishman was a GAA fan"
and,not every great gaa man was a catholic!
i recently heard again of dreadnots in louth i think it was,what a name.
have also a soft spot for the fighting cocks.
wild geese?are they a meath club or where?
rhode in offaly also.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 01/11/2018 09:48:27    2148979

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I remember reading that in the first 50 years of the GAA in Kerry, something like 430 separate clubs came and went.
Before Crotta O'Neills were formed in my village, we had the Tullig Game Cocks who won the 1916 Kerry hurling championship. They actually won the Junior final that day and Kenmare Shamrocks won the Senior but as the County Board only had one set of medals, the two teams decided to play off and Tullig won.
So with all the furor over what happened to the Wicklow champions last weekend, what about having to play two games in the space of a couple of hours!

Anyway many of those clubs, most now long gone, had some fantastic names like the Ballydavid Isles of the Sea, the Cordal Wild Rovers, the Renard Holy Terrors, the Tralee Gods and the Dingle Gascons - named from the Gascony region in France.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 01/11/2018 11:12:30    2149008

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Man of War in North County Dublin.

But it is just the name of the place."
Club there alright, Wild Geese GAA in Oldtown is a better of a name and follows the love of birds with Fingsl Ravens around Rolestown

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 01/11/2018 11:48:05    2149017

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Replying To perfect10:  "and,not every great gaa man was a catholic!
i recently heard again of dreadnots in louth i think it was,what a name.
have also a soft spot for the fighting cocks.
wild geese?are they a meath club or where?
rhode in offaly also."
The Fighting Cocks of Carlow, bloody great name for a club

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 01/11/2018 11:50:31    2149022

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Replying To MesAmis:  "Man of War in North County Dublin.

But it is just the name of the place."
Place called Wood of O near Tullamore. Only been there once, their GAA club is Ballycommon.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 01/11/2018 12:14:02    2149031

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Replying To perfect10:  "and,not every great gaa man was a catholic!
i recently heard again of dreadnots in louth i think it was,what a name.
have also a soft spot for the fighting cocks.
wild geese?are they a meath club or where?
rhode in offaly also."
Rhode, home of Seamus and Stephen Darby, heroes of 1982, along with Johnny Mooney.
Paddy 'Iron Man' McCormack, played with Rhode, but was actually from Croghan, same parish.
Rhode in Irish translates as An Rod, ancient highway in Gaelic culture.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 01/11/2018 12:24:47    2149039

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Old Christians hurling club is a good one in limerick. Probably more a Rugby team name than GAA. It's an old boys of Sexton Street CBS club.
Fireball's was a great club in East Clare that changed to O Callaghans Mills.
Most names are very bland now or some abstract Irish name. The club's named after Patriots and Republicans tend to turn middle of the road people off and should be avoided in today's Ireland.
The 'Blacks and Whites' in Kilkenny is unique..I would say there isn't much chance of them changing their playing colours.!

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 01/11/2018 12:59:08    2149048

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Replying To perfect10:  "and,not every great gaa man was a catholic!
i recently heard again of dreadnots in louth i think it was,what a name.
have also a soft spot for the fighting cocks.
wild geese?are they a meath club or where?
rhode in offaly also."
The Dreadnots GAA Club are based in the fishing village of Clogherhead in the Wonderful Wee County of Louth. It is named after a boat.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 01/11/2018 13:44:25    2149063

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Boardsmill in Meath and Four Roads in Roscommon two hurling strongholds in mainly football counties. And I believe that neither are actual Town or Townland names. Just general names for the local area.
Boardsmill Church is in the Townland of Brannockstown, while the pitch is in Kilmurry.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 01/11/2018 14:08:40    2149075

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