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Smallest Club In Each County

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Replying To brian: "Pretty sure you won't be able to name a smaller club than Kilmainham in Meath. There's no pub, shop, school, post office etc in the club confines. They only got a football pitch in the last 20 years and used to train in the back field of one of the locals, who gave them land to train on. Kilmainham is where my own allegiances lie. And given the size of the club they've produce Mickey Newman, Barry Lynch, Harry Newman and Petsey curran who all played at multiple age grades for Meath. If there's a smaller club than that in the county or country I'd be interested to hear of it." I wouldnt think that is a unique circumstance at all. Gator (Monaghan) - Posts: 238 - 07/09/2021 16:36:27 2378573 Link
Replying To cityman73: "Would say abbey sarsfields would be way smaller then Ballinacurra geals in the city." Is Abbey Sarsfields still in operation? Haven't heard anything about them in ages. Knockane would also be very small - no underage, fielding at junior B football only, and almost a feeder club for Pallasgreen. football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 07/09/2021 17:02:27 2378578 Link
Replying To Shearer: "Hi fellow Gaels, I'm trying to compile a list of the smallest club in each county in terms of club members, volunteers etc. Thanks in advance" Why are you doing that Shearer? What club do you reckon is the smallest in the Wee County? Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6177 - 07/09/2021 17:05:34 2378581 Link
In terms of population, the smallest pick would be Pettigo, followed by Na Rossa. Pettigo area has a population of around 500, Na Rossa is around 600. They are the only two teams who can't field a reserve team at senior level. When tickets were allocated to clubs for the All Ireland final, Pettigo had the lowest allocation and Na Rossa second lowest. HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 523 - 07/09/2021 18:02:28 2378602 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "id say loughnavalley in westmeath" Was going to say Loughnavalley or Ballycomoyle myself Mick. The_Fonz (Westmeath) - Posts: 214 - 07/09/2021 19:45:48 2378619 Link
valentia kerry kerry4sam21 (Kerry) - Posts: 103 - 07/09/2021 20:42:07 2378631 Link
sorry meant to say gowna only have 7 townlands breffnibluewhite (Cavan) - Posts: 484 - 07/09/2021 21:09:51 2378639 Link
Replying To skirge7: "Lots of competition for that in offaly with so many clubs in one parish. Daingean parish has 5 clubs I think. I would guess the smallest clubs is Clonmore Harps. The 3rd and smallest club in Rhode Parish. They have one adult junior team." I thought Clonmore was in Ballinabrackey/Castlejordan parish? Lutch, I am sure will clarify. MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1103 - 07/09/2021 21:42:31 2378646 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "I don't know about members as everyone in the parish is probably a member. But ballinabrackey would be a small club even if very successful on Meath scene, would it be meathhill?? Clonard?? There's plenty of small clubs around county." What about St Pauls in Meath...sandwiched between Dunboyne,Ratoath and Kilbride...just a few cross roads of catchment area...won the Meath Junior A over 15 years ago,the club of Anthony Moyles. ONdeDITCH (Limerick) - Posts: 873 - 07/09/2021 21:48:40 2378647 Link
I believe Ballysaggart is the smallest but look at their success. Winnng the first ever senior county football championship in 1885. Junior western hurling champions in 1970, 1988, 2007, 2010 and 2013. County junior hurling champions in 1972, 1992 and 2007 and 2013. Intermediate western and county in 2019 and now a senior club. There are many other very small clubs like Killgobnet., Modelligo, Tourin, Fenor etc. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3026 - 07/09/2021 22:45:05 2378666 Link
Rockcorry GAA in County Monaghan (I think). Monaghan & Ulster GAA junior club champions in the recent past - remember reading about them at the time- the total population is around 500. greysoil (Monaghan) - Posts: 965 - 07/09/2021 22:54:18 2378668 Link
Replying To MillerX: "Has to be St Paul's, squeezed between Dunboyne, Kilbride and possibly Blackhall and Ratoath. St Peregrine's In Dublin would also be nipping at their heels." Totally forgot about at Paul's. I'd say we have a winner. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/09/2021 23:04:22 2378671 Link
Replying To brian: "Pretty sure you won't be able to name a smaller club than Kilmainham in Meath. There's no pub, shop, school, post office etc in the club confines. They only got a football pitch in the last 20 years and used to train in the back field of one of the locals, who gave them land to train on. Kilmainham is where my own allegiances lie. And given the size of the club they've produce Mickey Newman, Barry Lynch, Harry Newman and Petsey curran who all played at multiple age grades for Meath. If there's a smaller club than that in the county or country I'd be interested to hear of it." Interesting info there. A lot I didn't know about the club. Ballinabrackey has no pub, no shop, (use to have two) no post office (closed years ago). And no football pitch either. :) Now ok cause the parish actually takes in two villages castlejordan (which a part of is in Offaly) has the school and football pitch. Here's a thing that not many people might know. You cannot get to ballinabrackey by road while staying in Meath. It is impossible. No matter where you drive from in Meath you will go through another county to get to ballinabrackey. Kildare Offaly or Westmeath. It can't be reached by road from any other parish while remaining in Meath. Useless piece of trivia but there you go. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/09/2021 23:11:14 2378673 Link
Replying To skirge7: "Lots of competition for that in offaly with so many clubs in one parish. Daingean parish has 5 clubs I think. I would guess the smallest clubs is Clonmore Harps. The 3rd and smallest club in Rhode Parish. They have one adult junior team." Funny thing about clonmore is that it is actually mainly in the parish of ballinabrackey and was set up in late 80s to break away from its connections to the Meath ballinbrackey club royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/09/2021 23:13:06 2378674 Link
Replying To football first: "Is Abbey Sarsfields still in operation? Haven't heard anything about them in ages. Knockane would also be very small - no underage, fielding at junior B football only, and almost a feeder club for Pallasgreen." Ya still around,gave walkovers this year. cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 783 - 08/09/2021 04:08:34 2378698 Link
I would say Carrigeen. I think it's an area within the parish of Mooncoin in South Kilkenny but for some reason has its own GAA Club. Their first team play Junior D hurling which is basically the 7th division of hurling in Kilkenny. All of the teams in that level are the 2nd or 3rd string teams of bigger clubs. Threecastles in North Kilkenny probably next smallest. Not sure if separate parish or within parish of Freshford. In the early years of the GAA they were a strong club, winning senior county titles, but these days their first team play Junior C (div 6), again against 2nd/3rd string teams of bigger clubs. ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1256 - 08/09/2021 05:58:03 2378701 Link
Cortoon in Galway BilboNaggins (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 08/09/2021 07:52:40 2378703 Link
The smallest clubs in Galway numbers wise would have to be Menlo Emmetts, Fr Griffins/Eire Og, Na Piarsiagh in Rosmuc or Glinsk. It is a shame more 'blow ins' to Galway City would not Emmetts and FGEO to allow them to get up the ranks. Parish and club borders seem to go out the window in the city. If the two clubs could capitalize on players all from their actual catchment areas they would be two big hitters. GalwaysFinest (Galway) - Posts: 193 - 08/09/2021 08:40:11 2378704 Link
Tough one to answer for Wexford. Traditionally, Clonee would have been the smallest club, nestled in between Ferns and Camolin in the Ballyduff townsland. But they haven't fielded an adult men's team in a while, and although they do kick ladies football, they'd have strong playing numbers in that due to being the only ladies team in the area for a while. Tara Rocks would have been next on the list, operating on the outskirts of Gorey. I remember how primitive their facilities were when I was playing under-age. But they have since amalgamated with Kilanerin (go as Tara Rocks in hurling and Kilanerin in football), who they were long-time under-age partners with as Ballynastragh Gaels (and have a new indoor facility, dressing rooms and pitch to boot). They field two teams in hurling now, although I have always said that Kilanerin were the biggest benefactors of that union. I wouldn't be as familiar of the geography anywhere else in the county, but I imagine Our Lady's Island have to be the smallest club at the moment. Marshalstown-Castledockrell wouldn't be far behind either. And maybe Na Fianna in Wexford town, but the Clonard area would have a sizeable pool to pick from. beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1485 - 08/09/2021 10:32:47 2378721 Link
In Laois, Kyle is probably the smallest club in the hurling end. Just the one team at junior B. No juveniles teams and any decent lad they bring through seems to get poached. In the football end, maybe either Barrowhouse who are kinda squeezed in to a little corner of Laois in Athy (Kildare) parish or Courtwood who are similar. Their pitch is only a few hundred metres from the Kildare border and they have Emo and O'Dempseys either side of a small area. Heraf (Laois) - Posts: 316 - 08/09/2021 10:50:00 2378724 Link