I've start to read a book called "the Sports Gene" by David Epstein which Ken Early of Second Captains has be talking about on and off through out the year (BTW it made there top 5 sports books of the year. It debates the arguement of nature v nuture in terms of sports stars etc.

It got me thinking about successful or stand out families in the GAA - the obvious one in the current era is probably Brogans in Dublin but I don't think they have ever won the Dublin county championship and I feel the Kernans in Crossmaglen.

So I'm throwing it out there who are the most successful GAA families in terms of county championship medals held between the generations of families and provisional/All Ireland medals. I don't think we can judge is purely on All Irelands medals alone - being from Kildare I would say this!

To start the ball rolling here a few that come to mind:-

Earley Family - Kildare/Roscommon - Dermot Snr & Paul (Ros) and Dermot Jnr (Ke)

Dalton Family - Kildare/Meath - (3 generations) Davy Snr won Leinster in '56, Davy Jr won Leinter in '98 and now Davy Jr Jr playing with Summerhill in Co. Meath (won two Meath Championships in the past 3 year)

Kernans & McEntees in Armagh - I'm sure they need an extension to exhibit all the county medals

Mayo - Padden - Willie Joe and Billy Joe

Kerry - the O'Seas/Kinneallys - I'm sure there could be a long list here!

I'm sure there is a very long list but it would be interesting to see if the volume of medals can be calculated or more interesting could be the number of succesful generations.

roast (Kildare) - Posts: 143 - 13/12/2013 10:04:30    1523299

The O'Se's would be miles ahead in terms of All Ireland medals. Spillane's probably second

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 13/12/2013 10:15:27    1523304

pdempsey
County: Mayo
Posts: 574

1523304 The O'Se's would be miles ahead in terms of All Ireland medals. Spillane's probably second


No the Spillanes are a few ahead. Sure Pat alones has 8.

sedico (Kildare) - Posts: 1682 - 13/12/2013 10:22:30    1523306

The Meehan and Donnellan families from Galway

zidane (Galway) - Posts: 272 - 13/12/2013 10:47:02    1523318

Sedico- I was including Paidi and his three nephews.

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 13/12/2013 10:51:15    1523319

The O Carroll's Ross Rory and Bill , legendary family in Dublin who've won football all Ireland's at county and club level also hurling champs at club level in Dublin.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 13/12/2013 10:53:12    1523322

pdempsey
County: Mayo
Posts: 575

1523319 Sedico- I was including Paidi and his three nephews.



Yawn. Morning. Whats this? Ah I must have been talking in my sleep. Sorry about that.

sedico (Kildare) - Posts: 1682 - 13/12/2013 10:54:07    1523323

clondalkindub
The O Carroll's Ross Rory and Bill , legendary family in Dublin who've won football all Ireland's at county and club level also hurling champs at club level in Dublin.

Never heard of them ...


In truth, although the skill is a factor, I think a lot of it comes down to nurture also. for instance, I would say there are people out there that potentiall were every bit as good as the o'se's had they put in the same amount of time and interest. A lot of it comes back to focus within the family from a young age.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 13/12/2013 11:14:18    1523334

Slightly off topic as these lads never won any major honours.

6 Delaney brothers from the great Tooreen hurling club in Mayo lined up for their county together.

Brian, Fergal, Niall, Ruairi, George and Pat, playing for the Mayo hurlers together. Beat that!

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8149 - 13/12/2013 11:50:52    1523353

At least 2 generations of fennellys in kilkenny, I think ger, Liam, Brendan, Kevin, Michael and Sean won all Irelands in the 80s and 90s, Michael and Colin now. (I think I have the first generation totally a*se-ways!

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 13/12/2013 11:58:55    1523358

Impressive GreenandRed, although it must be said, hurling isnt keenly contested in mayo.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 13/12/2013 12:22:55    1523375

Indeed it isn't Master but they were playing the game they loved at a time hurling was less popular in Mayo befor Ballyhaunis split from Tooreen. All 6 played football at varying levels for Aughamore and their Grandfather George Delaney played against Wexford in the 1916 All Ireland Football final.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8149 - 13/12/2013 13:53:15    1523415

Indeed it isn't Master but they were playing the game they loved at a time hurling was less popular in Mayo befor Ballyhaunis split from Tooreen. All 6 played football at varying levels for Aughamore and their Grandfather George Delaney played against Wexford in the 1916 All Ireland Football final.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8149 - 13/12/2013 13:53:19    1523416

I'd say the Offaly Dooleys and the Kilkenny Fennellys are up there!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8808 - 13/12/2013 14:11:40    1523423

Sorry Flack, just noticed you mentioned the Fennellys!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8808 - 13/12/2013 14:14:42    1523426

Every county and every club has families that provide generations of players. There is a situation where a father was a great player and then his son was too. That is common. What is less common is where a group of brothers were great and then their sons were great too. If we are going to talk genetics then that is where you will find the sports gene. GAA as an all round field sport is less likely to ever identify that sort of link because our athletes would probably excel at any sport. Cycling as a purely physical endurance sport is more easily applicable with for instance Stephen Roche being a top cyclist and then his son and nephew also getting to the top of a truly international sport implies some genetic advantage toward that sport.

jpcampion (Laois) - Posts: 194 - 13/12/2013 14:16:11    1523427

The McGraths of Waterford, the cartons of Dublin! ;-)

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 13/12/2013 15:25:00    1523464

JP, Seán Kelly was a top cyclist. Stephen Roche won some top honours with, almost certainly, some pharmaceutical help.

Frank O'Driscoll and his son Brian would be another example of genetics resulting in good sportsmen and sportswomen.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8149 - 13/12/2013 15:40:51    1523475

Down have a few familys, The Carrs, Rodgers,McKernans but the biggest family influence has been the McCartans with about 15+ having played for Down plus their cousins the O'Neills, Blaneys and Kanes all playing too.

dufferman (Down) - Posts: 157 - 13/12/2013 15:42:08    1523478

The McGuigans, Frank, Tommy, Brian.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 13/12/2013 15:59:36    1523491