Founded in 1888 just four years after the foundation of the GAA, CLG Iascaigh celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. On Sunday 15th January 1888, an informal meeting was held, in Easkey, for the purpose of starting a branch of the G. A. A. in the parish. Just two weeks later, following another meeting, a club was formed. Thirty men were enrolled to the club and a football match was played afterwards. The first County Sligo Senior Football Championship was played in 1888 and Easkey were one of the first teams competing in the competition. Easkey's first competitive match was against St John's on Sunday 11th March 1888 in Collooney, with a 3.30pm throw-in and Mr Thomas Gorevin acting as referee. The game ended in a low-scoring draw, 0-1 to each side. The first competitive Easkey team was: P. Devanny (capt.), J. Mooney, T. Burke, W. Connor, W. Burke, Tom Duffy, William Missett, Eugene Clarke, James Rolston, James Moloney, David Rolston, P. Feeney, Pat Callaghan, James Sheridan, Thomas Rolston and Owen Casey (three Rolston brothers on this team). Easkey were under the management of Michael B. Doherty and J. J. Brennan. Easkey were granted the victors of the replay against St John's (in Templeboy on Sunday 25th March), as the St John's team failed to turn up. Easkey defeated Dromore West in the quarter-final by 3-0 to 0-0, played in Killeenduff on Sunday 1st April. In the semi-finals of the 1888 competition, Easkey were defeated by Sligo Town in Templeboy by 0-3 to 0-0.

The first records of an Easkey Junior football team are in 'The Sligo Champion' June 16th1888 edition. Easkey played in a challenge match against Dromore West and won out on a score-line of 2-2 to 0-0. The following players lined out for Easkey (all of whom were under 15 years of age): J. Skeffington (capt.), F. Harte, P. Hynes, J. Missett, O. Connolly, M. Moloney, P. Lenehan, J. Mohan, J. Boland, P. Conlon, James Collery and Edward Rolston. The rivalry between Easkey and Dromore West was well established at this time, the clubs played out a further 3 challenge matches over the next few weeks of June 1888. Easkey won all four matches on an aggregate score of 7-5 to 0-1.

After a club meeting on Sunday 16th December 1888, it was resolved to officially name the club the 'Easkey Sexton Club', in honour of the former Minister of Parliament in the House of Commons for County Sligo, Thomas Sexton (1848-1932). Sexton was an outspoken advocate for tenant-farmers in the area and served as M. P. for County Sligo from 1880 to 1885 and South Sligo from 1885 to 1886.

Unfortunately, due to the major political instability of the time, there followed a long period of inactivity in Easkey G. A. A. from 1890-1907. The G. A. A. in County Sligo suffered badly in the following years. An opinion piece in the November 26th 1892 edition of 'The Sligo Champion' stated that "There are few counties in Ireland which can boast of a prouder record in the Gaelic movement than Sligo . . . but the Championship of the present year [1892] showed an evident decline, West Sligo [clubs from Tireragh] not being at all represented in 1892." The County Sligo Senior Football Championship of 1893 was the last time it was played until 1907. Easkey G. A. A. would not be involved, competitively again, until 1907, when the club got to the 1907 Senior Football Championship final (losing to Coolera) and won the 1907 Junior Football Championship.

It should be noted that Easkey's colours, in the early years, were orange and green. It wasn't until the club officially became the 'Sea Blues' in the 1930s, when the club adopted the traditional blue, which remains to the present day.


As it stands (in 2013), Easkey G. A. A. have contested 16 County Sligo Senior Football Championship finals in 1907, 1910, 1935 (W), 1936 (W), 1937(W), 1940, 1941(W), 1942, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1966 (W), 1967, 1968 and 1999.

We have won 7 Senior league titles in the following years 1947, 1951, 1952, 1967, 1969, 1994, 1998 while also loosing 3 finals in the 1990's.

Easkey G. A. A. holds 2 County Sligo Senior Hurling Championship titles, being victorious in 1962 and 1963. The 1930's are often referred to as the golden years of Easkey GAA.


In 1980 the club won the first county minor championship since 1931, by beating St Mary's in the county final. Easkey's first county Intermediate league title was in 1981, beating Collooney in the final of the county league. Easkey's first Intermediate championship was in 1982 beating Castleconnor in the county final. The Intermediate Championship was won again in 1987 and 1990 and 2010 by beating Owenmore Gaels, Calry/St Joseph's and Drumcliffe/Rosses Point respectively. Easkey were playing senior football until 2011 with the exception of 2010, but due to mass emigration from the area, are building a new Team with some young players.


In the first half of the 80s, hurling made a brief recovery in the club, when we contested the County Final in 1983, where we lost to Craobh Rua, now Naomh Eoin. In the last few years, underage Hurling has gone from strength to strength, with 8 clubs now partaking in competition in most age groups. To the forefront of these is our own club, who won their fourth successive u12 county title in 2013, and every other underage title in 2013 with the exception of the Minor Championship which we were runners up in. And of course the coveted Féile Div. 5 title was followed by the Div. 4 one in 2013, as well as the Connacht Club U16 title.


Also in 2013 we captured the Minor B league and were runners up in the U14 A Shield while our Intermediates were the Calry 7's runners up and championship semi-finalists.


To celebrate 125years of the Sea Blues we are holding a Gala Dinner in the Diamond Coast Hotel Enniscrone on December the 27th


Special Guests include:

Mark McHugh (2012 Allstar, 2012 All-Ireland Winner with Donegal)


Kevin McStay (RTE Sunday Game Pundit, All-Ireland Club winning manager with St.Brigids)


Liam McHale (Former Mayo Player, All-Ireland Club winning manager with St Brigids)


Benny Kenny (Sligo Hurling GPO)


Entertainment/Music on the night will be from DJ Scruffy Duffy

Being honoured on the night will be victories teams of the past and present, along with usual player of the year awards etc.

This is a very special year for Easkey GAA, and it is hoped that all associated with the club over the years, will join in to reminisce and enjoy this wonderful occasion. This promises to be a great night, for all ages, and a fitting way to end the year. Also a great night out for friends/family who may be home over the Christmas.

Tickets are priced at €25 and are available from any club officer Tweet

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