Clogherinkoe GFC were proud to officially unveil a bench, with a commemorative plaque, marking the clubs 70 years in existence. The event was celebrated at half time of our opening Division 2 league game against near neighbours Carbury who are also celebrating 100 years in existence. We were honoured that our 4 Club presidents-Padraig Gravin, Brendan Lynch, Eddie Fanning and Kevin Miggin were all in attendance. They proudly stood alongside Club Chairman Seamus Galligan and Committee member Ollie Conlon.
A sizeable crowd gathered to listen to Seamus welcome everyone to the Club grounds and speak about how the bench was made from a fully recycled composite material which should last forever, just like Clogherinkoe GFC. He thanked everyone who had made the marking of the occasion possible and invited everyone into the Clubhouse after for refreshments and celebratory cake.
The inscription on the bench reads “1954-70 Bliana, Clocha Rince CLG-2024. In recognition of the vision, dedication, and perseverance of the members of this club through 70 years. Together with the “historic memories, forgotten stories and fragments of tradition” that have inspired and will continue to inspire every generation. Ní neart go cur le chéile!
Ollie spoke of how we borrowed the phrase “historic memories, forgotten stories and fragments of tradition” from Michael Doheny. Doheny was a contemporary of Thomas Davis who alongside Charles Gavan Duffy and John Blake Dillon established “The Nation” newspaper in 1842 which was a major influence in Nationalist thinking with a determination to halt the erosion of Irish culture and to revitalise it.
The GAA was subsequently founded in 1884 and Ollie spoke about how at the Golden Jubilee of the GAA in 1934, Cardinal MacRory, Archbishop of Armagh wrote an article in the Irish Press Newspaper describing the GAA’s impact on Irish life. Cardinal MacRory wrote: “Before the founding of the GAA, language, music and dances were fast disappearing and only the dry bones of Irish nationalism remained. The GAA clothed these dry bones with flesh and quickened them with a vigorous pulsating life”.
The very early seeds of Clogherinkoe GFC were sewn in 1904 with the Eoghan Ruadh O’Neill Club, a photo of the team believed to be taken by Phil O’Connor of Harristown, hangs in the Clubhouse. Many names are still synonymous with the club and area. The names on the photo include Jim Whelehan, Jack Coyne, Paddy Coyne, Tom Conlan, Jim Connolly, Tom Beatty (Capt), Pat Conlan, Dan Beegan, Hugh Mooney, Jim Dunne, Tom Loughrey, Jonnie Conlan, Paddy Whelehan, Pat Molloy and Larry Hickey.
Following on from the disbandment of that team, a Carrick team emerged which still involved a lot of the Eoghan Ruadh O’Neill Club players, alongside Sydney Weld. He was a County Board Official who played for the club while working in the area. The Cloghs were very proud to subsequently lift the Sydney Weld trophy for the Junior C Championship in 1977.
Following on from the Carrick team, the Ballindoolin team was formed in 1937. Again local names were still to the fore front. So much so that Ollie and Kevin Miggin’s father played on the Ballindoolin team alongside a good few more in attendance. How amazing to have that connection still going strong in 2025! Unfortunately the team disbanded in 1949 but the foundation had been truly laid for the construction of Clogherinkoe GFC as we know it today, in 1954.
Ollie stated we started off humbly enough but we have grown steadily throughout the years and today we proudly compete in the Senior Championship, something we are sure the clubs predecessors would be extremely proud of. There is of course a lot more to the history of Clogherinkoe GFC and we add to it year on year. There wasn’t enough time to mention it all but there is an article on https://www.clogherinkoe.kildare.gaa.ie, written by Ollie, which goes into more depth.
Fittingly, Ollie concluded his speech with a reference to a Greek Proverb: “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” There has been many people in our community who have contributed so much to the club in the past and those who continue to do so that abide by this proverb. There were also many who have sewn seeds for the club who thought they would have been here to see them come to fruition but sadly that was not to be, but Ollie feels that they are every bit as proud of the clubs progress as we are. He finished the speech to a round of applause with the words Ní neart go cur le chéile which translates as “Together we are stronger”.
Following the match we all retired to the Clubhouse to reminisce some more and make plans for, at least, the next 70 years.
Thank you to everyone for attending the half time celebrations, our 4 Presidents and Seamus and Ollie for speaking so well on behalf of the club. We hope that the location of the bench, beside the Cherry Blossom tree, will provide a quiet moment of rest for people, a moment to reflect or even just a place for a chat while at training, watching a match or taking a break for getting the steps in on Jacks Track 🖤💛
Plaque Inscription
Presidents Padraig Gravin, Brendan Lynch, Eddie Fanning, Club Chairman Seamus Galligan, President Kevin Miggin and Club committee member Ollie Conlan pictured at the memorial bench.
Presidents Padraig Gravin, Brendan Lynch, Eddie Fanning, Club Chairman Seamus Galligan, President Kevin Miggin and Club committee member Ollie Conlan pictured at the memorial bench.
Cake from Bergins to celebrate the occasion.
Eddie Fanning cuts the cake under close observation.
