Éire Óg Greystones
GAA Club

The Greystones Story

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 1  Back to top

Of course, it must be borne in mind that matches were somewhat infrequent and many players walked to the venue of selection and after the match they walked home again - - if they were able! At the turn of the century Greystones could boast a G.AA. team called the 'Wolfe Tones'. They played their local matches in Carr’s Bog. Now where's that? St. Patrick's school covers part of Carr's Bog and at the turn of the century the bog was as hard as a rock hosting the annual circus - a rare event in those days.

Greystones are also on record in the second decade of the century. A note in the Wicklow People said matches in 1915 were played in the Bog and the Cricket grounds

The next team to represent Greystones G.A.A. was called 'United Gaels'. This team was comprised of players from Greystones and Kilcoole hence the title 'United Gaels' When possible they played their local matches at Carr's field. Where could one find that today? Well, Applewood Heights covers Carr's field where the 'United Gaels' played. Greystones won the junior Championship in 1919/1920. They were in Senior grade in 1921, but were beaten by Annacurra in the semi-final.

The early twenties saw yet another G.A.A. team Based in the village of Killincarrig, called the 'Cherry Pickers' Killincarrig could boast a beautiful Cherry Orchard in those days it was the brain child of a young Wexford man, Jimmy Kennedy, later to become a Co. Wexford Senior player and also a member of Dail Eireann.

The 'Cherry Pickers' played home matches in O'Connor's field. Is that field still around? Well, not exactly. It is covered by a housing estate, Lower Kindlestown or the name nature gave it it's built on the edge of a rookery-"Crow Abbey".

Tune in next week for the next installment..........

Part 2  Back to top

An interview was sought and obtained from Mr. John Emerson, the Burnaby Estate Agent. He was a fair man and gave a sympathetic hearing to the delegation and eventually he decided to lease approximately 4 acres of land for a playing ground for the club then being formed. The land was situated at Killincarrig Road, near the Rugby Club who also gave the G.A.A. great support.

Another hurdle had then to be taken and it was a difficult one. In modern jargon - a six marker. The cash flow was in short supply. It was non-existent. Sink or swim, it was decided to approach the Royal Bank. T.U. Cashel was the supremo there. A sportsman, a keen golfer, he understood a sporting problem. When was the best time to see T.U.? On a Monday morning - not any old Monday morning. A particular Monday morning - the Monday morning after he had won the Captain's Prize in Greystones Golf Club - he was in great form and agreed to lend £40, guarantors and trustees to be acceptable to him. The hunt was on then for Guarantors and Trustees. They were found: John J. Redmond, Pater Larkin, John McKenzie and Patrick Clarke.

Fencing materials were bought in Glenealy. The pitch was duly fenced off. Jerseys were purchased with a 'G' on the left side and the club was called the Greystones Gaels. Against all odds and expectations the Gaels won that Championship beating Hollywood by a point or two in the final, which was played in Aughrim. The team in 1934 consisted of Jack Cullen, Mick Frawley, Jack Byrne, Bill Kirwan, Garrett Byrne, John Brady, E. Clarke, Jim Gunning, Bob Redmond, F. Clarke, M Quinn, S. Redmond, J. Donohoe, J. Clarke, G Gorman, H. Lawless, G. Donoghoe. Jimmy Donohoe arranged a special train for the Gaels and Greystones Pipe Band played the team on to the field.

On the way home a Greystones follower asked the guard to halt the train. "What for?" asked the guard. 'I have lost my dentures out the window". said the spectator. 'Drop down in the morning and pick them up", said the guard. On arrival in Greystones after the match the band, team and followers marched to St. Kilian's Hall for a great reception. The club continued to prosper throughout the thirties. A big cross was the departure from Greystones of Jimmy Donohoe, who, losing his railway position to a strike, took up a position in the Dublin Custom House.

In 1936 Mick Frawley played with the County Wicklow team along with a few Kilcoole players, that won the All Ireland Championship. Everyone who was interested in G.A.A. was in Croke Park that day including H. Redmond and his goat. What a day for Wicklow! Now as the thirties were running out and the war years approaching, things were not going so well. John Barry, B Ganly, M, McDonald, J. Doran and Tom Swan started to play for Greystones. In 1937, due to people emigrating to England and other places Kilcoole and Greystones joined forces to keep the G.A.A. going in North Wicklow. This team was known as the Gaels. The team went Senior and won quite a few games but no trophies. All went well until 1939 when war broke out. In 1939 and 1942 Greystones won the Schweppes Cup.

The army arrived in Bray and Greystones and with the help of some army players Kilcoole got back on their feet. So Greystones, Bray Emmets, Kilmacanogue ard Kilcoole had teams restored again. The army also had a team, and the G.A.A was going strong. In 1942 Greystones went on to win the North Wicklow Junior League and twice in the 1940s won the Schweppes Cup and received a football on each occasion.

Part 3  Back to top

In 1956 Greystones had a great double win in the Junior Hurling Championship and the Junior Football ‘B’ Championship. In late December of that year they beat Rathnew in the Junior Hurling final with the following team: N. Foley, Declan Clarke, Davy Fox, Jimmy Whiston, S. Dowling, Henry O’Kelly, Maurice Scully, Tommy Bolger, J. Doyle, Kevan O’Kelly, T. Corrigan, L. McNamara, E. O’Brien, Andy Byrne and D. Flahertty.

After beating Annacurra in the semi-final of the Junior Football Championship in November, Greystones went on to win the ;B; title when beating Donard. Twelve of the players also associated with the hurling win. Tommy Bolger, Dave O’Connor, Davy Fox, Jimmy Whiston, Jimmy O’Toole, Henry, Paddy and Devan O’Kelly, Eddie and Willie Earls, Andy and John Byrne, John Gregory, Declan Clarke, J. O’Keefe, J. Doyle and Des Mitchell were involved in the football campaign.

In 1965 Greystones beat Hollywood in Ashford, Now at that time there were no ‘super subs’, but Greystones had one that day. With only minutes to go Hollywood lead by one point and Greystones fielded their sub Ricky Kirwan who got two great points which took them to the final with Annacurra. The same Ricky Kirwan scored 4 goals and 1 point and with the help of 14 other great players Greystones won the Championship.

They were the first team to win the well-known Swan Cup which at that time was the Championship Cub, (now you have to beat the Junior ‘B’ Champions after winning the ‘A’ Championship). Greystones also won the Schweppes Cup that year. The team that year was: John Byrne, Mick Carroll, John Connolly, Eugene Barry, Ray Barry, Shay Kinsella, Andy Byrne, Davy Fox, Ed. McKenzie, Rickey Kirwan, Jimmy Brady, Jimmy O’Toole, Paddy Whiston, Fran McGowan and Peter O’Neill. After winning the Championship the club did not fare too well for some time and did not win many games. Payers like Pa Redmond, Ray Barry, Shay Kinsella, Andy Byrne, John Byrne and a few more kept the club going but Eugene Barry left for Canada.

In the 1970’s Des Mitchell, Ray Barry and Tom Swan often had difficulty in getting out tams. There were times when Des Mitchell, Eugene Kirby and a few others had to play in order to make a team. Greystones very seldom gave walk-overs. Then along came some other players and many times we got to finals with our great friends, Kilcoole and Kilmacanogue.

In 1978 Greystones won the Junior League. In 1981 Kilmacanogue beat Greystones after a replay in the Championship semi-final. Greystones beat Kilmacanogue in Kilcoole and won the Championship (Swan Cup) in 1982 beating Baltinglass in Roundwood. They also beat Kilmacanogue in the Junior League with the same team: Peter O’Neill, Pa Redmond, Ray Barry, Paul Sutton, Garry Cambell, John Commons, Dermot Smullen, Seamus Whooley, Martin Mulford, Mick Kendrich (captain), Mossie Gaskin, Peter Dean, Paul Hayden, Bamber Gaskin, Jimmie Gilbert, P.J. Vickers, John Traynor, Niall Molloy and D. O’Toole, all local lads.

Part 4  Back to top

On the County Junior ‘A’ Champion winning team from 1982, it is worth noting that there were many chips from the old blocks playing. Take Pa Redmond – father Bob, uncle Steve, grandfather J.J. Redmond; Gerry Cambell – uncle Nix McDonald; D. Smullen – father Tom, uncle Seamus, uncle Jimmy Hatton; John Commons – father Martin; The two Gaskins – uncle Tom and Muck; Peter Deane – father played for Kilcoole Senior team and county team winning many trophies; Paul Hayden – father Paddy, great county man, and uncle Jim; P.J. Vickers – father and uncle; Mick Lawless – father Oliver.

Shay Whooley and Peter O’Neill started their football in Greystones at an early age. It was said that Ray and Eugene Barry always played and walked in their father’s footsteps but it was found that John was left-footed and wore size 9 boots, where both Eugene and Ray wore size 7, the same size as their uncle Tom Swan. In 1984 Greystones were doing well and fielded two teams. They had two splendid leaders in Des Mitchell and Ray Barry who played a major role in recent wins. The inspiration must have come from two more great warriors – John Barry and Tom Swan – who had been pillars of the club all down the years. Tom Swan had attended every All-Ireland final in Croke Park since 1926.

Tom had seen 12 different counties win championships, but regretted that he hadn’t seen the Wicklow footballers make the grade. In the early 80’s Greystones had to fight hard to hold on to their playing pitch and had to go to court in order to retain it.

Part 5  Back to top

1991 – A giant step forward. May 1989 was an auspicious month in the annals of Éire Óg Greystones. The way was finally cleared for the long awaited dressing rooms and showers. After years of planning, the last obstacles of the relevant authorities were overcome and the diggers were on site. It had been decided that as much of the work as possible would be carried out by voluntary labour. In this way it was estimated that the club had enough money on hand to pay for materials and specialised work without resorting to bank loans. A small sub-committee was formed with the responsibility of the day to day need while the building work was in progress. They were Patsy Vickers, Chris Moloney, George Brady, Danny Hatten. Pat Daye was secretary.

Like the response for financial help in 1986, the call for voluntary workers was given a positive answer when upwards of 20 men and young boys assembled to lay the foundations. Old men and ex players came to help or just watch. They could hardly believe their eyes. Their dream was coming true. They did not mind changing beside the fence in their time, but they knew that the younger generations would not accept it. Other players had these facilities and it was time gaelic players were offered the same.

Day by day the walls inched their way upwards and the building was beginning to take shape. It seems as if the Gods were on our side because that May of 1989 was one of the sunniest on record. As one wise craic put it, “It isn’t too bad working for nothing while you are getting a tan”. By September of 1989 the roof and windows were in place and it was secure for the winter. Except for specialised work, such as electricy and plumming, contractors were employed.

The building was soon completed as anticipated “without owing anybody anything”. Except of course a very big “go raibh míle maith agaibh” to all who helped in any way whatsoever. The voluntary workers deserved the greatest credit as did the Éire Óg committee and the building sub-committee whose meticulous attention to detail ensured there were no hitches. George Brady in particular put an enormous amount of time and effort into this project both on site and on paper and Jim Scully was always on hand, Chris Moloney for his valuable skill and technical advice and Patsy Vickers to name a few.

1991 – 2000. The original dressing rooms/clubhouse was officially opened on Sunday the 6th October 1991. Phase 1 had been completed and much had still to be done. In due course phase 2 would need to be tackled. This would consist of community hall, games rooms, meeting rooms etc. Only then could we consider ourselves fully equipped as a club. In addition, the playing field itself would have to be upgraded in the coming years by levelling and boundary fencing. It was anticipated back in 1991 that by the year 2000, the club would be surrounded by housing estates. Instead of searching for balls kicked over the sidelines into the corn and potato stalks back then they would find their way into back gardens of nearby houses.

In the mid 1990’s the first floodlights were erected on one side of the field due to the increase in teams. In the late 1990’s the club purchased that same field once occupied by corn and potato stalks and levelled, drained and developed it as a Championship pitch with spectator banking on three sides.

Part 6  Back to top

The turn of the millennium saw the rejuvenation of hurling in the club after a long absence at underage level through the hard work and dedication of Bamber and Mossie Gaskin and Dr. Brendan Cuddihy. It is now a common sight to see young people walking around the town with hurls in their hands. This is not surprising now that there are 5 teams in the club from under 10 to minor level.

In 2004 the championship pitch was boundary fenced and in 2005 the entire original field was floodlight to a high standard to accommodate all of the additional teams that are now in the club.

After a number of years planning, and in particular the hard work and dedication of chairman Oliver Leonard, the new clubhouse commenced construction in April of 2005. See the latest details on that on the new development page.

The club currently has around 800 member and this is growing steadily every year.