Éire Óg, Inis GAA

Éire Óg, Inis GAA

formerly Ennis Dalcassians
Founded:	1952
County:	Clare
Nickname:	The Town Townies
Colours:
Grounds:	Clonroadmore, Ennis
Coordinates:	52°49′54.6312″N 8°59′26.754″W / 52.831842000°N 8.99076500°W / 52.831842000; -8.99076500Coordinates: 52°49′54.6312″N 8°59′26.754″W / 52.831842000°N 8.99076500°W / 52.831842000; -8.99076500
Playing kits
Regular Kit Change Kit
Senior Club Championships
All Ireland Munster champions Clare champions Football: - - 18 Hurling: - - 15

Éire Óg, Inis GAA Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Ennis, Clare, Ireland. The club plays both Hurling and Gaelic Football at all age levels.

Their last major achievement came on 14 November 2015 when they successfully defended their 2013 and 2014 Clare Under-21 Football Championship titles, defeating the West Clare amalgamation of Kilrush/Killimer by 0-07 to 0-05 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Milltown Malbay. This completed a historic first 'three in a row' to go with previous trebles in 1909-1911 (Senior Football), 1961-1963 (Minor Hurling), 1964-1966 (Under 21 Hurling) and 1992-1994 (Minor Football).

Prior to the official club formation in 1952, the Ennis Dalcassians represented the county capital.

The Ennis Faughs were an amalgamation of the club with local rivals Doora-Barefield. They competed together from 1944-1956 and 1994-1996 when there were not enough players available for two separate senior football teams.

When combined with their predecessor the Ennis Dalcassians, Éire Óg are the most successful club in Clare at senior level. A combined total of 33 county titles have been won by the capital town, 15 Senior Hurling titles (1990) and 18 Senior Football titles (2006).

History

The club was formed at the end of February 1952. The historic first meeting took place in a house in Steele's Terrace, now occupied by Éire Óg stalwart, Tony Roche. This club was to cater for Junior hurlers in Ennis. The club's first colours were white with a green shamrock and these jerseys were bought by the residents of Steele's Terrace and the Boreen in Ennis. The first Chairman elected was Simon O'Donnell, with Sean Guinnane as vice-chairman, Tony Hickey as treasurer, Hugh O'Donnell as secretary and committee members Paddy Duggan, Declan Ensko, M.Halloran, T.Cusack, and J.Kelly. In 1954 the club colours were changed to red with white collar and cuffs. In 1953 the club decided to enter the senior ranks but was defeated by Clooney that year. In 1954 the club had its first senior victory when it beat Tulla in the semi-final of the Gaelic League tournament. In 1955, with victories over Ruan, Clarecastle, Doora-Barefield and Tulla, Éire Óg reached its first senior final but was beaten by Newmarket. The first trophy won was the Clare Cup when Feakle were beaten in the final by nine points.

In 1956 Éire Óg went one better by winning the Clare Senior Hurling Championship, defeating Clarecastle in the final on a score of 4-05 to 2-08. In 1957 it won the Championship by defeating Whitegate in the final on a score of 5-09 to 2-03. The club reached the final in 1959 but was defeated by Ruan. Éire Óg reached the final in 1965 only to be defeated this time by Newmarket. In 1966 the club defeated Whitegate in the final on a scoreline of 2-8 to 1-4. A number of the team had been successful with Ennis Dalcassians, which had won Minor titles in '61, '62, '63, '65 and '66 and at Under 21 level in '64, '65 and '66. The club qualified for the final in 1975 only to be defeated by the East Clare amalgamation, Brian Boru's. The next success was to come in 1980 when the club was victorious over Newmarket. In 1982 Éire Óg defeated Sixmilebridge in the final on a score of 3-08 to 2-09. The following year Sixmilebridge reversed the result after a replay. In 1985, having reached the final, Éire Óg were defeated by Kilmaley. In 1990 Éire Óg was victorious in the final, this time defeating O'Callaghan's Mills 1-05 to 1-03. The club reached the final again in 1992 only to go down to Sixmilebridge.

In 1971 Éire Óg fielded its first football team and Junior championships were won in 1975 and '76. In 1986 the club reached the senior football final for the first time but was beaten by Cooraclare. The Clare Intermediate Football Championship was won in 1995 and Éire Óg returned to the senior ranks. In 2000 Éire Óg football came of age when the club won the Senior Football Championship for the first time. Éire Óg took over the organisation of underage gaelic games in the town from Ennis Dalcassians by forming a minor club in 1974. This club has been very successful, winning titles at every grade in hurling and football in its 26 years, the highlight being the Féile na nGael Division 1 (Christy Ring Trophy) which was captured in 1999 in Wexford.

In 1975 land was purchased from St. Flannan's College at Clonroadmore, where the club is now based. Since then a lot of money and hard work has gone into pitch development, building the clubhouse and dressing rooms, and the recent addition of a floodlit all-weather pitch.

2000 was the first year that a club has qualified for both senior finals since Ennis Dalcassians won both titles in 1929. The footballers beat Doonbeg while the senior hurling team lost out to Sixmilebridge. In 2001 roles were reversed as Doonbeg snatched the senior football title away from Éire Óg.

Major Honours

Hurling

Clare Senior Hurling Championship: 15

• 1956, 1957, 1966, 1980, 1982, 1990
  • As Ennis Dalcassians: 1890, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1924, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1941

Clare Senior B Hurling Championship: 2

• 2007, 2014

Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship: 5

• 1958, 2011
  • As Ennis Dalcassians: 1927, 1945, 1952

Clare Junior Hurling Championship: 4

• 1990, 2002
  • As Ennis Dalcassians: 1927, 1951

Clare Under-21 Hurling Championship: 6

• 1964, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1977, 2010

Clare Minor Hurling Championship: 9

• 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1989, 1991, 1993

Féile na nGael Division 1 (Christy Ring Trophy): 1

• 1999

Gaelic Football

Clare Senior Football Championship: 18

• 2000, 2006
  • As Ennis Dalcassians: 1890, 1897, 1899, 1904, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1929
  • As Ennis Faughs: 1947, 1948, 1952, 1954, 1994

Cusack Cup: 4

• 2003
  • As Ennis Dalcassians: 1929, 1931, 1932

Clare Intermediate Football Championship: 3

• 1985, 1995
  • As Ennis Faughs: 1946

Clare Junior Football Championship: 7

• 1968, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013
  • As Ennis Dalcassians: 1927, 1943

Clare Under-21 Football Championship: 4

• 2000, 2013, 2014, 2015

Clare Minor Football Championship: 6

• 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2012

Notable Players

This is a list of club players who have won major medals with Clare:

Hurling

* Transferred to Kilmaley in 1998.

Gaelic Football

External links

• Official Éire Óg, Inis GAA Club website