Éire Óg, Inis GAA

Éire Óg, Inis GAA
	formerly Ennis Dalcassians
Founded:	1952
County:	Clare
Nickname:	The Townies
Club colours:	Red and White
Grounds:	Éire Óg GAA Grounds,; Clonroadmore,; Ennis
Coordinates:	52°49′55.31″N 8°59′28.49″W / 52.8320306°N 8.9912472°WCoordinates: 52°49′55.31″N 8°59′28.49″W / 52.8320306°N 8.9912472°W
Playing kits
Standard colours
Senior Club Championships

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 in October 2011 when they won the Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship, defeating Ruan GAA 1-15 to 0-06.

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

The Ennis Faughs were an amalgamation of both Éire Óg and St.Josephs Doora-Barefield GAA. They competed together from 1952–1959 and 1994-1995 when there were not enough players available for two separate teams.

[edit] 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 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 1988 in Laois/Offaly, and again 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.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Football

[edit] Senior

Clare Senior Football Champions: 18

2000, 2006
- As Ennis Dalcassians: 1890, 1897, 1899, 1904, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1929, 1947, 1948
- As Ennis Faughs (amalgamation with Doora-Barefield): 1952, 1954, 1994