Castletownbere GFC
Encyclopedia
Castletownbere GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club based in Castletownbere
in Cork
, Ireland
. Its Gaelic Football
team participates in competitions organized by Cork GAA, and is a member of Beara
division. The club, like the other Beara clubs, does nor field a hurling
team.
was officially affiliated to the GAA in 1927, when the divisional system was established. Gaelic Football was however played for many years prior to 1927 in Castletownbere and there were various teams throughout the parish.
There was a team from the Town called The Magpies who wore Black and White jerseys. These were the colours adopted by the club when it affiliated in 1927. The colours did change to green and subsequently blue but have long since returned to the traditional Black and White.
The club had to wait until 1942 to contest its first Beara
Championship final and a further five years until 1947 to win the Beara Title for the first time. Between 1947 and 1976 the club won nine Divisional Championships. In 1963, 1964, and 1965 a second team from the parish Rosmacowen entered the Beara Championship. The two teams met in the Beara Championship in 1965 with the Castletownbere team winning. Between 1966 and 1970 Rosmacowen formed a team with Bere Island called St Brendan's.
In 1974 Castletownbere club contested its first Cork Junior Football Championship
Final when a team captained by Donal Holland lost by 1-7 0-8 to Fermoy
. This was repeated in 1976 when Castlehaven
defeated a team captained by Ger Batt O Sullivan by 3-7 to 0-6 in the County Final.
1977 proved to be a historical year for the club when on the occasion of its 50th anniversary a team captained by Seanie O Sullivan won the clubs tenth Beara Championship and first County Championship. Rockchapel
were defeated in the county final at Macroom
on a score line of 3-5 to 0-8.
In 1978 Castletownbere entered the Intermediate ranks and played at this level until 1986 when they won the Cork Intermediate Football Championship
. Once again, the venue was Macroom
, as the club beat Kilshannig
by 1-8 to 0-7.
The 1987 season saw Castletownbere compete at senior level for the first time when they defeated Carrigdhoun
by 4-11 to 0-5 in the first round of the championship. They were eventually beaten at the quarter final stage by the reigning County Champions Imokilly
. The club again played in the senior championship in 1988 before returning to the intermediate grade in 1989. The club has contested five County Intermediate
finals since, in 1990, 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2011 but has failed to win any of them.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club based in Castletownbere
Castletownbere
Castletownbere is a small town in County Cork in Ireland. It is located on the southwest coast of Ireland, in West Cork, on Berehaven harbour near the entrance to Bantry Bay. It is also known as Castletown Berehaven. The name of the town comes from the no longer extant MacCarty Castle, and not...
in Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Its Gaelic Football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
team participates in competitions organized by Cork GAA, and is a member of Beara
Beara GAA
Beara GAA is a division of Cork GAA, and is responsible for organizing Gaelic Athletic Association games in the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, Ireland. It is one of eight divisions of Cork County Board. It organizes competitions for the clubs within the division, from Under 12 up to the adult level...
division. The club, like the other Beara clubs, does nor field a hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
team.
History
The Castletownbere GAA Club like most of the GAA Clubs in BearaBeara GAA
Beara GAA is a division of Cork GAA, and is responsible for organizing Gaelic Athletic Association games in the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, Ireland. It is one of eight divisions of Cork County Board. It organizes competitions for the clubs within the division, from Under 12 up to the adult level...
was officially affiliated to the GAA in 1927, when the divisional system was established. Gaelic Football was however played for many years prior to 1927 in Castletownbere and there were various teams throughout the parish.
There was a team from the Town called The Magpies who wore Black and White jerseys. These were the colours adopted by the club when it affiliated in 1927. The colours did change to green and subsequently blue but have long since returned to the traditional Black and White.
The club had to wait until 1942 to contest its first Beara
Beara GAA
Beara GAA is a division of Cork GAA, and is responsible for organizing Gaelic Athletic Association games in the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, Ireland. It is one of eight divisions of Cork County Board. It organizes competitions for the clubs within the division, from Under 12 up to the adult level...
Championship final and a further five years until 1947 to win the Beara Title for the first time. Between 1947 and 1976 the club won nine Divisional Championships. In 1963, 1964, and 1965 a second team from the parish Rosmacowen entered the Beara Championship. The two teams met in the Beara Championship in 1965 with the Castletownbere team winning. Between 1966 and 1970 Rosmacowen formed a team with Bere Island called St Brendan's.
In 1974 Castletownbere club contested its first Cork Junior Football Championship
Cork Junior Football Championship
The Cork Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition in Cork. The competition was originally established in 1895 as a competition for second teams of clubs playing in the Cork Senior Football Championship. This is the fourth level of football clubs, under Senior, Premier...
Final when a team captained by Donal Holland lost by 1-7 0-8 to Fermoy
Fermoy GAA
Fermoy GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association based in the town of Fermoy, Cork, Ireland. The club fields teams in competitions organized by the Cork GAA county board and the Avondhu GAA divisional board...
. This was repeated in 1976 when Castlehaven
Castlehaven GAA
Castlehaven Gaelic Football Club is a West Cork-based GAA club in the parish of Castlehaven near the town of Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland. The club also draws players from the village of Union Hall. The club participates in competitions run by Cork GAA and by the Carbery divisional board...
defeated a team captained by Ger Batt O Sullivan by 3-7 to 0-6 in the County Final.
1977 proved to be a historical year for the club when on the occasion of its 50th anniversary a team captained by Seanie O Sullivan won the clubs tenth Beara Championship and first County Championship. Rockchapel
Rockchapel GAA
Rockchapel GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Rockchapel in the North West of County Cork, Ireland which forms part of the parish of Rockchapel and Meelin. The village is located close to border with County Kerry and County Limerick. The club plays Gaelic Football in...
were defeated in the county final at Macroom
Macroom
Macroom is a market town in Ireland located in a valley on the River Sullane, a tributary of the River Lee, between Cork and Killarney. It is one of the key gateways to the tourist region of West Cork. The town recorded a population on 3,553 in the 2006 national census...
on a score line of 3-5 to 0-8.
In 1978 Castletownbere entered the Intermediate ranks and played at this level until 1986 when they won the Cork Intermediate Football Championship
Cork Intermediate Football Championship
This is the Second tier Gaelic football team competition organized by the Cork GAA board. This championship was discontinued after 1938 because of a lack of clubs. From 1939 until 1964 any team that won the Junior County Football Final could go straight to Senior. The Intermediate Championship was...
. Once again, the venue was Macroom
Macroom
Macroom is a market town in Ireland located in a valley on the River Sullane, a tributary of the River Lee, between Cork and Killarney. It is one of the key gateways to the tourist region of West Cork. The town recorded a population on 3,553 in the 2006 national census...
, as the club beat Kilshannig
Kilshannig GAA
Kilshannig is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish of Glantane in County Cork, Ireland. The parish in North Cork is split into three villages, Glantane, Dromahane and Bweeng. The club was founded in the same year as GAA's founding, in 1884. Cill Seannaigh comes from St. Senach,...
by 1-8 to 0-7.
The 1987 season saw Castletownbere compete at senior level for the first time when they defeated Carrigdhoun
Carrigdhoun GAA
Carrigdhoun GAA is one of the eight baronies or Gaelic Athletic Association divisions that make up Cork. The division is made up of eleven Gaelic Athletic Association teams, making it one of the smaller divisions....
by 4-11 to 0-5 in the first round of the championship. They were eventually beaten at the quarter final stage by the reigning County Champions Imokilly
Imokilly GAA
Imokilly GAA is a Gaelic football and Hurling division in the east of Cork, Ireland. The division includes towns such as Midleton, Cobh, and Youghal. It is one of eight divisions of Cork County Board. It organizes competitions for the clubs within the division, from Under 12 up to the adult level...
. The club again played in the senior championship in 1988 before returning to the intermediate grade in 1989. The club has contested five County Intermediate
Cork Intermediate Football Championship
This is the Second tier Gaelic football team competition organized by the Cork GAA board. This championship was discontinued after 1938 because of a lack of clubs. From 1939 until 1964 any team that won the Junior County Football Final could go straight to Senior. The Intermediate Championship was...
finals since, in 1990, 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2011 but has failed to win any of them.
Achievements
- Cork Intermediate Football ChampionshipCork Intermediate Football ChampionshipThis is the Second tier Gaelic football team competition organized by the Cork GAA board. This championship was discontinued after 1938 because of a lack of clubs. From 1939 until 1964 any team that won the Junior County Football Final could go straight to Senior. The Intermediate Championship was...
Winners 1986 Runner-Up 1990, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2011 - Cork Junior Football ChampionshipCork Junior Football ChampionshipThe Cork Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition in Cork. The competition was originally established in 1895 as a competition for second teams of clubs playing in the Cork Senior Football Championship. This is the fourth level of football clubs, under Senior, Premier...
Winners 1977 Runner-Up 1974, 1976 - Cork Minor B Football ChampionshipCork Minor B Football ChampionshipThe Cork Minor B Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition played in County Cork, Ireland. The competition is between Gaelic Athletic Association clubs affiliated to the Cork board. All players have to under the age of 18 on January 1 of the year in which the competition is being held...
Winners 1996, 2002, 2003 - Beara Junior Football Championship - Winners 1947, 1949, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Notable players
- Joe O'SullivanJoe O'SullivanJoe O'Sullivan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Beara and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s.-References:...
- played in 1957 All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
final - Donagh Wiseman - winner of All-Ireland Junior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Junior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Junior Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association competition for junior gaelic football inter-county teams in Ireland. The definition of what constitutes a junior player differs from county to county. In some, the junior team is the second team after the senior team...
medals with Cork