Muintir Bháire GAA
Encyclopedia
Muintir Bháire GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club based in Durrus
, County Cork
, Ireland
. The club fields teams in Gaelic football
only. The club take part in competitions organized by Carbery
division of Cork. Since the population of the area is small, the club is weak and mainly operates in the lowest grade available.
in 1888 playing Skibbereen
. However there was a near total failure of the potato crop in 1890 and a mood of panic gripped the area, resulting in a drop in the number of clubs from 38 to 2. In the early years rules were loose and matches sometimes developed into a melee. In the 1930s the playing field was in Clashadoo opposite the former schoolhouse. Teams would often travel to matches in the back of Jackie Cronin's lorry. Over the years players from the area included Robert O’Sullivan (he is a brother of Danny O’Sullivan publican and later joined the Gardaí
) he played minor football for Cork in the 1968s.
The G.A.A in the parish went through many changes. The only record that exist of any Trophies won was a West Cork Junior 2 title in 1932 with a team captained by Bill Kennedy from Dunmanus.(dec:2004) The Parish was destined to wait 60 years to repeat this feat. The parish were represented by a side called Western Stars in the 60s but that too collapsed due to emigration and lack of leadership.
This was all to change when two committed individuals Tim Cronin & Sean O Suilleabhain organised a meeting to form a new club in the early 70s & it was agreed to call Muintir Bhaire. With Tim as Chairman and Sean as Runai it was all systems go. The most notable even came in the mid 70s when the reached a West Cork Junior Final but alas defeat was their lot. Emigration was again to play a part in the near demise of the Club during the 80s when the brightest and best left the area to seek their fortune in the U.S.A. The arrival of Joe O Driscoll N.T. to the local school concided with a crop of talented pupils put the Club back on track winning games @ Fe 12 & 14.
The early 90s again saw the club in fold up mode but the arrival of Frank Arundel and Tom Coughlan launched the club to new heights & success was soon to follow winning West Cork titles Fe 21 (C)96 & Fe 21 (B)in 98.
Greater things were around the corner the turn of the century saw the West Cork Junior (B) cup in the Parish for the first time in 60 years captained by Sean Tobin. Team trainer Careagh's Tony O Driscoll and Tipperary's Jack McNulty with selectors Tom Coughlan and Vincent Cronin had greater plans for the team. This was realised in 2003 when the first ever Cork Junior B Football Championship
title came to the Parish. This was indeed an Historical occasion & amid scenes of great joy as Sean Tobin became the first Muintir Bhaire man to raise a Cup In PAIRC UI RINN. To date the only Muintir man to play senior football with Cork is Sean Levis (Brahlish).
The Club were promoted to Junior 1 in 04 and to date (2010) have competed with distinction contesting the West Cork final in 2007 where they were defeated by Bandon
. They won the West Cork Junior League in 09 defeating Kilmacabea
in the final.
The club were without a ground of their own until 2009 when the farm of the Late Jimmy Dukelow at Crotees was purchased and currently plans are on hand to develop magnificent playing facilities over the coming years!
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 Durrus
Durrus
Durrus is a village located in West Cork, six miles from Bantry, County Cork, Ireland. It is situated at the head of the Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas. A number of public gardens have been established in the area, including 'Kilvarock' and 'Cois Abhann'...
, County 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,...
. The club fields teams in Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
only. The club take part in competitions organized by Carbery
Carbery GAA
Carbery GAA are a divisional team from the south-west division of County Cork, Ireland, in ancient Carbery. They compete in the Cork Senior Football Championship. They competed in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship up to and including 2010. They did not enter a hurling team in 2011...
division of Cork. Since the population of the area is small, the club is weak and mainly operates in the lowest grade available.
History
There are references to a club in DurrusDurrus
Durrus is a village located in West Cork, six miles from Bantry, County Cork, Ireland. It is situated at the head of the Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas. A number of public gardens have been established in the area, including 'Kilvarock' and 'Cois Abhann'...
in 1888 playing Skibbereen
Skibbereen
Skibbereen , is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is the most southerly town in Ireland. It is located on the N71 national secondary road.The name "Skibbereen" means "little boat harbour." The River Ilen which runs through the town reaches the sea at Baltimore.-History:Prior to 1600 most of the...
. However there was a near total failure of the potato crop in 1890 and a mood of panic gripped the area, resulting in a drop in the number of clubs from 38 to 2. In the early years rules were loose and matches sometimes developed into a melee. In the 1930s the playing field was in Clashadoo opposite the former schoolhouse. Teams would often travel to matches in the back of Jackie Cronin's lorry. Over the years players from the area included Robert O’Sullivan (he is a brother of Danny O’Sullivan publican and later joined the Gardaí
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
) he played minor football for Cork in the 1968s.
The G.A.A in the parish went through many changes. The only record that exist of any Trophies won was a West Cork Junior 2 title in 1932 with a team captained by Bill Kennedy from Dunmanus.(dec:2004) The Parish was destined to wait 60 years to repeat this feat. The parish were represented by a side called Western Stars in the 60s but that too collapsed due to emigration and lack of leadership.
This was all to change when two committed individuals Tim Cronin & Sean O Suilleabhain organised a meeting to form a new club in the early 70s & it was agreed to call Muintir Bhaire. With Tim as Chairman and Sean as Runai it was all systems go. The most notable even came in the mid 70s when the reached a West Cork Junior Final but alas defeat was their lot. Emigration was again to play a part in the near demise of the Club during the 80s when the brightest and best left the area to seek their fortune in the U.S.A. The arrival of Joe O Driscoll N.T. to the local school concided with a crop of talented pupils put the Club back on track winning games @ Fe 12 & 14.
The early 90s again saw the club in fold up mode but the arrival of Frank Arundel and Tom Coughlan launched the club to new heights & success was soon to follow winning West Cork titles Fe 21 (C)96 & Fe 21 (B)in 98.
Greater things were around the corner the turn of the century saw the West Cork Junior (B) cup in the Parish for the first time in 60 years captained by Sean Tobin. Team trainer Careagh's Tony O Driscoll and Tipperary's Jack McNulty with selectors Tom Coughlan and Vincent Cronin had greater plans for the team. This was realised in 2003 when the first ever Cork Junior B Football Championship
Cork Junior B Football Championship
The Cork Junior B Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition held annually between teams playing in the lowest grade possible in Cork, Ireland. The competition, organized by Cork, involves teams from all eight divisions in the county, Avondhu, Beara, Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Duhallow,...
title came to the Parish. This was indeed an Historical occasion & amid scenes of great joy as Sean Tobin became the first Muintir Bhaire man to raise a Cup In PAIRC UI RINN. To date the only Muintir man to play senior football with Cork is Sean Levis (Brahlish).
The Club were promoted to Junior 1 in 04 and to date (2010) have competed with distinction contesting the West Cork final in 2007 where they were defeated by Bandon
Bandon GAA
Bandon GAA is a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Bandon in County Cork, Republic of Ireland.The club is affiliated with Carbery division of Cork....
. They won the West Cork Junior League in 09 defeating Kilmacabea
Kilmacabea
Kilmacabea is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the villages of Leap, Glandore and Connagh in County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated to Cork GAA and plays in the Carbery division. The club has a very strong tradition in Gaelic football but sometimes plays hurling also. In 2008, the...
in the final.
The club were without a ground of their own until 2009 when the farm of the Late Jimmy Dukelow at Crotees was purchased and currently plans are on hand to develop magnificent playing facilities over the coming years!
Achievements
- Cork Junior B Football ChampionshipCork Junior B Football ChampionshipThe Cork Junior B Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition held annually between teams playing in the lowest grade possible in Cork, Ireland. The competition, organized by Cork, involves teams from all eight divisions in the county, Avondhu, Beara, Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Duhallow,...
Winner 2003 - West Cork Junior B Football Championship Winners 1947 (as Durrus), 2000, 2003 Runners-Up 1949, 1984
- West Cork Junior C Football Championship Winners 1998
- West Cork Junior D Football Championship Runners-Up 2007
- West Cork Minor C Football Championship Winners 2003 Runners-Up 2001
- West Cork Under-21 C Football Championship Runners-Up 2003