Na Piarsaigh GAA
Encyclopedia
Na Piarsaigh are a Hurling
and Gaelic football
club based in the north side of Cork City, Ireland
. The club was founded in 1943.
These young schoolboys influenced by their education at North Mon. had a great love for our national culture and games. They felt, and with some justification, that existing clubs, and indeed the GAA itself, were not aspiring to the founding ideals of the Association. They set about change and an informal meeting was held under a lamppost outside No.3 (St. Ita's) Redemption Road. Amongst the attendance were: Derry Terry, Christy Twomey, Liam Connery, Pat Leary, Rev. McCabe, Romey Sullivan, Bertie Dorgan, Theo Dorgan, Sean McAiliffe, Paddy Sutton, Jimmy Keating, Paudie Collins, Joe Murphy, Bernie Murphy, Sean Corkery.
In an effort to become properly organised the first formal meeting was held in the presbytery of the North Cathedral. Meanwhile, the youthful members in an effort to achieve higher status and greater influence called upon one of their teachers, Donnacha o Murchu, for guidance and assistance. This led to him becoming the first Uachtaran Donnacha O Murchu, Runai Derry Terry, Cisteoir Paddy Sutton.
In choosing a name for the club the members sought one which would reflect their aims and ideals. Padraig Pearse, it was felt, because of his underlying love of Ireland
and all things Irish, reflected those ideals admirably. Thus the name "Na Piarsaigh" was adopted.
A set of playing-gear colours (black and amber) was acquired. Later in 1951 the symbolic red hand of Ulster
with severed thumb was selected as the club crest after careful consideration. The red hand represents the island that is Ireland, the severed thumb our six north-eastern counties still under foreign rule. The legend is that when Ireland is united the thumb will again rejoin the fingers to create a strong and useful hand.
The newly-formed club, as part of its policy, decided to conduct its affairs as far as possible through the medium of Irish
. Indeed the policy extended to the field of play where the players addressed one another in our native tongue. So novel was this approach to GAA
affairs that it led to a certain amount of resentment amongst other clubs. The national outlook was then in such a state during what is termed the "Emergency" that any willingness to promote Irish language culture generally met with strong opposition. The opposition to club activities by the local clergy, in fact, caused us to lose the use of St. Mary's Hall.
In relation to this the then Uactaran Donnacha O Murchu recalls the words of a prominent local clergyman of the day, "We don't want any of that oul' stuff going on here". This, however, did not unduly upset our youthful members who strove all the more to achieve their aims and ideals. By 1946 the membership had grown from thirty to seventy, but, as yet the club had failed to win a title in either hurling or football. However, in the same year the City Division Junior Hurling Championship was won, a historic first and no mean achievement in three years of existence. During this period also, minor teams were fielded but without much success. Training for matches was a problem without a club ground. During this period training took place in such diverse locations as the Lee Fields, Rivers town, The Fair Field, and Browns Field, which was located near the present day Church of the Ascension in Gurranabraher.
This appeal by the Secretary was to bear fruit six years later when after hard years of fund-raising the club purchased a field at The Commons, Fair Hill. In this eventful year of 1951 the need for a properly organised minor section was strongly mooted. Again, Donncha O Griofa, in his address, referred to this when he wrote: "Films and books cannot teach the game. Give young boys hurleys and footballs and they will do the rest. Encourage them to think they are the coming champions. The success of our club must ultimately rest in the generation to follow".
title was added.
Three Minor Hurling County
titles were added in 1961, 62 and 63, in what should have laid the foundations for success at Senior level
. However disappointment was to follow with heartbreaking defeats in the mid sixties.
In football success at Junior level
came with victory in the County final in 1964, followed quickly by County success at Intermediate level
the following year. Thus the Club had gone from Junior level to Senior in the shortest possible period.
However it was to be the 1970s in which much of the groundwork for today's success at Senior level was laid with a succession of brilliant hurling teams at under age level.
Winners:
GAA All Stars Awards winners (hurling):
Tony O'Sullivan is among an elite group of Cork players who hold five All Star Awards.
Tony, along with his former Cork team mates John Fenton
and Jimmy Barry-Murphy
hold the distinction of heading the roll of honour as the most decorated Cork All Stars.
All Stars Hurler of the Year:
All Stars Young Hurler of the Year:
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...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club based in the north side of Cork City, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The club was founded in 1943.
Birth of the club
In 1943 a group of idealistic young men drawn mostly from the famed hurling nursery of North Mon. laid the foundations of Cumann Iomana & Peile Na Piarsaigh.These young schoolboys influenced by their education at North Mon. had a great love for our national culture and games. They felt, and with some justification, that existing clubs, and indeed the GAA itself, were not aspiring to the founding ideals of the Association. They set about change and an informal meeting was held under a lamppost outside No.3 (St. Ita's) Redemption Road. Amongst the attendance were: Derry Terry, Christy Twomey, Liam Connery, Pat Leary, Rev. McCabe, Romey Sullivan, Bertie Dorgan, Theo Dorgan, Sean McAiliffe, Paddy Sutton, Jimmy Keating, Paudie Collins, Joe Murphy, Bernie Murphy, Sean Corkery.
In an effort to become properly organised the first formal meeting was held in the presbytery of the North Cathedral. Meanwhile, the youthful members in an effort to achieve higher status and greater influence called upon one of their teachers, Donnacha o Murchu, for guidance and assistance. This led to him becoming the first Uachtaran Donnacha O Murchu, Runai Derry Terry, Cisteoir Paddy Sutton.
In choosing a name for the club the members sought one which would reflect their aims and ideals. Padraig Pearse, it was felt, because of his underlying love of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and all things Irish, reflected those ideals admirably. Thus the name "Na Piarsaigh" was adopted.
A set of playing-gear colours (black and amber) was acquired. Later in 1951 the symbolic red hand of Ulster
Red Hand of Ulster
The Red Hand of Ulster is a symbol used in heraldry to denote the Irish province of Ulster. It is less commonly known as the Red Hand of O'Neill. Its origins are said to be attributed to the mythical Irish figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg , and appear in other mythical tales passed down from generation...
with severed thumb was selected as the club crest after careful consideration. The red hand represents the island that is Ireland, the severed thumb our six north-eastern counties still under foreign rule. The legend is that when Ireland is united the thumb will again rejoin the fingers to create a strong and useful hand.
The newly-formed club, as part of its policy, decided to conduct its affairs as far as possible through the medium of Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. Indeed the policy extended to the field of play where the players addressed one another in our native tongue. So novel was this approach to GAA
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...
affairs that it led to a certain amount of resentment amongst other clubs. The national outlook was then in such a state during what is termed the "Emergency" that any willingness to promote Irish language culture generally met with strong opposition. The opposition to club activities by the local clergy, in fact, caused us to lose the use of St. Mary's Hall.
In relation to this the then Uactaran Donnacha O Murchu recalls the words of a prominent local clergyman of the day, "We don't want any of that oul' stuff going on here". This, however, did not unduly upset our youthful members who strove all the more to achieve their aims and ideals. By 1946 the membership had grown from thirty to seventy, but, as yet the club had failed to win a title in either hurling or football. However, in the same year the City Division Junior Hurling Championship was won, a historic first and no mean achievement in three years of existence. During this period also, minor teams were fielded but without much success. Training for matches was a problem without a club ground. During this period training took place in such diverse locations as the Lee Fields, Rivers town, The Fair Field, and Browns Field, which was located near the present day Church of the Ascension in Gurranabraher.
Acquisition of Club Grounds
As the club grew and expanded in the late forties, the need for a playing field was keenly felt and expressed by the then Secretary Donncha O Griofa in his annual report of 1951 when he wrote: "The lack of a playing field of our own is greatly impeding the advancement of our teams. As members are unable to get sufficient training for matches, they ultimately wander to other codes".This appeal by the Secretary was to bear fruit six years later when after hard years of fund-raising the club purchased a field at The Commons, Fair Hill. In this eventful year of 1951 the need for a properly organised minor section was strongly mooted. Again, Donncha O Griofa, in his address, referred to this when he wrote: "Films and books cannot teach the game. Give young boys hurleys and footballs and they will do the rest. Encourage them to think they are the coming champions. The success of our club must ultimately rest in the generation to follow".
Success on the Playing Fields
In 1946 the Club won its first title at Junior level, annexing the City title. However this group of dedicated workers and followers had to wait until 1953 to achieve their finest hour, when the County Junior HurlingCork Junior Hurling Championship
The Cork Junior Hurling Championship is the third tier championship for hurling clubs in Cork. The winners of this championship compete in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in the following year. This championship is often considered the most difficult championship to win, since more teams...
title was added.
Three Minor Hurling County
Cork Minor Hurling Championship
The Cork Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for Gaelic Athletic Association players under the age of 18 in County Cork, Ireland. This competition is also known as the Cork Premier Minor Hurling Championship since 1992. It is played on a countywide basis. Prior to 1992, all teams...
titles were added in 1961, 62 and 63, in what should have laid the foundations for success at Senior level
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
. However disappointment was to follow with heartbreaking defeats in the mid sixties.
In football success at Junior level
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...
came with victory in the County final in 1964, followed quickly by County success at Intermediate level
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...
the following year. Thus the Club had gone from Junior level to Senior in the shortest possible period.
However it was to be the 1970s in which much of the groundwork for today's success at Senior level was laid with a succession of brilliant hurling teams at under age level.
Noted Hurlers
- John GardinerJohn Gardiner (hurler)John Gardiner is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 2002.-Biography:...
- Seán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpín is an iconic Irish-Fijian sportsperson. A former dual player, he currently plays hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and is a member of the Cork senior inter-county team. Ó hAilpín captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 2005...
- Setanta Ó hAilpínSetanta Ó hAilpínSetanta "Carlos" Ó hAilpín is an Australian-Irish sportsman. He was a hurler with the Cork senior team before becoming a professional Australian Rules footballer. He is of mixed Irish and Rotuman background...
- Tony O'SullivanTony O'SullivanTony O'Sullivan is an Irish retired sportsperson. A dual player, he played both hurling and Gaelic football with his local club Na Piarsaigh and was a member of both Cork senior inter-county teams in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club:O’Sullivan played his club hurling with the Na Piarsaigh club on the...
- Aisake Ó hAilpínAisake Ó hAilpínAisake Faga Ó hAilpín is an Irish Australian sportsperson. He grew up in Cork and played hurling and Gaelic football with Na Piarsaigh. Ó hAilpín played Australian rules football with the Carlton Football Club between 2005 and 2008...
- Roger TuohyRoger TuohyRoger Tuohy is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1960s. Tuohy won an All-Ireland runners-up medal, one Munster title and a National Hurling League title with Cork in 1969.-References:...
- Teu Ó hAilpínTeu Ó hAilpínTeu Ó hAilpín is an Irish sportsperson playing for Na Piarsaigh GAA. Born in Cork, he was a Gaelic Athletic Association player who played for the Éire Óg club in Ennis and Na Piarsaigh in Cork. He is the brother of Cork senior hurling players Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Aisake and older brother of...
- Mark MullinsMark Mullins (hurler)Mark Mullins is a retired Irish sportsperson. A native of Bagenalstown, County Carlow he played hurling at various times with his local clubs Erin's Own and Na Piarsaigh as well as with the Carlow and Cork senior inter-county teams in the 1990s. Mullins captained Cork in 1996, however, he enjoyed...
Honours
- Cork Senior Hurling ChampionshipCork Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
s: 3 (1990, 1995, 2004) - 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...
: 1 (1966) - Cork Junior Hurling ChampionshipCork Junior Hurling ChampionshipThe Cork Junior Hurling Championship is the third tier championship for hurling clubs in Cork. The winners of this championship compete in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in the following year. This championship is often considered the most difficult championship to win, since more teams...
: 1 (1953) - 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...
: 1 (1965) - Cork Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipCork Under-21 Hurling ChampionshipThe Cork Under-21 Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for players under the age of 21. Clubs affiliated to Cork board compete to win this championship. Seven of the divisions in Cork organize their own championship . The divisional winners compete against each other to decide the county...
s: 3 (1980, 1981, 1987) - Cork Minor Hurling ChampionshipCork Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe Cork Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for Gaelic Athletic Association players under the age of 18 in County Cork, Ireland. This competition is also known as the Cork Premier Minor Hurling Championship since 1992. It is played on a countywide basis. Prior to 1992, all teams...
s: 10 (1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1995, 1996) - Cork Minor Football ChampionshipCork Minor Football ChampionshipThe Cork Minor Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition for Gaelic Athletic Association players under the age of 18 in County Cork, Ireland. This competition is also known as the Premier Minor Football Championship and is played on a county-wide basis. The competing clubs do not play...
s 3 (1981, 1994, 1995) - Féile na nGaelFéile na nGaelFéile na nGael , Irish for "Festival of the Gaels") is an annual tournament comprising the sports of hurling, camogie and handball organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association...
6 (1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1991, 2006)
Individual Players Honours
All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
Winners:
- Donal 'Fox' Sheehan: 1 (1966)
- Tony O'SullivanTony O'SullivanTony O'Sullivan is an Irish retired sportsperson. A dual player, he played both hurling and Gaelic football with his local club Na Piarsaigh and was a member of both Cork senior inter-county teams in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club:O’Sullivan played his club hurling with the Na Piarsaigh club on the...
: 3 (1984, 1986, 1990) - Seán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpín is an iconic Irish-Fijian sportsperson. A former dual player, he currently plays hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and is a member of the Cork senior inter-county team. Ó hAilpín captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 2005...
: 3 (1999, 2004, 2005) - John GardinerJohn GardinerJohn Gardiner may refer to:* John Gardiner * John Sylvester John Gardiner * John Gardiner , banker and grazier* John Gardiner , Scottish footballer...
: 2 (2004, 2005)
GAA All Stars Awards winners (hurling):
- Tony O'SullivanTony O'SullivanTony O'Sullivan is an Irish retired sportsperson. A dual player, he played both hurling and Gaelic football with his local club Na Piarsaigh and was a member of both Cork senior inter-county teams in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club:O’Sullivan played his club hurling with the Na Piarsaigh club on the...
: 5 (1982, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992) - Seán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpín is an iconic Irish-Fijian sportsperson. A former dual player, he currently plays hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and is a member of the Cork senior inter-county team. Ó hAilpín captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 2005...
: 3 (2003, 2004, 2005) - Setanta Ó hAilpínSetanta Ó hAilpínSetanta "Carlos" Ó hAilpín is an Australian-Irish sportsman. He was a hurler with the Cork senior team before becoming a professional Australian Rules footballer. He is of mixed Irish and Rotuman background...
: 1 (2003) - John GardinerJohn GardinerJohn Gardiner may refer to:* John Gardiner * John Sylvester John Gardiner * John Gardiner , banker and grazier* John Gardiner , Scottish footballer...
: 1 (2005)
Tony O'Sullivan is among an elite group of Cork players who hold five All Star Awards.
Tony, along with his former Cork team mates John Fenton
John Fenton
John Fenton is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1987. Fenton is regarded as one of Cork's greatest-ever players.-Club:Fenton played his club hurling with his local Midleton club and...
and Jimmy Barry-Murphy
Jimmy Barry-Murphy
James "Jimmy" Barry-Murphy is a former Irish hurler, Gaelic footballer and association footballer and is the current manager of the Cork senior hurling team...
hold the distinction of heading the roll of honour as the most decorated Cork All Stars.
All Stars Hurler of the Year:
- Seán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpínSeán Óg Ó hAilpín is an iconic Irish-Fijian sportsperson. A former dual player, he currently plays hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and is a member of the Cork senior inter-county team. Ó hAilpín captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 2005...
: 1 (2004)
All Stars Young Hurler of the Year:
- Setanta Ó hAilpínSetanta Ó hAilpínSetanta "Carlos" Ó hAilpín is an Australian-Irish sportsman. He was a hurler with the Cork senior team before becoming a professional Australian Rules footballer. He is of mixed Irish and Rotuman background...
: 1 (2003)