Rathdowney-Errill
Encyclopedia
Rathdowney-Errill GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association
hurling
club in County Laois
, Ireland
. The club colours are green and red.
The club was created in 2005 by the complete amalgamation at all levels of hurling
of neighbouring clubs Errill
and Rathdowney
. Both the Rathdowney and Errill Clubs remain as separate football
clubs competing in the Laois Junior 'B' Football Championship.
titles, including a four in a row 1976-1979. At Under 21 level success was achieved as 'St Kierans' in 1980 and under the Rathdowney/Errill banner in 1985.
Tentative suggestions were made in 1999 about a possible merger of the clubs. At the time these discussions did not reach any agreement, but in 2002 the juvenile sections of both clubs decided to come together and since then they have been successful.
With the smooth running of juvenile affairs taking place in the parish, the suggestion of joining together to become a strong Senior Club was once again raised in January 2005. Both adult clubs held simultaneous meetings on Friday evening February 4, 2005 to discuss a possible merger. Over three quarters of the members in both clubs voted to amalgamate.
Rathdowney had not won a Laois SHC since 1941. The last time they appeared in a final was 1969 when they lost to Camross. Rathdowney had won 18 Senior Titles. Errill last competed in the SHC in 1986, and won just two Titles, the first against Rathdowney in 1936 and the last in 1952.
In 2006 the Rathdowney-Errill team won the Laois Senior Hurling Championship for the first time, defeating Tinnahinch
. Liam Wynne captained the club and became the first man from the parish to captain a county senior hurling championship winning team since 1952. They repeated the feat in 2008 after a final against Portlaoise which Rathdowney-Errill won on a score of 1-19 to 2-15.
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...
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...
club in County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, 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 colours are green and red.
The club was created in 2005 by the complete amalgamation at all levels of 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...
of neighbouring clubs Errill
Errill GAA
Errill GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in Errill in County Laois, Ireland.The club colours are green and white. The club grounds on the Roscrea Road are called Pairc Eireil....
and Rathdowney
Rathdowney GAA
Rathdowney GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in Rathdowney, County Laois, Ireland.The club colours are green and red and the club grounds are called Kelly O'Daly Park....
. Both the Rathdowney and Errill Clubs remain as separate football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
clubs competing in the Laois Junior 'B' Football Championship.
History
Prior to the foundation of the Errill GAA Club in 1928, players from Errill and surrounding areas played their hurling with Rathdowney. In the 1970s and 80s, both Rathdowney and Errill joined forces at Minor and Under 21 level, competing in eight minor finals, including seven in a row from 1976 to 1982. This amalgamation proved successful winning a total of five Laois Minor Hurling ChampionshipLaois Minor Hurling Championship
The Laois Minor Hurling Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the under 18 players of Laois clubs. The 2011 minor hurling champions are Borris-in-Ossory/Kilcotton who defeated Rathdowney-Errill in the final....
titles, including a four in a row 1976-1979. At Under 21 level success was achieved as 'St Kierans' in 1980 and under the Rathdowney/Errill banner in 1985.
Tentative suggestions were made in 1999 about a possible merger of the clubs. At the time these discussions did not reach any agreement, but in 2002 the juvenile sections of both clubs decided to come together and since then they have been successful.
With the smooth running of juvenile affairs taking place in the parish, the suggestion of joining together to become a strong Senior Club was once again raised in January 2005. Both adult clubs held simultaneous meetings on Friday evening February 4, 2005 to discuss a possible merger. Over three quarters of the members in both clubs voted to amalgamate.
Rathdowney had not won a Laois SHC since 1941. The last time they appeared in a final was 1969 when they lost to Camross. Rathdowney had won 18 Senior Titles. Errill last competed in the SHC in 1986, and won just two Titles, the first against Rathdowney in 1936 and the last in 1952.
In 2006 the Rathdowney-Errill team won the Laois Senior Hurling Championship for the first time, defeating Tinnahinch
Tinnahinch
Tinnahinch GAA was a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club in County Laois, Ireland.The club was an amalgamation of Clonaslee-St.Manmans and Rosenallis to play senior hurling under the name Tinnahinch....
. Liam Wynne captained the club and became the first man from the parish to captain a county senior hurling championship winning team since 1952. They repeated the feat in 2008 after a final against Portlaoise which Rathdowney-Errill won on a score of 1-19 to 2-15.
Facilities
Rathdowney's Kelly O'Daly Park has hosted many County Finals, Leinster Club Championship and Inter-County matches. Erril's GAA Grounds, Páirc Eireil, opened in the mid 1990s with a game between Laois v Clare.Club mascot
The club's mascot, "The Red" can be described as a jester, a joker, wit cracker, a person employed to provide general entertainment for club members. He is based loosely on Simpson's character Barney Gumble and is currently played by Eoin O' Neill.Present
- Paddy Meehan played for LeinsterLeinsterLeinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
in the Railway CupInterprovincial ChampionshipThe Interprovincial Championship or Railway Cup is the name of two annual Gaelic football and hurling competetitions held between the provinces of Ireland. The Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster teams are composed of the best players from the various counties in the province...
, while he is also the current captain of the Laois Senior HurlersLaois GAAThe Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
. In June 2011 he went out on loan to New Plymouth Parish Gaels GAA Club, in New Zealand- With a view to completing a €750,000 transfer fee. - Enda Dowling became the first Rathdowney man to captain a Laois senior hurling league title winning side when Laois beat Wicklow in the National Hurling League Division 2 Final in 2007, Jimmy Corrigan was an unused sub.
Past
- Jack Daly, Jimmy Hiney, Frank Kileen, Paddy Campion and Jim Deegan won an All-Ireland medal with Laois in 1915.
- Harry Grey won a SHC title with Rathdowney in 1936 before moving to Dublin and winning an All-Ireland with them in 1938. He was selected on the Laois Team of the Millenium along with Mick Mahon.
- Bill Maher played for Laois for many years and played on a number of Railway Cup teams for Leinster, winning a Railway Cup medal in 1993.
- Paddy "The Thrush" McCormack was captain of the Rathdowney/Errill senior team that captured the Leinster League crown in 2005, the club's first trophy while amalgamated.
Adult
- Leinster Senior Hurling Leagues: 2005
- Laois Senior Hurling Championships: 2006, 2008 and 2010
- Laois Intermediate Hurling ChampionshipLaois Intermediate Hurling ChampionshipThe Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the second grade Laois hurling clubs. The winners of the championship qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship and in turn, go on to the...
s: 2005 - Laois ACHL Division 5 Hurling ChampionshipLaois All-County Hurling LeagueThe Laois All-County Hurling League is a hurling competition run annually by Laois GAA as a secondary competition to the local championships.There are five divisions and teams are promoted and relegated according to their league standing each year....
s: 2006 - Laois Minor Hurling ChampionshipLaois Minor Hurling ChampionshipThe Laois Minor Hurling Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the under 18 players of Laois clubs. The 2011 minor hurling champions are Borris-in-Ossory/Kilcotton who defeated Rathdowney-Errill in the final....
s: 2008