Round Towers GAA (Kildare)
Encyclopedia
Round Towers is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
club based in Kildare
in County Kildare
, Ireland
winner of 10 Kildare county senior football championships in all, six as Round Towers, three as Kildare
and one as St Patrick's. Glenn Ryan featured on the Kildare football team of the millennium and was an All Stars
Award winner in 1997 and 1998. Brian Lacey was an All Stars
Award winner in 1998, and former Wexford hurler and 1989 All Star Eamon Cleary played for the team in the 1990s. A separate club, Naomh Bríd or St Brigid’s organizes hurling in the town. Three Naomh Bríd players, Tommy Burke, Jack O'Connell, and Pat White were chosen on the Kildare hurling team of the millennium. The Fitzpatrick family founded another club, Mooretown, in the district – its only honour was the Junior C Championship of 1982.
the following year. Kildare won titles in 1929 and 1930, the only Kildare championship to be played on a league system. After being routed by Naas
in the final of 1931, a Kildare Sarsfields club contested the intermediate championship. Kildare combined with Rathangan
for the senior championship, now run on a parish basis, going to the final in 1935 when they were trounced by Raheens
, but meeting little other success. They changed the name to St Patrick’s in 1938 and won the championship on a walkover from Ellistown
, and lost to Ellistown in the 1939 final. After Round Towers were founded Ned Treacy, Paddy Loughlin, Ned Loughlin and Seamus Aldridge were on the 1950s teams that won the 1954 county final by a point, beat Kilcock
in 1959, Carbury
in 1961 and lost county finals to Kilcock in 1958 and 1959 and Clane
in 1963, Glenn Ryan’s team bridged a gap stretching back to 1961 when they beat Johnstownbridge
1-13 to 0-10 in the 1996 final. A Shane "Deelers" Daly goal within a minute put them on course to a 2-8 to 0-4 victory over Clane in the 1998 final. Another early goal from Padraig Golden put them on course for the tenth title when they beat Kilcock 2-14 to 1-9 in 2003.
men, Edward Madden and Bill Cullagh had founded the club in 1949. During the 1950s Ger Tiernan, Tom Mangan, Joe Finlay and Dick McCarthy played for the county but the club never made it into senior ranks, despite a series of under-age successes from 1957 on. The advent of Jack O'Connell, John O'Leary, John Corcoran, Joe Corry and Pa White saw Brigid's win the Junior League in 1969, the junior championship in 1970, lose one fine clash with Éire Óg by 4-10 to 3-10 in 1973 and lose the 1975 semi-final.
They lost their debut county final in against Ardclough
in 1976 by two points after a thrilling final. Brigid's led 2-5 to 1-6 at half-time, the sides were level for the second time going into the last quarter, and Ardclough took the lead for the first time in the 48th minute. In 1978 Naomh Bríd won championship,beating Ardclough by 3-10 to 2-9, John O'Leary, Fintan Healy and Seanie Barry getting the goals.
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 Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare 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,...
winner of 10 Kildare county senior football championships in all, six as Round Towers, three as Kildare
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
and one as St Patrick's. Glenn Ryan featured on the Kildare football team of the millennium and was an All Stars
GAA All Stars Awards Past Winners (Football)
This is a list of all past winners of the official GAA All Stars Awards since the first awards in 1971. As an insight to the prominent players of the 1960s, it also includes the unofficial "Cuchulainn" awards presented from 1963 to 1967 under the auspices of Gaelic Weekly magazine.For each year...
Award winner in 1997 and 1998. Brian Lacey was an All Stars
GAA All Stars Awards Past Winners (Football)
This is a list of all past winners of the official GAA All Stars Awards since the first awards in 1971. As an insight to the prominent players of the 1960s, it also includes the unofficial "Cuchulainn" awards presented from 1963 to 1967 under the auspices of Gaelic Weekly magazine.For each year...
Award winner in 1998, and former Wexford hurler and 1989 All Star Eamon Cleary played for the team in the 1990s. A separate club, Naomh Bríd or St Brigid’s organizes hurling in the town. Three Naomh Bríd players, Tommy Burke, Jack O'Connell, and Pat White were chosen on the Kildare hurling team of the millennium. The Fitzpatrick family founded another club, Mooretown, in the district – its only honour was the Junior C Championship of 1982.
History
S. J. Brown established the first Kildare club in 1888. They contested the 1891 final against Mountrice, which went into GAA history as the “riot in John Flood's field.”Gaelic Football
James Cummins was the star of the first Round Towers team in the 1920s. Kildare town and Maddenstown clubs amalgamated in the 1920s, bringing Paul Doyle to the Kildare team/ Bill “Squires” Gannon was on the winning team in 1927, enabling him to captain Kildare and become the first to receive the Sam Maguire CupSam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup, often called The Sam , is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
the following year. Kildare won titles in 1929 and 1930, the only Kildare championship to be played on a league system. After being routed by Naas
Naas GAA
Naas is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of eight Kildare county senior football championships, six senior hurling championships, three senior camogie championships and Kildare club of the year in 1981....
in the final of 1931, a Kildare Sarsfields club contested the intermediate championship. Kildare combined with Rathangan
Rathangan GAA
Rathangan GAA Club is a Gaelic football club based in Rathangan, County Kildare, Ireland. It was founded in 1889 and had many difficulties early on as there were many different local teams in the parish...
for the senior championship, now run on a parish basis, going to the final in 1935 when they were trounced by Raheens
Raheens GAA
Raheens is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Caragh, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of the Leinster senior club championship in 1981, 10 county senior football championships, first winners of the Kildare club of the year in 1973 and winners again in 1976. The separate hurling club,...
, but meeting little other success. They changed the name to St Patrick’s in 1938 and won the championship on a walkover from Ellistown
Ellistown GAA
Ellistown is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Kildare, Ireland, winner of four county senior football championships, including two under their former name of Mountrice Blunts. They also played as Knavinstown for a period and combined with Ballykelly to form an area team, St. Brigids...
, and lost to Ellistown in the 1939 final. After Round Towers were founded Ned Treacy, Paddy Loughlin, Ned Loughlin and Seamus Aldridge were on the 1950s teams that won the 1954 county final by a point, beat Kilcock
Kilcock GAA
Kilcock is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Kilcock, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of five county senior football championships and Kildare club of the year in 1983.-History:...
in 1959, Carbury
Carbury GAA
Carbury GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Kildare, Ireland, winner of 11 Kildare county senior football championships and participants in eight successive county finals between 1965 and 1972...
in 1961 and lost county finals to Kilcock in 1958 and 1959 and Clane
Clane GAA
Clane GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Clane, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of 17 Kildare county senior football championships, 16 county senior hurling championships and Kildare club of the year in 1975. Clane players are credited with bringing the handpass into Gaelic football...
in 1963, Glenn Ryan’s team bridged a gap stretching back to 1961 when they beat Johnstownbridge
Johnstownbridge GAA
Johnstownbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Kildare, Ireland, winner of three county senior football championships and Kildare club of the year in 1983.-Football:...
1-13 to 0-10 in the 1996 final. A Shane "Deelers" Daly goal within a minute put them on course to a 2-8 to 0-4 victory over Clane in the 1998 final. Another early goal from Padraig Golden put them on course for the tenth title when they beat Kilcock 2-14 to 1-9 in 2003.
Hurling
Naomh Bríd or St Brigid's, the Kildare town hurling club joined with Rathangan CLG, had become known as Ger Tiernan's club. Two TipperaryTipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
men, Edward Madden and Bill Cullagh had founded the club in 1949. During the 1950s Ger Tiernan, Tom Mangan, Joe Finlay and Dick McCarthy played for the county but the club never made it into senior ranks, despite a series of under-age successes from 1957 on. The advent of Jack O'Connell, John O'Leary, John Corcoran, Joe Corry and Pa White saw Brigid's win the Junior League in 1969, the junior championship in 1970, lose one fine clash with Éire Óg by 4-10 to 3-10 in 1973 and lose the 1975 semi-final.
They lost their debut county final in against Ardclough
Ardclough GAA
----Ardclough is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Ardclough, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, whose biggest achievements include winning the Kildare County Senior Football Championship after a replayed final against the Army in 1949, winning 12 Kildare County Senior Hurling Championships,...
in 1976 by two points after a thrilling final. Brigid's led 2-5 to 1-6 at half-time, the sides were level for the second time going into the last quarter, and Ardclough took the lead for the first time in the 48th minute. In 1978 Naomh Bríd won championship,beating Ardclough by 3-10 to 2-9, John O'Leary, Fintan Healy and Seanie Barry getting the goals.
Honours
- Kildare Senior Football Championship Winners 1927, 1929, 1930, 1938, 1954, 1959, 1961, 1996, 1998, 2003.
Senior Committee 2010
- Chairman Ollie Doyle
- Vice Chairman Mick Leavy
- Secretary Mary Donnelly
- Asst. Secretary Patricia Daffy
- Treasurer Tom Harrington
- Asst. Treasurer Brendan Barber
- PRO Ollie Kearns
- County Board Delegate Ollie Kearns
- Registrar Padraig Gill
- Underage Chairman Ger Donnelly
- Youth Officers Patricia Daffy & Ed Gibbons