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What have Derek Ryan, Saoirse Ronan and Kathryn Thomas all got in common? All would look well in the new Carlow GAA jersey which hits the streets today. Give us a shout guys, all are proud Scallion Aters, natives of the county that brought us the uniquely named Fighting Cocks, Palatine, Mount Leinster Rangers and Éire Óg. Yes, follow me up to Carlow the cry!
Carlow is one of the lesser spotted GAA counties, but dipping into the county’s past reviewal some lively snippets of information. In the week that’s in it, it would be remiss not to start by mentioning that the Tullow Tank, Sean O’Brien is a proud Carlow GAA man and when he’s not taking a wrecking ball to unsuspecting Kiwis he occasionally has been known to throw on the Fighting Cock’s jersey to represent his club. A man not to be trifled with carrying the ball up the field. Well done Sean on your exploits on the pitch.
The Carlow GAA colours are vivid and unique, there’s not many clubs or counties would combine red, green and yellow. Carlow’s unique combination was borne out of necessity.
The county were contesting their second All Ireland Junior football final in 1933 against Mayo GAA. Their native colours were green and red which obviously clashed with the men from the West, and they had to switch to an unfamiliar blue jersey which did not suit them. The decision was taken to add yellow to the traditional green and red jerseys, and so the Carlow GAA colours that we know and love came into existence. Sadly, Carlow lost that particular match, a game notable for an early deployment of the blanket defence with Mayo playing eight defenders in the second half to shut out Carlow, and defend their halftime lead of 2-5 to 0-2. The plot worked, the final score was 2-16 to 1-3. A large Carlow contingent attended the game in Athlone in the 'centre of Ireland' travelling by the Great Southern Railway's Special Excursion train, the 3rd class return fare being 6/-. No pundits in those days to decry the Mayo approach.
Carlow Club football had its last heyday and golden age in the nineties with the emergence of the Eire ÓG club onto the national stage. After losing two County senior championship finals, the club made a concerted push to be successful at county and provincial level. With the help of outside coach Bobby Miller from 1992 the target was provincial honours in three to five years. Bobby succeeded in driving a sense of self belief in the players, and from 1992 to 1998 Éire Óg became well known beyond Carlow and Leinster, mentioned alongside clubs like Nemo Rangers, St. Vincent's, and Crossmaglen Rangers, as contenders for Club Championship All Irelands.
The team contested nine county senior finals in the nineties, winning six and losing three. Five Leinster club Finals were played and won. And lost in two club All Ireland finals. Carlow people are still mystified that a club can be so successful yet it did not transfer to county level.
The evidence of the strength of the games in Carlow is illustrated by a brilliant story reported in joe.ie about Palatine’s Junior B team.
Joe.ie reported that Palatine, having only 12 players, sought the services of a couple of spectators and the club chairman! Three sixty years olds, Jim Woods (RIP), Stephen McDonald and Paddy Hosey, took the field. Paddy even played in his wellies! As the reports said: “They were all from the no-nonsense school of Gaelic Football and were all delighted with the chance to sharpen their elbows one last time.”
Observers of Intercounty football will know that Carlow play their home matches at Dr Cullen Park. This very fine facility was officially opened on Sunday 9 August 1936. It was named in the memory of Dr. Matthew Cullen who had passed away earlier in the year.
The late Bishop was honoured as "a great churchman, a true-hearted Gael and a patriotic Irishman". Thomas Ryan President of County Carlow GAA presided at the ceremony. Padraig McNamee, President of the Ulster Council of the GAA represented the President of the Association. It is a fine stadium, hosting National Féile na nÓg finals in 2015.
Carlow’s most recent flag bearing club on the national stage have been the hurlers of Mount Leinster Rangers. Formed in 1987 from an amalgamation of three clubs, the Rangers shot to prominence in 2012 in winning an All Ireland Intermediate title. The following year, having won their first ever Leinster Senior Hurling Championship in 2013, the Carlow men shocked 2012 All Ireland champions Loughgiel to make it to the All Ireland Final in 2014. A fine achievement by a dedicated band of Carlow hurlers.
A great GAA county with a lot of tales to tell, if anyone doubts this, fly up and teach them manners!