Portlaoise GAA

History

Founding

Portlaoise GAA club was founded in the early years of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The inaugural meeting of the club took place in Portlaoise's town hall on Monday 28 November 1887. It was a public meeting called by placard and there was a big attendance. Amongst those present were Dr. Higgins, coroner for the Queen's County (Laois), who presided, N. Walsh, C.T.C., P.A. Meehan, T.C., C. McDermott, T.C., P. Kelly, T.C., T. Lawlor T.C., C.E. Corcoran, solicitor, Mark Walsh, J. Moore, P.J. Hegarty, R.P. Fennell, P. Fitzpatrick, M. Brophy and J.T. Delaney.

Dr Higgins said that the object was to form a branch of the GAA in the town of Maryboro (Portlaoise), an object worthy of the town's support. He said that "It is a very desirable movement" and that "Nearly every town in Ireland of the size and importance of Maryborough had formed a branch of the Association and it was certainly time for Maryborough to follow suit".

Meehan proposed the first resolution: "that a branch of the Gaelic Athletic Association be hereby established in the town and that it be called the William O'Brien Branch". Kelly seconded the motion. Higgins was proposed as president and Corcoran as vice-president. Corcoran said that "they all knew that Mr O'Brien was a friend of the oppressed tenantry in Ireland and had, or ought to have the sympathy of every Irishman". (William O'Brien was incarcerated in Tullamore Jail at the time). Kelly proposed that R.P. Fennell be secretary and that J. Moore be treasurer and Mr J. Higgins, clothier, seconded.

Clerical influence

Early Portlaoise GAA history is dominated by two clerics. In the early decades of the 20th century, the local curate, Fr J. J. Kearney popularised hurling and football amongst the town's youth.

Fr Kearney went on to become county chairman and oversaw the purchase of a ground for the county in 1919. This field, later named O'Moore Park, was developed into a provincial stadium in the decades that followed. On the playing fields, Fr Kearney was behind the county's only All-Ireland senior hurling success in 1915.

In the 1920s, a young hurler called Matt Walsh helped the club win its first senior hurling title in 1928. He became Fr Matt Walsh and retained remained involved with the sport even though he spent most of his life on religious missions in Nigeria. On a trip home in 1960, he trained the senior hurling team that was pipped by a point by Borris-in-Ossory in the county final. Fr Walsh remained as president of the club until his death in the 1990s.

Several members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers were also involved in the promotion of Gaelic Games in the town.

First Leinster title

On 13 October 1889, Maryborough won the Leinster semi-final and final on the same day. This happened in Inchicore when the Laois representatives defeated Bray Emmets GAA and then accounted for Louth champions, Newtown Blues in the final.

The county champions in those days picked the county team. Maryborough had beaten Wolfhill in the county final and had co-opted a number of players from Wolfhill and some other clubs for their same day double-header in Inchicore. The All-Ireland final was fixed for the following Sunday and the Laois and Leinster champions were unable to muster the same line-out because of the restricted travel services of the period. They were defeated by the Tipperary champions, Bohercrowe, before a large crowd.

Modern era

The next time Portlaoise won a Leinster title was in the 1971/72 season. In the Leinster final against Athlone, Portlaoise found themselves eleven points adrift with only twenty minutes remaining. But, in a significant come-back, the Laois champions defeated their opponents to capture the provincial title. Two late points saw them beaten by Derry GAA champions, Bellaghy, by a single point in the All-Ireland semi-final on a 1–11 to 1-10 scoreline. Bellaghy went on to win the title.

All-Ireland success

Portlaoise's "greatest hour" arrived in 1983 when as county champions of 1982, they won out in Leinster, defeated St Finbarr's of Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final and won the All-Ireland final by 0–12 to 2–0 against Clann na nGael (Roscommon).

The club was also selected as "Leinster Club of the Year" on several occasions in the 1980s.

Men's Senior football success

Portlaoise, by winning its 35th county football title in 2019, moved to top of the honours list in Laois. With seven provincial crowns, the club are also on top in Leinster. The club have been runners up on 10 occasions (twice as Mayborough).

There was a 57-year gap between titles four and five, the former was won in 1907 and the latter in 1964. From 1964 on the club has won the senior football title almost every second year since then.

Senior hurling

The senior hurlers won nine titles in the quarter of a century from 1981 to add to the two earlier ones won in 1928 and 1943. The record of the hurlers is headlined by two appearances in Leinster club finals in the 1980s and 1990s and a four-in-a-row of county title wins from 1981 to 1984. John Joe Ging captained all four-in-a-row wins and all finals were won at different venues.

Ladies' football

The ladies' club was originally formed in 1985 after a meeting and approximately 50 members joined in the first year. Two teams were entered into the championship.

October 1987 saw the ladies' junior footballers win their first title against Mountrath under the guidance of Kevin Farrell. They became the first ladies team to win any title representing Portlaoise GAA Club.

In 1989, having won the title once again, beating rivals Ballypickas in the final, the ladies were promoted to senior ranks but failed to make the final stages of the championship.

The following year, having gone back to junior ranks the ladies were beaten in the semi-final of the championship but in 1991 the club won its third title defeating Crettyard 2–5 to 1–5.

The ladies' club then disbanded for a couple of years and in 1992 Frank Keenan senior club secretary approached Brendan Fitzpatrick with the view of setting the club up again.

The club again disbanded and re-emerged in 2000 as a juvenile club. Originally starting out at U-14 level, by 2002 the club was entering teams at U-12, U-14 and at U-16 levels. In 2007, Portlaoise ladies played at senior level for the first time since reforming.

They competed in their first Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship final in 2016 before being beaten by Sarsfields. It was the same result when they again played Sarsfields in the 2017 and 2018 final. Portlaoise were to win their first Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship title in 2020 when they defeated reigning champions Sarsfields who were going for nine-in-a-row on a scoreline of 1–12 to 0–12.

Portlaoise ladies have gone on to win two more Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship finals, beating St. Conleth's 0-12 to 2-05 in the 2022 final and beating them again in the 2023 final 1-6 to 0-7.

Camogie

Portlaoise began running the camogie wing of the club in 2007 and in 2019 the club competed at the adult level for the first time when they played in the Junior ranks of the Laois Camogie Championship. They made it to the final that year where they came against Camross and lost out on a scoreline of 5–2 to 3–5. Portlaoise won their first adult level trophy defeating O'Moore's on a scoreline of 3–12 to 1–04 to win the 2020 Laois Junior Camogie Championship. This game was the delayed replay of the 2020 final played on 19 September 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Portlaoise backed this win up with their successful defence of the trophy in 2021 defeating Camross Camogie 1–15 to 2–05 in O'Moore Park on 20 November 2021. In 2024 the Portlaoise camogie team won the Laois Junior Camogie Championship for the 3rd time beating Camross 1-15 to 2-05.

Youth system

The club's youth development system has been a core part of the club since its reformation in 1949. In 1953, the club merged with two other local teams, The Rovers and Kilminchy, forming a unified organisation.

The club has won several county titles and wins have also been registered in several national competitions including the Féile na nGael and Féile Peil na nÓg.

Chairperson

Among the long-serving chairpersons, since the 1950s, were Joe Bracken Sr. and Peadar Molloy. Long-serving secretaries included Jim Loughlin, Jimmy Cotter and Bill Phelan, while Dick Sides was treasurer for nearly thirty years.

As of 2025, Portlaoise have "split" the role of chairperson into a joint position shared by Eamon Fennelly and Dermot Costelloe.

Club grounds

Páirc Uí Fhaoláin

It was not until the late 1970s that Portlaoise again had its own playing fields, on land adjacent to O'Moore Park on Father Brown Avenue, purchased from Laois County Board which helped fund a major development at the county grounds in the 1980s.

The club centre was named after a former club player, Paschal Delaney, while the grounds were named after one of the club's former officials, Bill Phelan. Phelan was club secretary for many years and also county chairman. The committee room was named after another long-serving secretary, Jimmy Cotter.

Rathleague

With the growth of the number of teams and training demands for girls as well as boys, the grounds next to O'Moore Park, with only two full-size pitches, was proving too cramped for a growing urban club with over twenty teams including adult, juvenile and ladies football. At a special AGM it was decided to relocate to a 38-acre site at Rathleague and this is where the club now calls home.

The club began development of Rathleague in 2009 which was completed in 2011. The pitch in Rathleague, near Bloomfield Cross, contains many pitches, juvenile and senior, including an all-weather senior pitch.

Roll of honour

Men's football titles

Senior

• All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship (1): 1982-83
• Leinster Senior Club Football Championship (7): 1971, 1976, 1982, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2009
• Laois Senior Football Championship (35): 1889, 1897, 1906, 1907, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019

Intermediate

• Laois Intermediate Football Championship (5): 1939, 1956, 1972, 1975, 1982

U-21

• Laois U-21 Football Championship (18): 1965, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013

Junior

• Laois Junior A Football Championship (11): 1965, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013;
• Laois Junior B Football Championship (2): 2002, 2010;
• Laois Junior C Football Championship (3): 2003, 2008, 2009

Minor

• Laois Minor Football Championship (27): 1940, 1941, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2024;
• Laois Minor 'A' Football League (1): 2019;

Hurling titles

Senior

• Laois Senior Hurling Championship (11): 1928, 1943, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2004
• ACHL Div 1 (3): 1986, 1995, 1996

Intermediate

• Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship (2): 1935, 1942

U-21

• Laois U-21 Hurling Championship (5): 1978, 1981, 1988, 2000, 2015

Junior

• Laois Junior A Hurling Championship (4): 1965, 1987, 1993, 2013
• Laois Junior C Hurling Championship (1): 2018

Minor

• Laois Minor Hurling Championship (21): 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001

Ladies' football titles

Senior

• Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship (3): 2020, 2022, 2023
• Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship B (1): 2014

Intermediate

• Laois Minor Championship (1): 2006

Junior

• Laois Junior Championship (4): 1987, 1988, 1992, 2005

Minor

• Laois Minor Championship (3): 2007, 2008, 2017

Camogie titles

Junior

• Laois Camogie Junior 'A' Championship (3): 2020, 2021, 2024
• Laois Camogie Junior 'B' Championship (1): 1995

Minor

• Laois Camogie Minor 'B' Championship (1): 2023

Laois Men's Senior Club Football Championships

Note: The 1889, 1897, 1906 and 1907 titles were won under the name Maryborough. In October 1920, the Town Commission passed a resolution that Maryborough be renamed Portlaoise.

All Ireland Men's Senior Club Football

;All-Ireland Men's Senior Club Football - runners-up

Leinster Men's Senior Club Football

;Leinster Men's Senior Club Football - runners-up

Senior hurling

;Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championships - runners-up

Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship

;Laois Ladies' Senior Football Club Championship - runners-up

Juvenile teams

Portlaoise has won the Féile na nGael (hurling) and Féile Peile na nÓg (Gaelic football) competitions several times, recording wins in Féile na nGael in 1980, 1981, 1993, 2009 and 2012 and Féile Peile na nÓg in 1983, 1992, and 2009. In 2009, Portlaoise recorded a rare double, winning Division 3, Féile Péile na nÓg in Kildare, when they defeated Limerick club, Monaleen GAA, 5-4 to 0-3 in the final in St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge and Division 2, Féile na nGael at home in Laois/Offaly, beating St Patrick's, Portaferry GAA from Down, 4-6 to 1-4.

Féile na nÓg Winning Years

Féile Peile na nGael Winning Years

Player awards

All-Stars

All-Stars were awarded to two Portlaise club members in the 1980s. Pat Critchley received a hurling All-Star in 1985 and Colm Browne received a football All-Star in 1986.

Pat Critchley's selection on the 1985 All-Star hurling team made him the first (and only) from the county to achieve that honour. The Portlaoise clubman was selected at midfield alongside Nicky English and Joe Cooney. In the summer of 1985, Critchley played one of his best ever games against Wexford in the Leinster championship and Laois reached the provincial final for the first time in 36 years.

Colm Browne, a Templemore-based member of An Garda Siochána, was born in London. Playing at wing back, he made the breakthrough (alongside his brother Gerry) on to a Portlaoise club team in the mid 1970s. He was captain in Laois's National Football League victory in 1986 and was rewarded with an All-Star award later that year. Three years earlier, he had been player-manager when Portlaoise won the All-Ireland Club Football Championship title. He subsequently took over the reins from Richie Connor as Laois manager in 1994.

Laois Teams of the Millennium

Four Portlaoise footballers were selected on the Laois Football Team of the Millennium for the year 2000. Paddy Bracken was in goal, Colm Browne at right half back, Eamon "Atch" Whelan, at full-forward and Tom Prendergast at left full-forward.

Two Portlaoise players were also selected to the Laois Hurling Team of the Millennium, with John Taylor at left half back, and Pat Critchley at midfield.

Notable players

• Colm Browne
• Pat Critchley
• Sean Delaney
• Gareth Dillon
• Ian Fitzgerald
• Karl Lenihan
• Mick Lillis
• Peter McNulty
• Colm Parkinson
• Tom Prendergast
• John Taylor
• Zach Tuohy

References

Notes

Sources

References

1. "GAA.ie - Oral History - Members of Portlaoise GAA Club".
2. "How Leix Won the All-Ireland Hurling Championship of 1915".
3. "The Complete Laois GAA Records Bible 1888-2019 Updated".
4. Hartnett, Alan. (24 September 2022). "First half goals crucial as Portlaoise dethrone St Conleth's to claim second ever Ladies title".
5. Miller, Steven. (7 October 2023). "Laois Ladies SFC: Portlaoise hold out to claim third title in four years".
6. (24 September 2019). "Eight-goal thriller as Camross win first junior camogie crown". [[Laois Nationalist]].
7. (20 November 2021). "Stunning first quarter blitz sees Portloaise claim Junior Camogie title".
8. (19 October 2024). "Delaney leads the way as Portlaoise crowned Junior Camogie champions".
9. "2025 Club Elected Officers".
10. "Resources - Portlaoise GAA".
11. (2 November 2022). "1975 – Laois Intermediate Football Final".
12. (13 October 2024). "Goal-hungry Portlaoise secure first Minor Football title since 2012 with victory over Portarlington". [[Leinster Express]].
13. (19 October 2024). "Laois Junior Camogie: Portlaoise claim Junior crown with comprehensive win over St Lazarian’s".
14. (13 October 2019). "Laois SFC final: Portlaoise end Killeshin fairytale". [[Hogan Stand]].
15. (14 October 2018). "Maher goals crucial as Portlaoise claim Laois football honours for 34th time". Laois Today.
16. (15 October 2017). "Laois SFC final: Normal service restored as Portlaoise prevail by 12 points". [[Hogan Stand]].
17. (19 October 2015). "Last-gasp Lawlor pegs back Portlaoise in see-saw thriller". [[Irish Independent]].
18. (20 October 2014). "Eight in-a-row for Portlaoise". [[Irish Examiner]].
19. (21 October 2013). "Fitzpatrick puts Portlaoise in seventh heaven". Irish Independent.
20. (25 September 2021). "County Final Memory: Portlaoise hold off rising St Joseph's in 1970". Laois Today.
21. Portlaoise played in "bright red" in the game. Replay report: Nationalist and Leinster Times 1883-current, Saturday, 22 December 1906; Page: 5
22. (13 May 2019). "Portlaoise: Forty Historical Facts".
23. (17 March 2005). "Ballina best in dogged decider". [[Hogan Stand]].
24. (7 December 2015). "Christmas comes early for battling Ballyboden St Enda's". [[Irish Examiner]].
25. (9 December 2013). "Heffo inspiration as battling Saints hit the summit". [[Irish Examiner]].
26. (10 December 2012). "Ballymun break new ground — and cup". [[Irish Examiner]].
27. Leinster Express, Saturday 16 July 1983; Page: 25
28. Leinster Express, Saturday 13 June 1992; Page: 40
29. Leinster Express, Wednesday 8 July 2009; Page: 11
30. Leinster Express, Wednesday 24 June 2009; Page: 15
31. Laois Nationalist, Friday 26 June 2009; Page: 61
32. "Pat Critchley (Portlaoise)".
33. "Colm Browne (Portlaoise)".
34. Leinster Express, Saturday 11 December 1999, Page 15