Rathnure GAA

First AGM

At a meeting in Rathnure in the year 1931, Rathnure St Anne's GAA Club was founded. Founder members on that night were Pat Byrne, James O'Leary, Pat Doyle, Thomas Murphy, Nick Mernagh, Denis Brennan and Master O'Rielly. Also on the night, the meeting was attended by two 14-year-old boys Mikey Redmond and Ned Caulfield. The first Chairman of the club was Mr. Hugh O'Rielly, the first Secretary was Pat Byrne and the first Treasurer was Pat Doyle.

Early years

In its first year in existence, Rathnure fielded in junior hurling. However success in terms of championship medals was slow, but more important players were given the opportunity to play their native game, a game that was eventually to flourish in the parish of Rathnure. From the outset great interest was aroused in the club, and it gradually grew in strength both from a players and a supporters point of view. After just seven years in existence Rathnure finally succeeded in making that magical breakthrough to a County Final. This was in the junior grade and with many young hurlers in the team it augured well for the future of the club. In this final Rathnure were opposed by St Fintan's, the south Wexford club with a tremendous hurling reputation, a club that had many fine achievements to its credit up to then. This match was described as the hurling spectacle of the year and signalled the arrival of Rathnure as a hurling force in the model county. The final score was St. Fintan's 4–5 Rathnure 5–0.

First success

The following year, Rathnure were represented again in the county junior hurling final. This time however, it was a winning one and proved a historic breakthrough for the club. A member of that history making team was Nicky Rackard, a man who was to lead both club and county to historic victories in the ensuing years. In the final Rathnure defeated Horeswood by 6–1 to 1–2. The winners were never seriously challenged and proved the superior team in every aspect of the game, with Nicky Rackard coming off with two splendid goals to his credit.

Senior success

1941 was Rathnure's first year in senior hurling ranks and it is notable that the club has fielded in the Wexford Senior Hurling Championship every other year to date, a feat not equalled by any other club in the county and very few in Ireland. In 1948 Rathnure St Anne's won our first of 20 Wexford Senior Hurling Championships. There were celebrations lasting for a full week after that County Final. Further victories came in 1950, '55, '61, '67, '71, '72, '73, '74, '77, '79, '80, '86, '87, '90, '96, '98, '02, '03 and 2006. Following 6 of the above county successes, Leinster Club titles were also won.

Other successes

Other titles won over the years include Senior football, Intermediate hurling, Junior A & B football, Junior A hurling (3), Junior B hurling (3), U21 hurling (9), including 6 in a row, Minor hurling (14), Juvenile hurling (14), Under 14 hurling (7), Under 12 hurling (3), All Ireland Feile na nGael, Minor football and U14 football.

Nicky Rackard Park

A large indoor arena, two full-sized playing pitches, a covered stand and an underage pitch at Nicky Rackard Park caters for all ages of girls and boys. Its sports complex consists of four full-sized dressing rooms, squash court, fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and a well-stocked GAA shop. The clubhouse also contains a historic trophy and meeting room dedicated to Syl Barron.

Camogie

Rathnure camogie club won the All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship in 1995. They won further Leinster club championships in 1992, 1996 and 2000 The club was founded in 1968 by Teddy O’Connor, Larry Cahill, Marcella Redmond, Tish Codd and Syl Barron. The club won Community Games and Féile na nGael titles were won. The late Jim Shiels and his wife Margaret were great workers for the club. Cloughbawn joined forces with Rathnure in 1988 and, in the following year, Rathnure won the Wexford senior championship title

Honours

Hurling

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championships:
  • Winner (0):
  • Runner-up (5): 1972, 1974, 1978, 1987, 1999
• Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championships:
  • Winner (6): 1971, 1973, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1998
  • Runner-up (2): 1970, 1972
• Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championships:
  • Winner (1): 2024
• Wexford Senior Club Hurling Championships:
  • Winner (20): 1948, 1950, 1955, 1961, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2006
  • Runner-up (9): 1942, 1949, 1957, 1965, 1978, 1988, 1999, 2004, 2011, 2025
• Wexford Intermediate Hurling Championships: 2
  • 1971, 2024
• Wexford Junior Hurling Championships: 4
  • 1940, 1981, 1983, 2018
• Wexford Under-21 Hurling Championships: 11
  • 1970 (with Duffry Rovers), 1971 (with Duffry Rovers), 1983 (with Cushinstown), 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2016, 2025
• Wexford Minor Hurling Championships: 14
  • 1941, 1942, 1945, 1963, 1964, 1973 (with Duffry Rovers), 1980 (with Cushinstown), 1983 (with Cushinstown), 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2013, 2023.

Football

• Wexford Senior Club Football Championships:
  • Winner (1): 1972
  • Runner-up (2): 1953, 1974
• Wexford Junior Football Championships: 1
  • 1950

Camogie

• All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1995
• Leinster Senior Club Camogie Championship:
  • Winner (4): 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000

Notable players

• Martin Codd
• Paul Codd
• Jim English
• Rod Guiney
• Nigel Higgins
• Séamus Murphy
• Brendan O'Leary
• Dan Quigley
• John Quigley
• Martin Quigley
• Billy Rackard
• Bobby Rackard
• Nicky Rackard

References

References

1. Moran, Mary. (2011). "A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie". Cumann Camógaíochta.