We first reported on the Cuala Hurlers of the 1920s back in 2011. Now Cartlann Digiteach Cuala has a good excuse to re-post because not only have we obtained a better image of the team but we’ve also built up a better picture of their activities including the earliest-ever Match Report of a Cuala team.

A word of caution, Cartlann Digiteach Cuala believes the people identified here are accurately named. however some of the names may be mis-attributed to their corresponding image. In any event this team is, without doubt, the earliest side that can show a direct link to members of the current club.

Back Row (L-R)
01. Eamon Quirke  02. Unknown  03. William Byrne (Snr.)  04. Paddy Darcy  05. Paddy Murphy  06. Paddy Dennehy  07. Joe Hennessy  08. Jack Thomas  09. Tom Mullen  10. Unknown  11. Charlie Somers

Middle row (L-R)
12. Unknown (kneeling) 13. John Moloney  14. Paddy Thomas  15. Tom Byrne  16. Liam Byrne  17. Eamon McNoibin  18. Seamus Byrne  19. Mylie O’Neill

Front Row (L-R)
20. Michael Byrne  21. John Kelly  22. Stephen Taylor (boy)  23. Jack Ledwidge  24. Unknown

 

#03 William Byrne (Snr) was the 52-year-old father of 7 boys, 3 of whom are in this picture – #16 Liam (aged 23), #18 Seamus (aged 21) and #20 Michael (aged 17). (Ages assume that picture is dated 1920).  Liam was the grandfather of Damien Byrne (Cuala and Dublin Goalkeeper) and John Paul Byrne (Cuala, Dublin & Leinster Champion).

Several of the men in this picture were active in the War of Independence. In April 1921, Crown Forces conducted extensive raids in Dalkey & Killiney; among those arrested and later released, were Edward Quirke, Paddy Darcy, Jack Thomas and Tom & Michael Byrne.

If you know the unknowns, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

The Cuala Hurlers were active from at least 1920 when they played Junior Hurling under the auspices of the Dublin Board and lined out against clubs like Raperess,  College of Science and St Kevins.  In 1921, we have our first match report from when the Dalkey men travelled to Bray to play a friendly against St Cronins.

1922 saw them battling on and, in January at Croke Park, they played in the Junior League Final against Lucan Sarsfields. It wasn’t to be their day. Later that year, their league agenda saw fixtures against Conradh na Gaelige, Fontenoys, Fintan Lawlers and Confederates.  By 1923, they had become acquainted with St Dympnas, Kickhams, Young Emmetts and Rathmines.

Incidentally, all home games seems to have been fixed in the Phoenix Park but local intelligence is that training took place in a field at the “Firm” – near Hillside (thanks Harry Roberts). The firm was so-called, not after any particular business enterprise but because, it was the site of a large (ahem) “recycling facility” that had to be trampled down (‘firmed’) for stability.

1924 saw another busy year with fixtures against Civil Service, Civic Guards, Colmcilles and Shamrocks. Highlights of the season were a celebrity appointment in Enniskerry (more later) and the inclusion of two players – Byrne (which one?) and Ledwidge in a trial for the Dublin County Juniors.

The team carried on through 1925 and 1926 though they were finding it hard to keep in touch with dominant sides like Lusk & Civil Service. By October, they had only tasted success in 3 out of 21 fixtures.

After that, Cartlann Digiteach Cuala lost sight of this team and it was assumed that the team might have disbanded. But lo and behold, the hurling story was not over – we found them on the fixture list in 1932. Alas their game against Bray Emmetts was a walk-over. Though isn’t it fitting that both clubs are still thriving 90 years on.

At the time, Cuala supporters might have found the going tough but surely we can now look back with pride at this wonderful team that set us on our long journey to greater things.