Camogie at Cuala with Máire Ui Scolaí 

 

 

With the Camogie Association celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2024, we took the opportunity to talk to Cuala’s Maire Ui Scolaí (née Ní Chuirc). Máire played camogie for Cuala from the 1970s to the late 1990s as well as working on a voluntary basis for both Dublin Camogie Board and at national level for the Camogie Association, and is hence a source of many insights into the sport at Cuala and beyond. We wanted to find out more about her experiences of Cuala Camogie, those who were involved when she played, some of the successes over the years and her perspectives on how camogie at Cuala and in Dublin is doing now. 

 

Early beginnings 

Camogie has existed in this area of Dublin since the 1930s. The Naomh Mhuire (St. Mary’s) camogie club was established in Sallynoggin in 1952 by Matt Kane and his wife Vera, using a pitch that now forms part of Joey’s Soccer Club. In 1979, having sustained an informal collaborative relationship with Cuala over many years, Naomh Mhuire joined with Cuala in Dalkey to form ‘Cuala Hurling, Football and Camogie Club’. Máire noting the pride in seeing all of the codes on Cuala’s headed notepaper, something that wasn’t widespread in Dublin at that time.  

Máire’s early camogie years 

While attending Coláiste Íosagáin, where Máire first played camogie winning a Dublin Colleges Intermediate League medal in 1973 (her most cherished medal), a Cuala connection was begun. The very first camogie sticks were purchased for the fledgling school through Cuala legend Mick Dunphy! She joined Naomh Mhuire in 1975 before it amalgamated with Cuala, not long really after the marriage bar (which required women to resign from civil service jobs when they got married) was lifted in 1971 and the LGFA was formed in 1974…female participation in sport was not widespread and received little recognition.  

 

Successes of the 70s and 80s

Máire remembers how in the 70s the numbers playing camogie were very small. A campaign was started in the schools in the area to encourage participation, with some of those who joined at that time still well-known and involved in Cuala.  

There were, however, many achievements for Cuala around this time. In 1984, the loss of the Senior B championship final led to the enlisting of Cuala’s John Bailey, a former Chairman of Dublin GAA board, to train the team. Máire recounts travelling with Cuala’s Hilary Thompson from Galway (where they both worked at the time) to matches back in Dublin. The determination of the team paid off, with Cuala winning the Senior B league and Championship double in 1985 (read more here). Having won the double in 1985, Cuala went up to Senior A and remained so until 1987. 

Meanwhile, Dublin camogie was reaching the heights of the game, with many rural players coming to the city for work and study, and second level colleges doing well throughout the county. We are proud to have had many Cuala players involved in Dublin at the time. Sheila Wallace won an All-Ireland Junior medal in 1971 and captained Dublin to the 1976 All-Ireland Final. Pamela Howard won a junior All-Ireland medal in 1975, with Jo Holden and Bernie Kehoe among others from Cuala who proudly played for county. Dublin won the Senior All-Ireland Championship in 1984 with Sheila Wallace in the backroom team. Sheila also achieved a remarkable place in the camogie story by being appointed as long-standing General Secretary of the (all Ireland) Camogie Association (read more here)

  

Máire’s roles in camogie administration 

Máíre retired from playing with Cuala in 1998, but her involvement with camogie did not diminish. She spent several years as secretary and then PRO of Dublin Camogie, before becoming national PRO for 12 years until 2012, a highlight of her career during which she says she has made lifelong camogie friends to add to those made on the pitch. She is passionate about promoting the sport and points out how despite the inequality in coverage of camogie vs hurling that can still exist, we have come a long way in comparison to the couple of inches that might be written about camogie in the papers in the 1970s. We still have a bit to go so Máire’s advice is for us all to get out and support our women’s camogie teams whenever we can!  

 

How Máire sees Cuala camogie today

2024 has been a huge year for celebrating 120 years of camogie, alongside 50 years of the LGFA and 140 years of the GAA. Camogie at Cuala has flourished thanks to the work of so many over the years and the structures that were put in place from the beginning to put camogie on an equal footing to the other codes. In 2024 Cuala won the Minor Division 1 and Junior 2 Leagues, reached the Minor Division 1 Championship Final, won the U21 Championship Shield and the Senior Division 2 Championship title.  

Dublin camogie is also experiencing a resurgence, winning the National League Division 1B title for the first time since 1983 as well as the Division 3B league, where Cuala’s Sinéad Murphy won player of the match, playing alongside Hilary Thompson’s daughter Róisín Ní Drisceoil. Dublin also reached the All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final for the first time in 7 years with Sinéad Wylde, Hannah O’Dea and Sinead Murphy on the panel. 

Let’s hope for even greater success for Cuala and Dublin camogie in 2025.  

 

A final word.. 

We asked Máire what she would say to our young girls starting out learning to play camogie at Cuala, taking part in GoGames and moving on to competitive matches. Her ultimate advice is to enjoy playing and spending time with the friends you make. Playing field sport is so important as you have to take the good and the bad. But the team spirit lifts you up through the harder times so you can celebrate the achievements. Keep having fun!  

Ní fhéadfainn mo shaol a shamhlú gan Camogie agus Cuala!

 

cartlanndigiteachcuala2

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala (Cuala Digital Archive) was established in 2009 to assemble an on-line archive of images, stories and memorabilia relating to Cuala and its ‘ancestral’ clubs.
If you have any information or material to share with us, please contact –
Michael Goodwin, +353 (0) 87 2266140,  history@cualagaa.ie
Contributors can be assured that all material will be treated with care and returned promptly.  
More History Articles

Eugene Egan – a Giant of Cuala & Dublin Ladies Football

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala is grateful to Fintan Quill for highlighting the 10th Anniversary of the passing of a Cuala “giant” Eugene Egan

Eugene was a tireless force underpinning the development of Ladies Football both in Cuala and Dublin LGFA. A brilliant administrator, he served the Dublin LGFA proudly and efficiently as County Secretary for a number of years as well as holding the position of Irish Cultural and Language Officer up until the time of his passing.

When it came to sport however, Eugene’s first love was always Cuala and he would be delighted to see how far we have progressed as a Club with so many intercounty stars, All Ireland medal winners and All Star award winners and to see our senior team playing in Division 1 League and Championship in 2025. Eugene is one of the reasons why.

An intercounty DLGFA Eugene Egan Memorial Tournament now takes place every year in his honour, a fitting tribute to a lovely man who has left a great legacy to Dublin and Cuala. Fintan sums up Eugene’s legacy as “a true gentleman, his commitment, knowledge and great sense of humour are greatly missed by everyone who knew this remarkable man“.

Niall Scully, writing in the Irish Independent in 2014, penned this insightful reflection of Eugene –
“Eugene Egan had integrity. People trusted him. Respect was his constant companion. He was a brilliant administrator. He knew the rules. Fair play for all was his bible. He was a perfectionist. He didn’t have to press a button to get stats – he had them all in his head.
He was a kindly, friendly gent. The smile was only around the next sentence.
He did much of his best work away from the glare – late nights on the computer, keeping the engines going.
He delighted in the progress of Cuala. When Martha Byrne made it onto the Dublin senior team, Eugene was there with the banner in Belfield on the coldest of days.

He wrote some inspiring reports. Tales of matches from around the country. Not a detail was missed.
He was thrilled to see Dublin ladies football progress and prosper. And he was one of the reasons why.
The game and its people filled him with the sound of music. The sport was lucky to have him. But he felt fortunate to be involved. To be helping. He never counted the cost. And that was the only stat that ever evaded him.”

A true Giant of the Club on who’s shoulders much of our success was founded.

 

Read more History Articles here

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala (Cuala Digital Archive) was established in 2009 to assemble an on-line archive of images, stories and memorabilia relating to Cuala and its ‘ancestral’ clubs.  If you have any information or material to share with us, please contact –
Michael Goodwin, +353 (0) 87 2266140,  history@cualagaa.ie
Contributors can be assured that all material will be treated with care and returned promptly.

 

1988 Footballers at semi-Final

1988 – First Cuala Senior Football Final

Cuala folk will be delighted to see our Senior Footballers take their well-earned place in the Dublin County Championship final. Apart from being a historic achievement in its own right, Cartlann Digiteach Cuala likes the coincidence that the last time our Seniors played in a County Final was in 1988 – the Dublin Millenium year.

It was a remarkable Championship run for Cuala.  In the opening round, a shock defeat of St Vincents (2:05 v 0:10). Afterwards, Vincents Joe O’Hara was quoted “The sun hasn’t risen in Marino or set in Dalkey since last Sunday morning”
Round 2 saw them eclipse Clontarf (2:08 v 00:02). Whitehall Colmcille was a closer affair but Cuala prevailed (2:07 v 00:12).  In the Semi final (where this team image was captured) their 2-goal pattern continued against Na Fianna (2:06 v 00:08).  Sadly, in the Final, Cuala’s first ever at Senior level, Parnells, the defending Champions, prevailed and the dream ended (0-12 v 1:15).

But the pride and memories lived on. Isn’t it remarkable how many of these great players remained with Cuala over the years and went on to contribute so much to the growth and development of the club? So maybe is not such a coincidence that we now find ourselves back in a Senior Final. Lets hope the goals come in pairs again.

Many thanks to Tommy Johnson for material used in this article.


cartlanndigiteachcuala2

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala (Cuala Digital Archive) was established in 2009 to assemble an on-line archive of images, stories and memorabilia relating to Cuala and its ‘ancestral’ clubs.
If you have any information or material to share with us, please contact –
Michael Goodwin, +353 (0) 87 2266140,  history@cualagaa.ie
Contributors can be assured that all material will be treated with care and returned promptly.  
More History Articles

A Hurling Outpost In South Dublin – 1969

These guys must surely be bursting with pride at the fortunes on the field of their descendants in Cuala.  Cartlann Digiteach Cuala found this image in an article in Gaelic Life magazine in which the fledgling Cuala “Casements” Club was profiled.  Interestingly, at the time this article appeared, “Casements” was still officially “Roger Casements” so the description “Cuala Casements” , a title not formally adopted until 1973, demonstrates either great foresight or the fact that the club had informally adopted the name long before the amalgamation ‘paperwork’ was completed.  The club, which accomodated Minors graduating from Dalkey Mitchels and Cuala Boys, would later merge with Naomh Mhuire Camogie and Dalkey Mitchels to form the great club we know today.

Back Row: Rev Bro Considine (CBS Eblana), Mick Dunphy (Runaí), Joe Canny (Cathaoirleach), Liam Owens, Kieran Brennan.

Front Row: Mick Priest,  Brendan Lamkin, Jim O’Reilly, Sean Moran,  Tom Holden, Tony Larkin.

You can read the whole article here. Watch out for the ads – some still going strong, others long gone.

Cuala GAA Monthly News 1976 – A Familiar Story

We promised you another helping of Magazines from times past so here we go again.

The year is 1976 and the March publication from Cuala G.A.A. is in the hands of editor Noel O’Donoghue. He penned a report on his recent trip to Belfast covering items that have ironically come back into the current news agenda (“every follower of Gaelic Games should visit Casement“) but also reported about events that we hope will never recur.

Runaí Joe Mooney was chasing Subs and promising austerity (plus ca change) but offering some relief (“hurls broken in matches will be replaced at no charge”) though we wonder whether this introduced any moral hazzard?

Of course we had lots of news that seems familiar today with reports of sucesses of the various teams – and made-up of so many still-familiar names

  • Mick Dunphy on Juveniles
  • John Bailey on the (“Dynamos”) Junior Hurlers
  • Jimmy Doyle on Intermediate Hurlers
  • Peter Burke on Junior Football
  • Mikey Sheanon on U21 Football
  • Joe Mooney U21 Hurling
  • Mrs Priest on Social Activities – and offering some poetic advice too.

And news too of Naomh Mhuire – still an independent Camogie club at the time but, by this time, already closely associated with Cuala; they formally joined Cuala in 1979.

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Historic Overview

Read more

Cuala Casements Monthly Newsletter – June 1972

We first brought you news about an old cuala Casements Newsletter back in 2015. At the time we anticipated bringing you more but somehow Cartlann Digiteach Cuala never quite got around to it. So we’re delighted to put that right and resume publication.  The next ones are compliments of Paul Hogan and Lorcan O’Raghailligh who we thank for taking the trouble to share them.

Two things strike us about these publications. Firstly, the great pride and enthusiasm shown by everyone who contributed to the magazines. Not much has changed, we hear you say.

Secondly, given todays digital/immediate publication capabilities, you can only be amazed at the effort that went into the production process. This was at a time when there were no word processors, no computers, no photocopiers, no clip art or image processing capabilities. You didnt even need electric power. The magazine would have been meticulously “typed as a drift” (oops, discard page and start over) “typed as a draft” to make sure the layout was right and then re-typed onto wax-coated Stencils. Illustrations were hand drawn, even individual fadas had to be added by hand. The page stencil was then mounted on a pre-inked Roneo machine which would be cranked onto as many blank sheets as the intended circulation required. Stacks of pages where then compiled and stapled. (See more on Roneos here ).

So, eventually, one for everyone in the audience – but only when the audience showed up in person – and with a “new 10p” (ask Grandad) to pay for it

It makes our current Cuala Weekly News seem like a walk in the park.

Here’s one from June 1972.  Well worth a read, if only to learn about the Cuala/CBS Eblana “Magnificanet Seven”.  And watch out for more next month.

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’98 Shamrocks – Glenageary’s Medal Contenders Set the Right Tone

Today, 19 November marks the 225th Anniversary of the death of Theobald Wolfe Tone of the United Irishmen. This remarkable date gives Cartlann Digiteach Cuala an opportunity to take another look over the hedge at local clubs who played in familiar places in times past. This time, were talking about a Glenageary-based club whose founding arose from national celebrations in 1898 to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion. Such was the engagement in the Centenary Celebrations in Kingstown at the time, there emerged two 1798 Rebellion-related clubs, Wolf Tones (more another time) and ’98 Shamrocks Football Club which we deal with here.

’98 Shamrocks played their home games at Adelaide Road and fielded 2 Football teams. we have no indication of any participation in hurling.
Secretary was Daniel J McDonnell , a shipping Clerk of 14 Sanycove Road. Daniel was a native of Castletimon, near Brittas Bay.

The earliest fixture we can find was March 1898, when a game played at Adelaide Road saw ’98 Shamrocks line out against Geraldines (not our Cornelscourt friends but a Cabra-based side). Unfortunately, the Glenageary team was short 3 players and paid the price. Later the same month, player availability was not an issue when Shamrocks fielded two teams against Irishtown’s Sons of the Seas at Adelaide Road. The encounter was embellished with music provided by the Star of the Seas Band.

In May 1898, Adelaide Road was the venue for the Shamrocks Football Tournament that included –

Bray Commersials
Kingtown Wolf Tones
Dalkey
’98 Shamrocks
Volunteers
If crowds attending was a measure of success, then the Adelaide Road event was surely a show-stopper. Although reports of the event suggested that stewarding might have been improved.

When the Bray Parnell Monument Committee held a sports day at the Vevay in July 1898, Shamrocks featured in Tug-of-war and two Football fixtures –
Avon Rovers v ’98 Shamrocks #2
’98 Shamrocks #1 v C.J.Kickhams

But by September that year, the Dublin Board found it necessary to discuss Shamrocks failure to play Bray Commercials in another Shamrock Club Tournament. By October, the dispute was again before the Dublin Board. It seems the core issue was how how medals were disributed at the Tournament. The upshot was that ’98 Shamrocks were suspended. Their status was unchanged in November; Shamrocks were still noted as being suspended when the list of affiliated clubs was being reviewed by the board.

Incidently, local clubs being affiliated that year included
’98 Shamrocks, Sec. D McDonnell 14 Sandycove Road
Dalkey GFC, Sec, J.C.Browne, Sorrento Road
Wolf Tones, J.Butler Jnr., 9 Mulgrave St Kingstown

The situation dragged on into November when ’98 Shamrocks were once again asked to undertake to return the Tournament medals to the Board at which time their suspension would be re-considered . This time, Shamrocks complied and returned the Medals and – it seemed – normal business resumed. In fact, some Shamrock’s players were even selected by the Board for an exhibition match against the Dublin Champions, CJ Kickhams., in the run-up to Kickhams playing in the All Ireland final (club champions got to represent Counties in those days), the Dublin Board sanctioned a challenge game between Kickhams and a South Dublin selection which included players from Wolf Tones, Dalkey & ’98 Shamrocks.

However, more tensions arose at the County Board in Jan 1899 when ( not unlike certain modern Lilywhites) ’98 Shamrocks objected to playing a fixture against Bray Commercials “anywhere save at Adelaide Road”.  Later still, in March 1899, the earlier Medals dispute was once again brought to the attention of the County Board. This time, the Board entertained a deputation from Bray Commercials who, it seems, made a case for the medals to be awarded to them. But the Board took the view that the fairest outcome was for the match to be replayed at the grounds of Benburbs GFC in Clonskeagh. But the match was never played and the saga dragged on into 1900 where, in September, the County Board noted that the match was “still in abeyance” and the medals had yet to be decided.

And there, frustratingly, the ’98 Shamrock Football story dries up; no further mention in made in the contemporary newspapers.

Footnote: A different Shamrocks Club was founded at Carriglea in about 1900 – this time it was a Hurling outfit. We’ll return to that one in due course.

St. Benedict’s Football Club Dalkey 1916 – Cad Is Ainm Dóibh?

No. That’s not a typo. Patrons of Cartlann Digiteach Cuala have often been reminded that St. Begnet’s GAA, being one of our constituent historic clubs, has always been formally embedded in the Cuala DNA. We previously reported that it was believed to have existed since 1917, but had spent several decades in the wilderness before being resurrected in the late 1950s. Now, that belief about an earlier existence can be upgraded to certainty by the discovery of news reports that record the founding of a club and its first AGM. We even know the identities of its early players and officials and can point to their being in operation by 1916.

But there’s a catch. The earlier team played under the title “St Benedict“. Surely they meant St. Begnet in recognition of our local patron? A newspaper typo most likely? But here’s the strange thing, the team was consistently reported both locally and in Dublin County Board proceedings as St Benedict’s. At no time during its brief lifetime was it ever recorded as “St Begnet’s”. How this unlikely title came to be attached to a Dalkey team remains a mystery. There’s no known local association with St Benedict or the Benedictine Order. But the journey of this early Dalkey outfit is still worth telling.

It all started in 1916 with the formation of a local committee “Dalkey Athletic Sports Committee” which had as its objective “the formation of a football club and a pipers band“. They ran several Sports Days to raise funds and in June 1917, at a meeting in the Town Hall presided over by T. W. O’Reilly, they announced they had accumulated enough fund to start the football team (but not the band). On a motion proposed by M. Harte (that’s surely Michael Harte / Micheál O hAirt, Inspector of Weights and Measures from St Patrick’s Road) and seconded by a Mr Burke (probably Edward Burke of Ardbrugh Rd.), a total of £15-5s-7d was passed on to the new club which was to be called “St Benedict”. And that name prevailed; all their later activities were reported using their unlikely name

Even before the historic meeting, St. Benedicts was already up and running and playing in the Dublin Junior Football League. Between 1916 and 1917 they had fixtures against
Glasthule Mitchels, Bray Emmets, Stars of Erin and St Mary’s Saggart

Sun 1st October 1916 saw their biggest fundraiser – the Dalkey Tournament – held on “Killiney Road”. The tournament was well supported donation of prized by local dignitaries and businesses.

In October 1917, Begnets held its first AGM at the Forrester’s Hall in Dalkey and the following were elected
President: Fr. Fitzpatrick c.c.
Chairman: John Larkin (St Patricks Avenue)
Vice Chairman Frank Coleman (most likely the Postman from St Patricks Rd)
Treasure & Board Delegate: William Redmond (Castle Street)
Secretary: Mr Delaney
Committee: Michael Nolan, Edward Burke (likely to be the same man who seconded the founding motion the previous year), Edward Meegan, Patrick Smith, John Barrett (probably living in Talbot Road)
Capt Junior Team: Edward Reilly (probably from Ardbrugh Road)
Vice-Captain Junior Team: Patrick Keyes (this man is probably one of the Keys of Ardbrugh Rd & Kalafat Lane; his brother was the adoptive father of local playright Hugh Leonard

Capt Minor Team C Dignam (possibly Charles of Talbot Rd.)
Vice Captain: Thomas Byrne (Dalkey Ave.)

Selectors –
James Hammond
John Hammond
R Cullen (there were three Richard Cullens in the area – two at Perrins Cottages Bulloch & one at Sorrento Road)
W R Mooney
F. Reilly
O. Keys

Fun Fact: More than a few of the people named here were Gardeners or “Van Men” (cab drivers); which prompted Cartlann Digiteach Cuala to inquire who was the patron saint of these occupations. Amazingly, they share the same patron – but not who you think. Their common Patron is St Fiacre.

Despite the encouraging conditions surrounding its start up, St Benedict’s appear to have quickly become unstuck.  The last sighting was in 1920  when they were scheduled to play Stars of Sallynoggin (another short-lived side). We can only speculate as to why so few clubs prevailed beyond that time. Cartlann Digiteach Cuala can only guess at the reasons which would include ongoing revolutionary activities – several of those named feature in roundups during the period (e.g. Thomas Byrne & Michael Harte was “lifted” along with Paddy D’Arcy in 1921)  and poor economic conditions leading to emigration.

Our local saint was eventually awarded recognition when “St. Begnet’s GAA” was established (for the first time) in 1956 playing both codes, changed its name to Dalkey Mitchels in 1962 and in 1974 merged with Cuala Casements so that it continues to thrive as part of the great club we all know today.

Cuala Hurlers 1920 – And Our Very First Match Report

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.