Cuala Boys – Inaugural Meeting 1962

Cuala Boys was formed from players who participated in juvenile games in  the Cuala Marian League.  the early players were drawn mostly from students who attended Christian Brothers School, Eblana Avenue, Dun Laoghaire.  Boys belonging to two neighbouring clubs, Dun Laoghaire Commercials & St Michaels, (both of which were in the course of disbanding) were also amalgamated into Cuala Boys. Initially, the playing colours were blue & white. The first games were arranged against Palmerston, Foxrock and St Kevins (Bray).

We show here a copy of the minutes of the very first Committee meeting attended by –

T. Collins, J. Brady, L Warren, M. McKenna, S. Evers, R.Curran, M. Dunphy, A. Duffy, T. Kelly, J. Robinson, P. O’Sullivan, H. Morton, P Ryan, P. Breslin, P. Tracey, T. Holden, S. O’Driscoll

 

The inaugural Committee was comprised of –

  • R.Curran (Chairman)
  • J. Brady (Vice Chairman)
  • T. Holden (Secretary)
  • A. Duffy (Treasurer)
  • M. Dunphy
  • M. McKenna
  • J. Robinson
  • P. O’Sullivan
  • H. Morton
  • P Ryan
  • T. Collins
  • L Warren (Board Delegate)

St Begnet’s GAA – Division C Winners – 1962

Back Row: Sean Tobin, Jim Doran, Jack Wallace, J. Walsh, J. Byrne, Murt Gleeson, Pat Murphy, G. Smith, Alec Wallace
Front Row: Liam Doyle, Mick Priest, Declan O’Shea, Joe. Brannelly, Phil Gleeson, William Wallace, Jim O’Shea, Matthew Wallace

Digging Up Our Past For Digital Posterity

On La na gClub, (10th May 2009) Cuala launched a major programme to research and record our social history, an initiative that will culminate in the creation of “Cartlann Digiteach Cuala” – the Cuala Digital Archive.

Cuala Hurling, Football and Camogie Club has a long and distinguished history of involvement in Gaelic Games in south County Dublin and can trace its sporting pedigree to the early 1900’s – a heritage that’s almost as old as the GAA itself. So it is fitting that on Lá na gClub – as we celebrate the GAA’s 125 years – we launch this important initiative to recognize and celebrate the contribution and achievements of those local giants on whose shoulders we now proudly stand.

Although it is known that there were contests between Dalkey & Bray as far back as the late 1800’s (the earliest recorded Bray Emmets team played Dalkey in the Vevay in 1885), the formal Cuala story can be traced from Cuala Hurling Club (Dalkey, 1918) through a variety of mergers, off-shoots ‘rests’ and ‘ressurections’ involving clubs like Naomh Mhuire Camogie Club (Sallynoggin, 1948) St Begnet’s GAA Club (Dalkey 1959, renamed Dalkey Mitchell’s in 1962), Roger Casements (Dalkey 1966) and Cuala Boys (Dun Laoghaire, 1962). The project will encompass all of these clubs who were part of the great Cuala journey .

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala will seek to assemble material – oral, written, pictorial and other memorabilia – from private and official sources – and to place it in a publicly accessible digital archive for the benefit of future generations while also being accessible to friends and families world-wide through Cuala’s popular website www.cualagaa.ie

We are now inviting everybody in the wider Dun Laoghaire area (& beyond) who had forebears connected with Gaelic Games to contact us if they have any stories pictures, medals or other memorabilia that we can catalogue and image for posterity. All material will be promptly returned to its owners.
Introducing Cartlann Digiteach Cuala, Club Chairman John Treacy commented “This is a wonderful opportunity to capture in one place all the stories, images, medals, school records, newspaper cuttings, official papers and minute books of our great club. Cuala, like many other GAA clubs, can boast a great tradition of involvement by many generations of the same families and it is fitting that we remember them in this way”

The project presents a unique opportunity for our older supporters to remain active in a worthwhile cause. In the year that the Cuala Footballers achieved Dublin Senior status, Cuala is now anxious to tap into the experience of their other “seniors” – the senior citizens in the Dalkey – Dun Laoghaire area. We know they are the people who possess an intimate knowledge of the great Cuala families and teams of the past and who can help us learn more about their life and times.

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala Co-ordinator, Michael Goodwin added “work is already well-advanced in assembling a team of volunteers to undertake the research and we are now encouraging involvement by past members, neighbours, local historians – basically anyone who had dealings with Cuala or who can help us locate relevant records“. Anyone with would like to help, or who has material they would like to share with Cuala (it will be returned promptly) can contact us at history@cualagaa.ie

Cuala Hurling Club 1920’s

This is the earliest known team photograph of a Cuala team. Significantly, it provides an important link between the present club and the team who are understood to have played in the Lower Quarry and the “Firm” Quarry on Dalkey Hill – beside Ardbrugh Road. Today’s players will be interested to observe the shape of the hurls in those earlier times. –

This newspaper cutting – naming 17 (players only?) is from the O’Maolain Album. A separate document lists more of those pictured (& slightly differently) –
Back Row (L-R) Eamon Quirke, Unknown, William Byrne (Snr), Paddy Darcy, Paddy Murphy,
Paddy Dennehy, Joe Hennessy, Jack Thomas, Tom Mullen , Unknown, & Charlie Somers

Middle row (L-R) Unknown (kneeling), John Moloney, Paddy Thomas, Tom Byrne, Liam Byrne,
Eamon McNoibin, Seamus Byrne, Mylie O’Neill

Front Row (L-R) Michael Byrne, John Kelly, Stephen Taylor (boy), Jack Ledwidge,  Unknown,

 

William Byrne (Snr) was the 52-year-old father of 7 boys, 4 of whom are in this picture – Liam (aged 23), Seamus (aged 21) and Michael (aged 17). They lived in Dalkey Avenue. (Ages assume that picture is dated 1920).

Liam (Óg) was the grandfather of Damien Byrne (Cuala and Dublin Goalkeeper) and John Paul Byrne (Cuala, Dublin & Leinster Champion)
Cartlann Digiteach Cuala would be grateful to hear from anyone who is in possession of an original photograph or who has similar photographs from this period.

Another Good Day At The Office For The U21s

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala knows that, when it comes to history, you cant beat first hand experience. So, in the aftermath of our recent U21 Hurling sucess, we were delighted to hear from the 1976 Captain, Eamonn Brennan, who kindly offered this reflection on his visit to O’Toole Park and his encounters with and memories of former teamates –

I finished breakfast on Sunday 13th of December to the wonderfully descriptive voice of the late Liam Clancy singing:
“Once upon a time there was a tavern,
Where we used to raise a glass or two,
Remember how we laughed away the hours,
And dreamed of all the great things we would do?
Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end. . .”

I set off on bicycle to O’Toole Park. Cuala were in the Under 21 Football Championship Final for the first time since Saturday 6th of March 1976. Cycling provides time to think in peace about life and if one does not concentrate – death! My thoughts were on the game ahead could this team win against the old enemy- Crokes.
I hoped to see friends and faces from the 76 team who provided so many happy memories to me. Would many be present …..did everyone hear about the final?…..what shape are they in after all these years. There are many I have not seen for some time, some have slipped away.

As I came to the turnstile I met the legendary mentor Paul Keogh looking fit and well. I met Shay Hayes who stood behind me in goal. I recalled how, time after time, he reassured me he was comfortable under the high dropping ball into the square – how my heart used to skip a beat! Michael Quigley at midfield…. one remembered his thoughtful incisive passes & long flowing hair. Pat Dolphin & Brian Murdock from our lethal half forward line. Johnny (watch my side step) Sheanon from our full forward line. Of the 1-11 scored back in 1976, scorers of 0-10 were present. Remaining scores came from Pat Curran 1-0 and Tom Johnson 0-1.

I also though of those, for whom being there, was not in the plans of the good Lord – our centre back Mick Holden and right corner back – Colm Mullen.

We shook hands, chatted, leg pulled, fidgeted around nervously ahead of the kick off. Shay hoped to straighten his back which was carrying the burden of last success for 33 years! He didn’t have to worry for long.

The game was only minutes old when I could see that our tenure as the last Cuala U21 Championship winners was over. A superbly taken opening goal by young Schutte set the tone. The second goal minutes later from John Sheanon would befit a winning goal in a senior championship final. Breathtaking – the older guys reckoned the modern footballs travel faster, straighter and now bend away from goalkeepers!!. Bring back the heavy leather ball. At half time a friend from Crokes said it was our game to lose. So it proved. Great memories came back as the Cup was presented to our Captain………….
Cycling home that other verse came to mind

“Then the busy years went rushing by us,
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I’d see you in the tavern,
We smile at one another and we’d say
Those were the days my friends . . .”

I started comparing teams, individuals and looking for similarities between the current team and that 76. There were many.

Overarching both teams is the Sheanon family connection, Pat Sheanon, Johnny’s dad and John’s grand dad was our mentor, a father figure to many, he was also our social committee! Johnny was a key member of the ’76 team. A young Mikey Sheanon was by his dad’s side in ‘76 learning team management skills, skills that had an enormous influence on this years winning team as they had on the Minor success of 3 years ago. and it was a sad irony that this year, Colm Sheanon accompanied his dad Johnny and would surely have featured on the day but for an injury that kept him sidelined.

I was hugely impressed at the level of teamwork & commitment towards supporting each other. This team appeared to have a unique bond and comeraderie that one sees perhaps once in a generation, built up through years of training, coaching, growing together and success.

Both teams shared a similar gritty determination to grind out a win when the odds were against us. That last 10mins v Na Fianna in the semi reminded me of our draw in the 1st final & our win over Crokes in the semi. This team is based on a successful Minor Team as was the ‘76 team. This team displayed a level of defending and accurate passing from defence one would normally expect to see from county players. This was also a high disciplined group – a credit to players and current management. No silly fouls or frees given away while not opting out of a hard tackle. This was possibly the most comprehensive display by a Cuala football team in a Championship final.

On behalf of the 76 team members present, I congratulate this special team, current and past mentors who brought them to this level of success. I am reluctant to offer advice as it not my place. If I did, I’d suggest you enjoy this unique time in your lives – we did. Stay together as a group and go forward to greater success. Dual players – play all games for as long as you can, as there is no evidence to say playing football and hurling will shorten your sporting career or reduce success levels. You all carry a confidence & swagger of a winning group of men – I believe we did also. A team with a winning belief has no limits. This win can be a stepping stone to further success in sport and in your personal lives. Members of the 76 team who saw your performance last Sunday were proud of your success and especially the manner in which you achieved this win.
I later went down to the club bar and as I entered, that final verse came to mind. .

“Through the door there came familiar laughter,
I saw your face I heard you call my name
Oh my friend, we’re older but no wiser,
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same”
“Those were the days……………….oh yes Those were the Days.”

Eamonn Brennan

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

Mystery Surrounds United Gaels – 1921

Who was this team and how do they integrate into the Cuala Story?

The picture was kindly presented to Cuala by Frank Mullen, Dalkey Utd. in 1995 and, as the incription of the ball shows, dates from the 1920-21 season. The man “in possession” of the ball is Leo Ledwidge and is almost certainly the brother of Jack Ledwidge of the 1920’s Cuala Hurlers – they resided at Dalkey Avenue. Leo would have been about 18 at the time.

The term “United” might offer a clue as to the origins of the team. It was often used in the name of clubs that formed from the amalgamation of older struggling sides. For instance, we’re aware of an earlier United Gaels that was formed in 1915 by the coming together of Tallaght Davis, Hibernian Knights and O’Donovan Rossa’s. Though this seems to have been short-lived as there are indication of disquiet there by 1917.

In the period 1918 – 1921, there was a United Gaels based in Greystones/Kilcoole. There was certainly a Dunleary-based United Gaels too. They played Senior Football v McCracken’s in the Phoenix Park (Jan 1921) and took part in the Crumlin Tournament (Jan 1918) where they were drawn against Glasthule Mitchels.  In November 1918 at Cabinteely, they played St Mary’s in an Intermediate Football fixture. Its safe to assume that the lads pictured here were the same team.

But there was an even earlier “Kingstown United Gaels” who featured in October 1903, when they beat McCracken’s in a Junior League fixture in Monkstown (present day Sailors & Soldiers Field on Monkstown Avenue) – a victory which was converted to defeat in the County Boards rooms when they forfeited the result due to fielding an ineligible (un-named) player.  We can see no indicators that this United side lasted long.

Back Row: D. O’Neill, M. Martin, unknown, unknown, Jim Connelty, C. Kavanagh
3rdRow: Willy Kavanagh, Jim Hammond, J.Casey, G. Bryan, P.Greaves, J. Nicholson, P.O’Brien
2nd Row: Tom Reid,  Joe Byrne,  Leo Ledwidge (Ball),  Billy Bryan,  M.Dowling
Front Row: M.Casey, (Dog),  J.Kearns,  Martin Butler,  Dick Kearns,  Peach Kelly,  Paddy Breen