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Club History |
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The club we now call Calry/St.
Joseph's, derives from Calry Gaels, a club formed 1n 1972. While Calry Parish had been represented in both codes of football in the past, the War years and 'hungry fifties' were not conductive to progress. However, the sixties saw an increasingly active population and there was a vacuum to be filled in community life, sporting, social and cultural. Athletics had been revived in 1951, soccer was now well established and the time was ripe for the revival of G.A.A. affairs. A group of people came together for that purpose and the first club officers were elected as follows: President: John Devaney Chairman: Liam Costello Secretary: Michael McGuinn Treasurer: Paddy Verdon Others such as Sean Sexton, Christy Heraghty, Seamus Cummins and Roddy Gillen played a major part in the formation of the club. Christy Heraghty took over as chairman the following year and Pat Branley, Jim Flanagan, J. Kennedy and Brian McGauran became heavily involved. Team success came quickly, The team winning the Junior Football League in 1975 and the County Junior Championship in 1976. Further success were to follow:
While the team had tasted success, the club had only temporary use of playing fields. There was no permanency and the club needed a permanent home. In 1975 Jimmy Flynn reported on the possibility of obtaining the Hazelwood land and the opportunity was not allowed to go by default. Trustees were nominated - Jim Flynn, Pat Branley, Seamus Cummins, John Devaney - and fund-raising began. Meanwhile, youth was being looked after and the cultural aspect was taken care of by significant involvement in Scór, and Pat Branley got Ciste off the ground. All the while fundraising was going on by way of raffles, collections, sponsored walk, lottery, quiz, mayoral election, etc. and the work load increased. Officers over the years were: Chairmen: C. Heraghty, P. Branley, J. Kennedy, J. Dolan, C. Branley, Fr. J. McManus, Hugh McLoughlin. Secretaries: M. McGuinn, S. Cummins, J. Flynn, G. Flanagan, T. Hynes, G. Higgins, V. Fowley. Treasurers: P. Verdon, J. Devaney, T. Gallen, G. Higgins.
The land was purchased and development began. The club officials were mindful of the GAA Commission Recommendation: 'To cater for its members, clubs should aim to have:
In 1982 the foundation for the new dressing rooms was laid. Indeed, it could also be said that a solid base and foundation was laid for an all-embracing club. From humble beginnings the club has evolved to the stage that is bordering on the ideal, maybe not yet in high standards of playing performance at all levels, but in the widest range of involvement at all ages and both genders in cultural, social and leisure activities. The Community can now boast of first class sporting facilities, all weather pitch, running track, floodlit training area, dressing rooms, tennis court, car park, etc. Loyalty and dedicated services to an exceptional degree has ensured that grounds, well positioned and equipped, are used to meet the growing needs of our youth. In a time of great social, material and economic change and a consequent changing pattern of society, with greater popularity and availability of other leisure activities, there is an ever-present-need to maintain and foster our own uniqueness. The club has been remarkable for the voluntary nature of the services it has attracted since foundation. In an age of competing attractions, the quality of this service is now more important than ever. The club has been blessed with the ability, the dedication and the enthusiasm of its voluntary workers. In 1987 the interdependence of urban and rural hinterland was accepted and recognised by the coming together of Calry/St. Joseph's to supplement Calry Gaels, not replace it. As Calry Parish embraces St. Joseph's, extending as it does, to the Garavogue River, the effect was merely to restore to Calry its historic area within its natural boundaries. One of the problems of urban society is often one of loss of community identity, and Calry/St. Joseph's, by providing a sense of belonging to sporting and cultural organisation seeks to overcome this and provides a focus for the leisure activities of entire families and an opportunity for social contact, with the added dimension of commitment to the fostering of all Gaelic culture. The club has now advanced to the state where it fields teams in all grades of under-age football and hurling as well as Intermediate and Ladies football. The year 1995 was a particularly historic year in that the Juvenile Hurlers won both U-12 and U-14 County Championships and the Intermediate football team won promotion to Senior status for the first time, having reached the League Final, being beaten by Coolera in a great game. It is hoped that the sterling work of the officers of the club will continue to draw strength from the support of the Calry/St. Joseph's community of people in the years ahead. * * * *
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