Ballina Stephenites GAA

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Ballina Stephenites
Stiofánaigh Béil an Atha
Founded:1886
County: Mayo
Colours:Green, Red   
Grounds:James Stephens Park
Coordinates: 54°06′43″N9°09′46″W / 54.111808°N 9.162780°W / 54.111808; -9.162780
Playing kits
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Kit left arm.svg
Kit body mayo12.png
Kit body.svg
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Standard colours
Senior Club Championships
All IrelandConnacht
champions
Mayo
champions
Football: 1 3 38

Ballina Stephenites is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballina area in County Mayo, Ireland. [1] They are the most successful club in Mayo and fourth most successful in Ireland based on trophy amount. [2]

Contents

History

The Ballina Stephenites Club was founded on the 28th (last Saturday) of August 1886 by James Wallace Melvin. (Pen-name Larry Doolan) who also penned the Club's rallying song-"Forward to the goal of victory" The first meeting was held in "Barney's Boreen" at the top of Convent Hill. The first President of the Club was Tom Courell with "Cappy" Fitzgerald as Secretary and Michael Connolly as Treasurer. The club is named for James Stephens (1825–1901).

Ballina Stephenites were affiliated to the Mayo County Board a short time later and played their first "official" fixture in Jones' Field in Ardnaree against Commercials Junior. The Club won 13 consecutive Senior Football Championships from 1904 - 1916 and 2 Archbishop Croke Cups in 1908 and 1909.

In 1933 James Stephens Park was opened by P. J. Ruttledge, Minister for Justice - (A Ballina man). Bord Na N'óg was founded in 1972 resulting in many juvenile successes since.

The Club hosted 2 G.A.A. Congress weeks in 1984 and 1985 and "Welcome Home Week" in 1984 - the Centenary year of the G.A.A. The Club has produced 5 G.A.A. Football All-Stars in - Kevin McStay, Jimmy Browne, Liam McHale, Ger Cafferkey and David Clarke.

In 2005 a team captained by Brian Ruane defeated Portlaoise to win the Andy Merrigan cup as All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship winners.

Rev. Fr. Gerry Courell, grandson of Tom Courell and son of Gerald, was the club patron until his passing in May 2012, maintaining a proud family association with the club.

Honours

Notable players

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Ger Brady was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Ballina Stephenites and the Mayo county team. He played centre half-forward or alternatively left half-forward or most often as a utility playmaker. He won an All-Ireland Senior Club Championship medal with his club in 2005. He was David Brady's brother. Brady was born on 4 January 1980, and died from complications from motor neurone disease at a hospital in Mayo, County Mayo, on 21 March 2024. He was 44.

Kevin McStay is an Irish Gaelic football manager, commentator, analyst and former player. He has been manager of the senior Mayo county team since 2022.

James Browne is an Irish former sportsperson. He played Gaelic football for his local club Ballina Stephenites and was a member of the senior Mayo county team from 1986 until 1990. Jimmy captained Mayo in the 1989 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final and was selected on the GAA All Star team of that year.

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Kieran Denvir was a Gaelic footballer and hurler from Northern Ireland. He was a member of the Down senior football team from the early 1950s until 1960. At club level he played with numerous teams, including Kilclief, University College Dublin, Ballina Stephenites, and Greencastle.

Michael G. Mulderrig was an Irish Gaelic footballer. He played for club side Ballina Stephenites and also lined out at inter-county level with the Mayo senior football team.

References

  1. "Ballina Stephenites GAA". Ballina Stephenites GAA. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  2. O’Muirigh, Don (20 August 2019). "Top 10 most successful GAA club football teams in History". “Ireland Before You Die”. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. "Ballina's first half goals sink St. Brigid's". Hogan Stand . 26 November 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  4. "Ballina best in dogged decider". Hogan Stand . 17 March 2005. Retrieved 9 July 2014.

External sources