History
Early History 18th-19th centuries
Caragh GAA club is one of the county Kildare oldest GAA clubs. Gaelic football has been played in the area as far back as the 18th century with teams from Landenstown, Donore, Blackwood and the village of Prosperous. However many of these teams went out of existence in the 19th century and Caragh Gaelic Football Club was founded. The birth of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884 and the introduction of County committees in 1886 reignited the games of Gaelic football and hurling. The inaugural meeting of Prosperous & Blackwood Sir T Esmondes attracted 140 members in February 1888 under the patronage of local parish priest Father Kinsella and a British army veteran, Captain Fitzpatrick. Their rivals, Tim Healys were set up at Digby Bridge who reached the Kildare senior football semi-final in 1890. Digby Bridge Tim Healys officers John Dunne and Thomas Malone were listed as attending the 1889 convention. RIC records from 1890 show that Clongorey Campaigners had 38 members with Dan Kelly, John Murphy, Pat Fullam and James Kelly listed as officers. Clongorey reached the Senior Hurling Championship final in 1891 and but were defeated by Maynooth. In 1897 there were three clubs from the Parish in the county championship - Caragh, Digby Bridge and Prosperous.
1900-1929
Dick Radley of Prosperous spearheaded the GAA revival in Kildare and Prosperous. Prosperous contested the County Senior Championship in 1901 and 1903 losing on both occasions to Clane GAA. Caragh did win the Junior Championship in 1907 defeating Athy GAA. Blacktrench who were formed in 1915 won the junior championship of 1916 with Larry Stanley as a key member of the side. In 1917 Caragh won the Junior Championship after three matches defeating Maddenstown 2–3 to 1–8. Caragh and Blacktrench amalgamated in 1918 and Raheens was also formed. 1918 was also the same year that Caragh won their first Senior championship captained by Larry Stanley who also lead Kildare to Leinster and All Ireland success. Caragh reached the Senior finals of 1919 defeating Kilcock GAA 2–4 to 2–1. They were defeated by Naas GAA in 1920 1–6 to 0–8. In 1921 Caragh drew with St. Conleths 1-12 each. The match was played during Irish Civil War and St. Conleth's were awarded title on objection because one of the Caragh players called C. McCarthy gave a false name as he was 'on the run' from Free State troops at the time. They were defeated by Naas in the Senior Championship final of 1922. Caragh are the only club to have played in five successive county finals from 1918 to 1923, winning two of them losing a third on objection and a fourth to a Naas goal scored before the backs had returned to their positions. Caragh qualified for the 1925 county final having lost two and drawn one of the three matches they played, losing a replay against Athy by 2–3 to 1-3 and the semifinal against Roseberry by 12 points. They won both matches on objections and qualified. They won their third county title in 1926. Caragh were the first winners of the Leinster Leader cup when it was presented in 1920. Larry and Jim Stanley, Mick Buckley and Jack Dunne, a veteran of Kildare’s 1903 All Ireland team, backboned the team.
1930-1959
It wasn't until 1931 that the club was to enjoy further success winning the Intermediate Championship defeating Athy in the final. A combined Raheens/Caragh selection, entered the 1932 championship as St. Peter's losing to Carbury GAA. Their next success came in 1949 defeating Ballymore Eustace GAA in the Junior Championship 4–9 to 2–7. The club opened their current home ground St. Farnans Park in 1951. An official opening ceremony was held and the grounds blessed by Father Mark Minma C.C.. Kildare GAA chairman Liam Geraghty and club Secretary Tim Clarke oversaw the event. Raheens and Caragh again agreed to amalgamate in 1953 under the name Young Emmets. In 1954 Young Emmets won the Intermediate Championship and were promoted to Senior status. However, the partnership only lasted two more years and in 1956 Caragh and Raheens became a separate entities again. Camogie was introduced in 1955. The team was registered in the colours grey and red. Caragh won the county championship in 1958 but were not able to field a team again until 1962
1960-1989
In 1962 the Camogie team was reorganised by Betty Garry. They won the senior league in 1964 and senior championship in 1965. They also won the Senior Camogie League in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967. They were defeated in the 1967 camogie county championship by Geraldines 5–0 to 4–2. In the mid seventies the club commenced an underage policy and hurling was also introduced at the club. The club's next success was in 1978 and again at Junior level, winning the championship having been previously defeated in the Junior Championship finals of 1976 and 1977. 1978 was a particularly successful year at the club with a new playing pitch opened as well as the club winning Club of the Year and Richie Whelan winning Club Secretary of the Year. The Under 10 and Under 14 teams won their respective Championships however the club's Senior football team were defeated in the Championship final. The hurling team won its first league title in 1983 and in 1984 won their first championship and were successful in retaining their league title. In 1989 the under-16 team both league and championship while the minor team made the championship final. A significant portion of the club's players were members of Clane Community School's All Ireland colleges victory team. A Ladies committee was formed in the early 80s and played a large part in fundraising for the club's Clubhouse which was opened in the mid 80s. The club's centenary year was in 1988.
1990–2012
Caragh won the Junior Championship and the Jack Higgins Cup in 1993 and Intermediate Championship titles in 1995. Caragh and St. Kevins minor teams amalgamated for the 2000 season and won the Minor B league beating Balyna in the final. In 2005 Caragh won the Junior B Championship defeating Kildangan GAA The club's minor team were defeated in extra time in the 2007 league final. The Minor team did win the Minor C Championship in 2008 defeating Suncroft 4–8 to 3–9. The Caragh team managed by Donnacha Hayden won the 2010 Junior Championship defeating local rivals Robertstown in the final. The team contested the postponed 2010 Jack Higgins Cup Final in late 2011 defeating Sarsfields. In 2012 Mark Shaw took the helm and the team currently play in division 2 of the county league and the intermediate championship.
2013 – present Day
The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), or Kildare GAA, is one of 12 county boards governed by the Leinster provincial council of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games in County Kildare. The Lillie's play in the second tier of county football.
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois. The county board is also responsible for the Laois county teams.
Clane GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Clane, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of 17 Kildare county senior football championships, 16 county senior hurling championships and Kildare club of the year in 1975. Clane players are credited with bringing the handpass into Gaelic football. Richard Cribben was regarded as one of the best players in the game in the 1890s and played on the international team that played England at Stamford Bridge in 1896. Pa Connolly and Tommy Carew featured on the Kildare football team of the millennium. Martin Lynch was an All Stars Award winner in 1991.
Athy GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland. The club has won seven county senior football championships.
Kilcock is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Kilcock, County Kildare, Ireland. Located on the border with County Meath, Kilcock traditionally draws it players from the village itself as well as the surrounding rural areas of Laragh, Ballycaghan, Clonfert and Belgard. The club has won five Kildare Senior Football Championships, the last such win being in 1958. Kilcock was "Kildare club of the year" in 1982. It is the home club of Davy Dalton Jr., winner of the 1997 All Stars Award.
Monasterevan G.F.C. is a Gaelic football club based in Monasterevin, County Kildare, Ireland. The club competes in the County Kildare GAA board league and cup system. They were Kildare "club of the year" in 1977. In 2012, Monasterevan G.F.C. won their first Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship, beating Raheens in the county final on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-07 and O’Connells of Louth 0-04 to 0-03 in the Leinster.
Maynooth GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. It caters for the sporting and social needs of residential areas adjacent to its location for all ages through the promotion of Gaelic games – Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and handball.
Ardclough is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Ardclough, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, whose biggest achievements include winning the Kildare County Senior Football Championship after a replayed final against the Army in 1949, winning 13 Kildare County Senior Hurling Championships, the latest in 2017 beating Naas in the final, defeating Buffer's Alley in the 1976 Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship and winning the Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship in 2006. Five Ardclough players featured on the Kildare hurling team of the millennium: Richie Cullen, Tommy Christian, Bobby Burke, Johnny Walsh and Mick Dwane. Bridget Cushen was selected on the Kildare camogie team of the century. Current (2011) Kildare senior hurling panellists are Richie Hoban and Martin Fitzgerald.
Broadford is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in County Kildare, Ireland, winners of two senior hurling and 16 senior camogie titles. It enlists players from a radius of twenty miles from the Boyne bridge in Edenderry, Leinster bridge in Clonard, Blackwater bridge in Enfield and Barney Bridge in Allenwood. Mick Moore was selected at full-forward on the Kildare hurling team of the millennium.
Castledermot GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland. The club has won three Kildare Senior Hurling Championships and teams representing the club were the first winners of the Intermediate Football Championship and Senior Camogie Championship. The club, which was named "Kildare club of the year" in 2004, is the home club of All-Ireland football finalist of 1935, Pat Byrne, who played for the club 1925–1942. Jimmy Curran was goalkeeper on the Kildare hurling team of the millennium.
Celbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. They were awarded Kildare GAA club of the year in 2008, winners of the Kildare senior football championship of 2008, finalists in the senior football league of 1923, 1988 and 2008 and won the Kildare senior hurling and camogie championships in 2005. The club has also won several honours at underage levels in all three codes, qualifying for national finals in football, hurling and camogie at the 2008 Féile.
Raheens is a Gaelic football club based in Caragh, County Kildare, Ireland, winner of the Leinster senior club championship in 1981, 10 county senior football championships, first winners of the Kildare club of the year in 1973 and winners again in 1976. The separate hurling club, formerly known as Éire Óg, has now amalgamated to become Éire Óg-Corrachoill.
Kill GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. They combined with Ardclough to form area side Wolfe Tones in the 1970s. A recent amalgamation with Sallins has created Wolfe Tones hurling club, which has since been competing in the lower divisions of hurling in Kildare.
Leixlip GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Leixlip, County Kildare, Ireland. They were senior football finalists in 1986, club of the year 1979, and home club of Matt Goff who featured on the Kildare millennium football team at full-back.
St Kevin's is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in the Kildare GAA based in Staplestown in North County Kildare, Ireland.
St Laurence's GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in south County Kildare, Ireland.
Two Mile House is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in County Kildare, Ireland. The club grounds are located on The Commons, just off the Dunlavin Road in Two Mile House parish. Eircode is W91 RF84. The parish of Two Mile House is surrounded by the towns of Naas, Newbridge and Kilcullen.
Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Newbridge in County Kildare, Ireland. The club name is linked to Patrick Sarsfield's castle in the area and the club's colours are green with a white sash. Sarsfields has won 25 Kildare Senior Football Championships, more than any other club in the competition.
Éire Óg-Corrachoill is a hurling club based in the parish of Caragh in County Kildare. The parish of Caragh includes the village of Caragh itself, surrounding townlands and Prosperous village which is situated about 3 km north-west from the village. The club is the result of an amalgamation which occurred in 1994 between Éire Óg of Caragh and Corra Choill of Prosperous. The first record of any kind of success in the Caragh parish area involves the Clongorey Campaigners. RIC records from 1890 show that Clongorey Campaigners had 38 members with Dan Kelly, John Murphy, Pat Fullam and James Kelly listed as officers. Clongorey reached the Senior Hurling Championship final in 1891 and but were defeated by Maynooth. Their home ground is in donore just opposite the motor racing circuit Mondello Park.
Camogie in County Kildare is administered by the Kildare County Board of the Camogie Association.
