When the Gaelic Athletic Association was formed in 1884 after a meeting in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, many Clubs emerged around the country. Most of these clubs played both Hurling and Gaelic Football. Among the first clubs in the Piltown area was John Mandevilles in Templeorum (1880s) as well as a Piltown Club.
Kilkenny held its first county convention in the Working Mens Club, Kilkenny on the 30th January 1887. Piltown were represented by J.J. Power and Peter O’Donnell. In December 1887, there were two rival conventions with J.J. Power being elected to the committee of the one which was promoting the re-appointment of Maurice Davin as President of the GAA. In 1888, four clubs affiliated to Kilkenny GAA from Piltown. They were Piltown, Ballyhenebry, Owning and Templeorum (John Mandevilles). The Owning club are believed to have played their games in a field in Fanningstown. J.J. Power was elected to represent the Southern Division on the county board. Harristown was another early club which lasted until the 1940s. Templeorum followed John Mandevilles with a number a fancy named clubs as in Mountain Stars and Star Rangers. Suir Rangers based in Fiddown were a very strong Gaelic Football team, attracting players from the Windgap and Mooncoin area while Piltown continued the Rangers theme with the introduction of a club called Valley Rangers. Later this was followed by a club called St. Columba's. All these clubs had varying lifespans depending on player recruitment and retention.
1950s
Parish Rule was introduced into Kilkenny in 1952, to encourage community involvement and stop the spread of "super clubs". Following this the modern club now known simply as Piltown GAA came into existence in 1953. The original grounds consisting of about 5 acres had been purchased from the Land Commission on 1 November 1945. The original trustees were Canon Philip Comerford PP, Patrick Power MCC (Piltown) and Richard Keating (Clonmore). The price paid was £77.
Early meetings of the club took place at St. Columba's Hall which was located at the old graveyard in Piltown. After the hall was demolished, meetings took place at Anthony's Inn, Piltown National School and eventually in the dressing room that used to exist at the road end of the front pitch.
1960s
In 1961, the club started raising funds through the annual fete (carnivals), commencing on Easter Sunday. It featured live music in a marquee, amusements and tournament hurling matches with top class clubs from all over the south east. Work started on developing the grounds in the early sixties. In 1961, the wall at the road end was erected along with the original dressing rooms, complete with showers and toilets. In 1962/63, the pitch was levelled resodded and drained. In 1964, a 10-foot wire and post fence was erected around the main pitch. In 1965, the toolshed and the original scoreboard was erected at the road end and it took about £9000 to transform the pitch which was starting to be considered one of the best in the county. The main playing pitch was officially opened on 12 August 1965 when the Kilkenny Senior Hurling team played a challenge match against Waterford. The Kilkenny team featured local man Ned Power (Brenor) who would go on to provide long service as a player and administrator.
1970s
In 1972, an additional 12 acres of adjacent lands were purchased. These were lands formerly owned by Issac and Lilly Tector. The representatives of the club paid £3,500 for it, (£500 more than their brief), proceeds of the carnivals. In 1977, it was decided provide a complex building with an estimated cost of £40,000. With the popularity of carnivals beginning to wane, a new source of income had to be found.
1980s
In 1982 the new income source emerged. The club ran a 600 club draw which a year later turned into what is now known as the Hurlers Co-op draw. (In 1991, the Kilkenny County Board became involved). Since the 1980s, Piltown GAA has played an integral part in the community with the provision of two full size playing pitches and a juvenile pitch, a handball court, two squash courts and a gym, with Bar & Social facilities in the GAA Complex that was constructed in 1985. The GAA Complex was officially opened by the former President of the GAA, Paddy Buggy on 15 August 1986.
1990s-2000s
A third pitch soon followed in the 1990s and became an "all-weather pitch" before having match standard floodlights added. The floodlighting was switched on for the first time on Friday 18 November 2005. The first championship game played under lights in Kilkenny took place in Piltown. It was a Senior Football championship clash between Piltown and Railyard in February 2006 with the result being a win for the visitors. A warm-up area was then created at the lower end of the all-weather pitch. In 2010, a shed from the old sugar factory in Carlow was re-erected as a stand on the back pitch.
In 2012, work started on a precast hurling wall and the redevelopment of the former pitch-and-putt course into a fourth playing field. The hurling wall precast structure was erected on 30 March 2012. Lighting was added in 2013. Also in 2013, some benches were added around the pitch and work started on removing the old wire fence around the front pitch and replacing it with a more modern aesthetically improved lower fence. In 2019, an fully enclosed Astroturf pitch was appended to the hurling wall.
2022, (post Covid) saw the closure of the GAA Complex bar facilities due financial losses. However, the complex bar area continues to provide meeting facilities and a venue for dance classes. In 2024, work commenced on extending the main front pitch and provided a lit walk way for the community.
On the 2 December 2024, Piltown GAA designated itself as a One Club Model incorporating Hurling, Gaelic Football, Ladies Gaelic Football, Camogie and future GAA Handball and Rounders sports as well as culture, heritage and community obligations. This followed ratification of the Piltown GAA One Club Charter which will guide governance of the unified club by the GAA Club and Piltown Camogie Club (26 November 2024) and Piltown Ladies Gaelic Football Club (29 November 2024). Operating of the One Club model commences in 2025.
Currently Piltown GAA cater for all the mainstream Gaelic Games codes, Hurling, Gaelic Football, Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football. All ages are catered from child to adult, although Ladies Gaelic Football have yet to field a competitive adult team, but do cater for the social player instead. Opportunities are always sought to find individuals to lead the drive to cater for Handball and Rounders and complete the GAA sports community with GAA Handball having previously been catered for until about 2012.
Hurling is an ancient sport played all over the country but particularly in southern counties. When the GAA was formed in 1884, GAA clubs began to emerge around the country and the Piltown area was no different. There were many iterations of different clubs around Piltown between the 1880s and 1952 when parish rule was adopted in Kilkenny.
In 1888, Piltown entered the Senior Hurling championship for the first time but gave a walk over to St. Kyran's of Bennettsbridge. Things improved and Piltown qualified for two Senior County Finals. Unfortunately, both ended in defeat. 1904, on the 23 April at Asylum Lane, Kilkenny, Piltown lost 1–6 to 6–14 against the famed Tullaroan team. Then on 30 April 1910, in Callan, they lost to Tullaroan again, by 3–0 to 7-1.
1904 Panel: John Power (Capt), M.Walsh, J.Butler, P.Roche, W.Foley, R.Walsh, Jack Anthony, W.Fewer, R.Landy, M.Anthony, L.Murray, J.Grace, P.Walsh, W.Dalton, R.Bowe, M.Shea, R.Carroll
1910 Panel: John Power (Capt), J.Butler, Jack Anthony, J.Hennerbry, J.Greene, W.Dalton, P.Greene, P.Roche, M.Anthony, J.Kerr, J.Hearne, J.Walsh, J.Dillon, R.Bowe, T.Bowe, E.Walsh, R.O'Shea.
John T Power became Piltown's first hurling star. The local goalkeeper won 4 All-Ireland senior medals with Kilkenny in 1907, and then three in a row, 1911, 1912 and 1913. Power Villas was named in his memory. In the early years, another Piltown man became renowned as a referee. Peter Walsh refereed the 1926 and 1928 Senior hurling county finals as well as 1927 and 1928 Junior finals.
In the 1930/1940s, Suir Rangers were one of the local teams and they lost a Minor Roinn A Championship Final in 1940 to Moonrue, 1–3 to 4-5. Based in Fiddown, they attracted players from a wide geographic spread and had a keen interest in Gaelic Football. St. Columba's based in Piltown were also in existence in the 1940s. In 1946, they lost a Minor Roinn A final to St. Marys (Kilkenny) 0–0 to 1-5. They had beaten Tullogher in the South Final by 4–1 to 0-1. In 1948, they again won the Roinn A South Minor Championship beating Thomastown 4–1 to 1-3. Again, they were beaten in the county final. This time by Graigue (4–1 to 4-6). By this stage, Harristown was now known to many as Leac Na Scall and still competing as were Templeorum using one of their many names.
Following the introduction of Parish Rule, the club now known simply as Piltown came into existence in 1953. This meant the end for many of the clubs previously mentioned. For most of its life, Piltown has been in the junior adult grade. The 1980s saw the best period for Piltown hurling when they won the Junior Championship beating Emeralds 3–6 to 2–6 in Nowlan Park.
Panel: Kevin Brennan, Jim Fitzgerald, Eugene Brennan, Johnny Maher (Capt.), Michael Long, Sean Norris, Pat Long, Pa Dunne, Nicky Culleton, Liam McCarthy, George Culleton, John Joe Long, Jim Norris, Jimmy Power, Joe O’Sullivan, Tony O’Shea.
This led to a golden period in the Intermediate grade which saw Piltown reach but lose three intermediate county finals., 1985, 1986 and 1988. However, relegation from the Intermediate grade came in 1992. 1996 saw Piltown win their second Junior title beating Dicksboro 0–11 to 1–3 in Nowlan Park. Relegation came again in 1999.
Piltown's third title came in 2003 when they beat St. Patricks of Ballyragget in a replayed final in Nowlan Park. This led to the clubs greatest hurling title when they won the Leinster Junior hurling title. (There was no All-Ireland series in 2003). The final was played on 3 December in Marino where they beat their hosts St. Vincents by 1–15 to 1–8 after extra time. The team was managed by Paul Murphy, Michael Burchill and Dan Kenny.
Panel: David Kirby, Richard Brophy, Brian Farrell, Dessie O’Dea (Capt), Pa Connolly, James Connolly, Liam Kearns, Liam Kenny, Andrew McCarthy, John Falconer, John Malone, Michael Galvin, Nicky Kenny, Michael Brennan, Philip Kenny, James Norris (Kildalton), James Farrell, Andrew Norris, John Malone, Jim Power, Richie Connolly, Shane Kinsella, Gerry Long, Vinnie Long, Kevin Maher, Conor O’Shea, John Lonergan, Robert O’Dea, Paul Maher, John Brophy.
2003 was capped by Piltown being named the AIB Kilkenny Club of the Year. Unfortunately, relegation was swift enough again in 2005 and Piltown have been in the Junior grade since.
Two special junior (Junior B) Championships (1990 and 2008) and two Under-21 (2007 and 2011) have been won by Piltown. Piltown currently field three adult hurling teams. At juvenile level where teams are fielded from Under-6 to Minor, there have been several successes including winning Division 3 of Under-14 National Féile Na nGael in 1979 when hosted in Kilkenny and runners-up in Division 1 to Wolfe Tones (Clare) when hosted in Clare in 1986. Piltown also won the National Community games title in 1989 beating Portumna of Galway.
In 1960 Piltown won their first juvenile hurling county title, the Under-14 hurling Championship when they beat St. Patrick's of Ballyragget in the Roinn B Final. The team was managed by school principal Gerry O’Donoughue.
Panel: Nicky Kenneally, John Moriarty, Jimmy Breen, Sean Reid, Seamus Farrell, John Joe Walsh, Michael Malone, Jim Reid, Sean Sullivan, Pat Brophy, Willie Drennan, Bill Quirke, Philip Walsh, Mick Long, Eddie O'Sullivan, Michael Brennan, Johnny Cummins, Tom Reid, Noel Grace.
Under-16 grade has been a very fruitful age group winning 5 championships and 3 leagues, the last championship in 2013 when Piltown beat Thomastown in the Roinn B final. The 1985 Under-16 squad won the League and Championship double in both hurling and Gaelic Football which was a unique standout achievement. The only minor championship came in 1977 when the Roinn B title was won against Lisdowney. In 2016, the Under-14 Roinn B title was won for a second time when Piltown beat St. Martins, 56 years after the first title. Five Schools Championships have been won (1981, 1982, 1988, 2000, 2007).
Over 100 Piltown players over the years have lined out at various age groups with Kilkenny teams, but the standout inter county player was Liam McCarthy (Harristown) who won senior All-Irelands with Kilkenny in 1992 and 1993. He also had the unique distinction of winning All-Irelands at Minor (1981), Under-21 (1984) and Junior (1986), the only player to ever do so.
Gaelic Football Gaelic Football was the more popular game in Kilkenny at the time the GAA was founded in 1884. The first reported matches played in Kilkenny after the founding of the GAA were football matches. And it is generally accepted that the first football match played under GAA rules anywhere in Ireland took place in county Kilkenny on 15 February 1885 when Callan played Kilkenny on the Fair Green in Callan.
Piltown, John Mandevilles (Templeorum) and O’Connells (Ballyhenebry) all existed and played Gaelic Football in the late 1880s. There is a record of Piltown hosting Clonea in a Gaelic Football Challenge on New Year's Eve, 1886. In 1887, Piltown competed in the first Kilkenny senior football championship with their first game against Mullinavat. Piltown won and among the team members were captain Bill O’Donnell (Ballyhenebry), Dunnes (Ballyhenebry), Mick Conway, Sam Tobin and Ned Quinn (Tybroughney), Mick Farrell (Castletown), the O’Shea Brothers (Owning), and P. Fitzgerald (Raheen). Piltown were later beaten by Kilmacow. That year (1887) local man Peter O’Donnell refereed the first ever county final (both games) as Kilmacow beat Kilkenny (Geary's) after a replay. There are records from 1889 about a Kells football team playing in the senior football championship against John Mandevilles (Templeorum) on the 14th April in Thomastown. The game resulted in defeat for the Templeorum team.
By the First World War, Harristown were also playing Gaelic Football and lost the 1913 South Championship Final Replay to Tullogher by 0–1 to 2-4. In 1914, they won the South Championship beating the same Tullogher opposition. They went on to lose the County final to Burnchurch by 0–2 to 1-0. Peter Walsh who also refereed senior hurling county finals, refereed the 1922 and 1929 County Senior Football Finals. In the early 1950s (before parish rule) a club called Gortrush Ramblers existed for a period of time, as did Suir Rangers.
Despite huge interest in Gaelic Football by local clubs such as John Mandevilles and Suir Rangers, it was 1992 before Piltown reached a Junior County Final when they were defeated by Clara. However, the following year the first ever Junior County title was won when Piltown beat Blacks & Whites 1–10 to 1–4 in Thomastown.
Panel: Paul Friend, Tommy Reid, Mossy Walsh, Brian Farrell, James Farrell, Michael O’Shea, James Connolly, Liam Kenny, Tadhg Kenny, Jim Power (Capt.), Kevin O’Shea, Michael Brennan, Paudie O’Gorman, Denis McCarthy, Andrew McCarthy, Mark Walsh, Liam McCarthy, PJ McCarthy, Seamus Norris, Dave Stephney, Liam Kearns, Pat Enright
The Intermediate title was added in 1997 when Piltown beat neighbours Mooncoin in Mullinavat 3–6 to 2-7 having lost Intermediate finals in 1994 and 1995.
Panel: Andrew McCarthy, Daniel McSweeney, Michael Brennan, John Falconer, Kevin O'Shea, James Farrell, Brian Farrell, Tadhg Kenny, Liam Kenny (Capt.), Michael O'Shea, Michael O'Dwyer, Seamus Norris, Tommy O'Shea, Barry Walsh, Aubrey Storey, Michael Gordon, James Connolly, Jim Power, Richie Connolly, Denis Lawlor, Dave Stephney, Kevin Kelly, Eamonn Kenny, Tommy Falconer, Paul Brady.
This meant for the first time a Piltown team from the modern Piltown club had reached the senior ranks. The stay did not last long as Piltown were relegated back to Intermediate. However, Piltown returned to Senior when they beat the Rower Inistioge for their second Intermediate championship in 2001. Winning the final by 3–7 to 2–5 with once again, Mullinavat being the venue.
Panel: Andrew Norris, Denis Lawlor, Michael O’Shea, Eamonn Kenny, Conor O’Shea, Liam Kenny (Capt.), Michael Galvin, Ronan Costello, James Farrell, Barry Walsh, Michael Brennan, Richie Connolly, Philip Kenny, John Lonergan, Paul Brady, John Falconer, Michael Dineen, Brendan Doyle, James Connolly, Liam Kearns, Richie Fitzpatrick, Paul Kirby, Finbar Dineen, Paul Friend, Conor O’Shea, Jim Power, Tadhg Kenny, Pa Connolly, David Kirby.
Relegation to the Intermediate ranks came again in 2006 which is where Piltown have been for since. However, in 2006, The Under-21s won the Roinn B Championship after a replay beating St. Patricks of Ballyragget. It was Piltown's first ever Under-21 championship tile but this was the last ever final in that competition.
At Juvenile level there has always been great interest and ability with Champions wins in Minor (1986, 1993, 2020), Under-16 (1985, 1992, 2011, 20120 and Under-14 (1976, 1983, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2008, 2010, 2012). In fact, underage successes have occurred more in Gaelic Football than Hurling for Piltown. The 1985 Under-16 squad won the League and Championship double in both Gaelic Football and hurling which was a unique standout achievement. In addition, primary school's titles were won in 1983, 1987, 1988, 1995, 2006 and 1999. The School's Country Cup was won in 2014 after a replay. The Kilkenny Community Games title was also won in 1987.
Over 50 Piltown players over the years have lined out at various age groups with Kilkenny teams. Piltown coaches have been involved in several Kilkenny Management teams. Tadhg Kenny was part of the Kilkenny Minor squad that won an International Blitz in 1996 while Seamus Norris was part of the Kilkenny Under-16 management team that beat Waterford in the Manning Cup in 2018. To date the only Kilkenny competitive juvenile win in the 21st Century.
Camogie has been played in Piltown for many years. The earliest reports of a team in the parish was Owning Camogie Club. This team existed around the late 1950s, early 1960s. They trained in a field in Fanningstown opposite where Bertie Duggan lives. Among their players were Tessie Duggan (Flynn), Eileen Kiely (Norris), Breda Power, Maud Murphy (Kelly) and Kathleen Duggan (Holden). There were also players from Windgap such as Wazzie Power and Eileen Doyle.
In the late 1970s, Piltown had a minimal club fielding at only Under-14. This team did compete in the Under-14 Féile Na nGael competition when it was held in Kilkenny in 1978 and 1979. Johnny O'Shea of Iverk Produce/O'Shea Farms was the chairman at the time.
1978 Panel: Josie O’Shea, Michelle Gilman, Lucy Giles, Marie Fitzpatrick, Mary Kinsella, Fiona Knox, Carmel Phelan, Margaret Holden, Evonne Fitzpatrick, Marie Cuddihy, Celia Giles, Ann Dunne, Ann O’Brien, Margaret Carroll, Lucy Knox, Margaret Talbot.
1979 Panel: Marie Fitzpatrick, Michelle Gilman, Lucy Knox, Bernadette Gilman, Majella Giles, Stephanie Carroll, Ann Dunne, Kay Cuddihy, Evonne Fitzpatrick, Denise Everett, Celia Giles, Fiona Coffey, Marie Power, Rosemary O’Toole, Pauline Foyle.
In the 1980s, Piltown Camogie Club emerged with the driving force being Maura Brennan (Owning). The team included several girls who have children playing today such as Sheila Keegan (Norris), Kay McCarthy (Phelan) and Teresa Brophy (Phelan). Like the Owning club before there were also players from the Windgap parish like Joan O'Gorman, Judith Phelan and Mary Norris (Walsh). The Junior team contested the Junior "B" County Final in 1988. A strong Tullogher team beat them 6–6 to 0–3 on a wet day in Nowlan Park. The manager was Willie McCormack. Others to manage the team in that period were Dan Phelan, Jim Grant and Seamus Norris. The club colours were white and red. This club did win an Under-14 Roinn C title around 1987 or 1988 and featured players like Cathy and Mairead Brennan. Michelle O'Shea was another prominent underage player during this period. The club continued into the 1990s when titles at Under-14 Roinn "C" (1994) and Under-16 Roinn "C" (1996) were captured, both teams were captained by current coach Miriam Reid.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Piltown's most successful Camogie player to date, Marie Fitzpatrick (Oldcourt) played Camogie with St Brigid's, Ballycallan. Marie had won the Féile Skills in 1980 and is one of only two Kilkenny girls to have won the National title. She went on to play in goal for the Kilkenny most successful ever senior team, winning seven senior All-Ireland medals and six National League medals.
In 2000, Eileen Malone and Marie O'Sullivan founded the current version of Piltown Camogie Club. Former Chairperson from the previous incarnation of the club, Maura Brennan, along with Jim Malone, Catherine McCarthy, Bernie Duggan and Frances Malone quickly came on board to form a strong committee. They were soon joined by Kate Foley who proved to be a top class administrator They formed the backbone for the marvelous successes that have followed. Starting with a group of 20 primary school girls the club claimed County titles at Primary Schools and Under-14 in 2002. The club has since built up a membership of over 100 players, competing at all grades. It has now claimed several county titles in every grade right up to Junior. The club claimed its first adult title in 2008 by winning the junior county final, beating Dicksboro in a replay in Piltown. The panel featured players from previous versions of the club such as Mairead Diffley (Brennan) and Michelle O'Shea. It also had Piltown's most successful current player, Katie Power who won an All-Star in 2009 and a second in 2013. In 2009, the club won the bronze medal at the National Community Games finals in Athlone. In 2010, Roinn A titles were won at Primary Schools level and Under-14. Many of the club's players have represented the county with distinction as the club goes from strength to strength.
In 2013, the club won its first Intermediate County Title when they beat Ballyhale Shamrocks 0–13 to 0–10 in John Locke Park, Callan. However the Shamrocks gained revenge in the Champions Final in Mullinavat when they beat Piltown 1–9 to 0–11 after extra time. Twelve months later on 11 October 2014, Piltown returned to the Intermediate Championship County Final having already secured the All-County League and League titles in 2014 after wins over St. Annes. The venue was John Locke Park, Callan and the opponents, St, Brigids of Kilmanagh. Piltown won the final comprehensively by 4–18 to 0–5 to become a senior club for the first time ever and compile an unprecedented treble while remaining unbeaten in Kilkenny in competitive games in 2014. Kelly Ann Doyle was awarded the inaugural Shem Downey Player of the Match award. They then went on to win the Leinster title when they beat Camross of Laois in the final held in Clane by 3–10 to 4–5 with Karen Duggan picking up the player of the match award. They then rounded this run off by achieving the ultimate prize of winning the 2015 All-Ireland title by beating the reigning champions, Lismore of Waterford 1–10 to 1–9 at Croke Park with Chloe Blackmore scoring the Piltown goal and Kelly Ann Doyle winning the player of the match award.
A first Senior league was achieved in 2019 when Piltown beat Thomastown. Then In 2024 it was won again, this time beating Dicksboro combined with a Leinster Senior League title versus Na Fianna of Dublin. Then the ultimate Kilkenny Club title of senior county champions was achieved on 20 October 2024 when beating Dicksboro in Nowlan Park by 3–11 to 0-14. The first ever senior Camogie final to be played in Nowlan Park. In 2024, Piltown went on to reach the Leinster Senior Club final for the first time ever, but were beaten by St. Vincents (Dublin) after extra time 1-13 to 2-12 in the final held in O'Connor Park, Tullamore.
Ladies' Gaelic Football or Girls Gaelic Football is relatively new to Piltown. There had been success in 1999 in the county INTO mini 7s for Piltown NS but Girls Gaelic Football really got into full flow in Piltown National School in 2005 when former Waterford player Ms Bridget Drohan came to the school to teach, although the school had previous teams in the mini sevens and similar. In 2007, the girls again won the mini Sevens in Kilkenny.
In 2008, a landmark was reached when the Primary Schools team won the Roinn B championship in Nowlan Park by beating Gowran by 5–6 to 2-2. In 2009, the School followed up with victory in the Roinn A final. It came after a replay with Thomastown in Nowlan Park when they comprehensively won by 10–1 to 1–2
Jennifer Norris and Sinead McCarthy became the first Piltown girls to play inter county for Kilkenny when they were part of the 2009 Leinster Under-14 Championship squad. Jennifer Norris went on the win a Leinster Blitz medal with Kilkenny when they beat Kildare in Carlow Town in the 2009 Division 3 final. It was the first time Kilkenny had won a Leinster ladies football blitz title.
In 2010, the interest in Ladies Gaelic Football skyrocketed. Owning and Templeorum National Schools combined to compete in the schools championships. Furthermore, a club was set up in Piltown. The year was memorable in that Piltown National School won their third County Title in a row (2nd Roinn A) and Owning/Templeorum won the Roinn D title at the first attempt. Two primary schools county titles in the one year! In 2014, the parish fielded two teams in the Roinn A primary schools championship. One from Piltown NS and the other from a combination of Owning NS and Templeorum NS.
Sheila Norris started work on the new club. She was joined by Siobhan McCarthy and Fran McGrath with Seamus Norris as PRO and a trainer originally from Wicklow, John Kavanagh. On 15 April 2010, another historic first took place in Thomastown when Piltown fielded their first ladies Gaelic football team in a match. The minor team took on the might of the Kilkenny County Under-14 team who were in the Leinster semi final doing well despite defeat. Managed by John Kavanagh and Sheila Norris.
Team: Niamh Dermody, Claire Power, Antonia Power (Capt), Stephanie Falconer, Debbie Phelan, Sarah Murphy, Jennifer Norris, Edel Long, Lorraine Long, Joanne Bourke, Lisa Walsh, Siobhan Dermody, Sinead McCarthy, Jean Power, Jessica Poyntz Subs: Sarah Walsh, Lisa McCarthy, Ciara O’Dwyer, Leanne O’Hara, Aisling Briscoe
The club's first win came in an International Under-16 Blitz on 10 July 2010 when they beat Roanmore 2–1 to 2–0 at W.I.T. in Carriganore.
Panel: Lorraine Long (Capt), Lisa Walsh, Katelynn Phelan, Stephanie Falconer, Sinead McCarthy, Debbie Phelan, Jennifer Norris, Laura Grace, Joanne Bourke, Caroline O’Shea. Claire Power, Shannon Keever, Sarah Walsh, Aisling Briscoe, Sarah McTiernan, Lisa Norris.
On 31 July 2010, the Under-16's beat Mullinavat in the Shield Final of the county 7-a-side blitz to record the club's first county title. This took place at the O'Loughlin Gaels grounds.
Team: Stephanie Falconer (Capt), Jennifer Norris, Antonia Power, Debbie Phelan, Laura Grace, Claire Power, Katelynn Phelan.
This was followed up by victory in the Under-14 county blitz held in Freshford a few weeks later to cap a magnificent first year of the club.
Under-14 Squad: Claire Power (Capt.), Stephanie Falconer, Jean Power, Leanne O’Hara, Sarah Murphy, Alice Talbot, Siobhan Dermody, Katelynn Phelan, Lisa McCarthy
In 2011, Piltown entered an Under-16 and Minor team in the Tipperary league/Championship, reaching the semi-finals of the Under-16 Roinn C and Minor Roinn D championships. In 2012, the club fielded an Under-12 team.
In 2013, Kilkenny underage leagues were formed and minors were permitted to play with Three Friars club in adult games who entered the Tipperary Junior championship. Three Friars won the Junior "C" title beating Moyle Rovers in Munroe by 1–7 to 0-3, thus Jennifer Norris, Lorraine Long and Aine Knox won junior county medals. Seamus Norris became the clubs first county mentor at Minor and Under-12 level with Kilkenny reaching the Leinster Semi-final in Minor. On 28 October 2013, the Club played its first Kilkenny championship county when the Under-14's were beaten by Erins 3–6 to 0–1 in the "B" Final at Nowlan Park. In 2014, Piltown were again beaten by Erins Own in the Roinn A Final, 5–3 to 6–12 in Callan. However, on 22 November 2014, Piltown won their first ever Championship winning the Under-14 Roinn B championship beating Barrow Gaels in Graignamanagh by 7–3 to 1-8. This team was managed by Seamus Norris and Aine Knox
Team: Danielle O'Brien, Megan Byrne, Jennifer O'Dea, Maria Phelan, Lisa Norris (Capt), Vivienne Healy, Sarah Tobin, Laura Power, Maire Beth Kirby, Aoibheann Kavanagh(1-1), Bribhanna Doody, Aoife Doyle(1-0), Sine Kavanagh, Marlise Flynn(2-1), Chloe Power (2-1,0-1f)Subs: Anna O'Brien, Patsy Kenny, Ciara Dunne, Melissa Byrne (1-0), Aine Doyle, Emma Phelan
In 2013, Piltown Club initiated Gaelic4Mothers and Others with club coaches Seamus Norris and Aine Knox thus introducing another group of people to GAA. They played their first match away to Thomastown on the 19 September 2013. The first ever adult ladies Gaelic football team from Piltown was; Michelle O’Shea (Capt), Annette O’Connell, Deirdre Kane, Catherine O’Neill, Mandy McGrath, Aine O’Keeffe, Lindsay Beukes, Ann Power, Catherine Moore, Kim Brophy, Aisling Cummins, Mary Morgan. Grainne Gault, Miriam Twohig, Sinead Doyle
On 18 October 2014, Piltown G4M+O played in their first ever National Blitz in Portmarnock. Although non competitive, Piltown did beat teams from traditional football countiesas they won all their games beating Ballymun Kickhams (Dublin), Athlone (Westmeath), Killea (Tipperary) and Lissan (Derry). The squad was Aine Knox, Catherine Moore, Catherine Crotty, Deirdre Kane, Elaine Kennington, Sarah Cuddihy, Michelle O'Shea, Ann Power, Ann Gahan, Deirdre Dowd.
Although as of 2024, the club has not fielded an adult team, several club players have played with permission for other clubs. Jennifer Norris became the first Piltown player to win an adult county title when playing with Thomastown in 2014. As mentioned previously Jennifer Norris, Aine Knox and Lorraine Long have also won Tipperary adult titles when playing with Three Friars Club.
Handball
GAA Handball has been a long loved sport in Piltown. An outdoor alley existed in the old graveyard in Owning and people travelled from miles around to play there. This was basically a front wall and two partial side walls. Unfortunately, in 1924, two young people travelling from Mullinavat were killed in a road traffic incident on the way to play a game there. This happened. at the bottom of Glenbower on the Owning to Kilmanahan road. A headstone marks the spot and their memory. The Oblate Fathers (now Kildalton College) also had a very good 60ft x 30ft unroofed 4 wall court which also attracted players from miles around up until the late 80's when Teagasc removed to construction to the dismay of many
In 1985, when the GAA Complex was first opened it included a magnificent indoor 40ft x 20fte 4 wall court. Some local players competed in Kilkenny championships and local internal tournaments. In 2003, a historic sporting event came to Piltown. It was the World Handball Championships. Pat O’Keeffe of Mullinavat who became World Champion handballer in the Diamond Singles (70 years plus) started his run for the World title in Piltown against Gary Thompson of the USA. Unfortunately in 2012, a decision was made to covert the handball alley into a non GAA Squash court. Later in 2023, it was then converted into a top class gym. However, many would like to see a handball alley return to the GAA Complex and continue a great tradition in the Piltown area.
As of 2024, Rounders has not yet took on in Piltown in any great measure However, several hurling coaches over the years have used the sport to vary training sessions and it still has some seeds of life in the local primary schools.
2015 Piltown beat Lismore (Waterford) 1–10 to 1–9 in Croke Park, Dublin
Leinster Intermediate Championship
2014 Piltown beat Camross (Laois) 3–10 to 4–5 in Clane, County Kildare
Kilkenny Intermediate Championship
2014 Piltown beat St. Brigids 4–18 to 0–5 in John Locke Park, Callan
Kilkenny Intermediate League
2014 Piltown beat St Anne's 1–10 to 1–9 in Danesfort
2013 Piltown beat Ballyhale Shamrocks 0–13 to 0–10 in John Locke Park, Callan
Kilkenny Intermediate All County League
2014 Piltown beat St Anne's 1–9 to 1–7 in Danesfort
Kilkenny Junior Championship
2008 Piltown beat Dicksboro 1–8 to 1-5 (Replay) in Piltown (Drawn Game in Bennettsbridge 1-8 each)
Kilkenny Junior B All County League
2015 Piltown beat Carrickshock 1–10 to 3-3 in Piltown
Kilkenny Under-21 Championship
2019 "A" Piltown beat Thomastown 2–11 to 2–5 in Kilmacow
2016 "A" Piltown beat Thomastown 2–9 to 0–11 in Ballyhale
2012 "B" Piltown beat Rower Inistioge 2–6 to 1–7 in Ballyhale
Kilkenny Minor Championship
2006 "B" Piltown beat Dicksboro 4-7 to 0–2 in Callan (Played 18/02/2007)
2011 "C" Piltown beat St. Anne's 2-8 to 1–6 in Clara
2012 "B" Piltown beat St. Martin's 2–7 to 1–3 in Palmerstown
2021 "B" Piltown beat St. Martin's 3–10 to 1–9 in Thomastown
Kilkenny Under-16 Championship
1996 "C" Piltown beat Tullogher 2–6 to 0–3 in Mullinavat
2005 "B" Piltown beat Paulstown 4-10 to 3–6 in Kilmanagh
2011 "B" Piltown beat Danesfort 6–12 to 0–4 in Hugginstown
2012 "A" Piltown beat Dicksboro 1–12 to 2–7 in Ballyhale
Kilkenny Minor League
2015 "A" Piltown beat Dicksboro 3-12 to 2–7 in Ballyhale
2018 "A" Piltown beat Thomastown 2–11 to 3–7 in Piltown
Kilkenny Under-16 League
2013 "A" Piltown beat Glenmore 5-10 to 2-8 in Piltown
Kilkenny Under-16 "Pink Day" Blitz
2010 Piltown (James Stephens, Windgap, St. Lachtains) in Piltown
Kilkenny Under-14 Championship
1987 "C" Piltown
1994 "C" Piltown beat St. Anne's in Callan
2002 "C" Piltown beat Carrickshock 2–6 to 1-0 in Windgap
2009 "B" Piltown beat Muckalee 6-4 to 1-0 in Callan
2010 "A" Piltown beat Windgap 4-11 to 0-6 in Mullinavat
Kilkenny Under-14 Shield
2013 "A" Piltown beat St. Brigid's 4-3 to 1-5 in Piltown
Kilkenny Under-14 Féile Na nGael Championship
2012 Piltown beat Dicksboro 2–0 to 1–2 in Windgap
National Under-14 Community Games
2009 Piltown beat Sheelin (Cavan) - "Bronze" 7-6 to 0–0 at Athlone I.T.
Leinster Under-14 Community Games
2009 "Gold" Piltown beat Lucan Sarsfields 1–6 to 2-2 at Carlow Town
2010 "Silver" Piltown lost to Lucan Sarsfields at Carlow Town
Kilkenny Under-14 Community Games
2009 Piltown beat Kilmanagh 6-1 to 2–0 in Piltown
2010 Piltown beat Urlingford 9-6 to 0–1 in Piltown
Kilkenny Primary Schools Under-13 Championship
2002 "D" Piltown beat St. John's 10-6 to 3-1 in Palmerstown
2003 "C" Piltown beat Muckalee 3-4 to 3-1
2004 "B" Piltown beat Paulstown 7-2 to 2–1 in Nowlan Park
2010 "A" Piltown beat Thomastown 4-7 to 3-4 in Nowlan Park
Kilkenny Under-12 League
2002 Piltown beat Thomastown
2008 Piltown beat Mooncoin 4–8 to 2–1 in Mullinavat
2011 "B" Piltown beat Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-5 to 0–0 in Piltown
2012 "B" Piltown beat St. Brigids 5-7 to 1–3 in Piltown
2013 "B" Piltown beat Glenmore 4-3 to 0–2 in Piltown
2015 "A" Piltown beat Thomastown 1–3 to 1-1 in Kilmacow
2021 "A" Piltown beat John Lockes 6-7 to 3-5 in Hugginstown
Ann Dwan Memorial Tournament
2009 Piltown beat Thomastown (Under-12) 2-2 to 0–1 in Piltown
2010 Piltown beat Gaultier, Waterford (Under-16) 7-6 to 0–0 in Piltown
Ladies Gaelic Football Roll of Honour
Kilkenny Under-16 Championship
2016 "B" Piltown beat Dunnamaggin 7-7 to 3-5 in Windgap
Kilkenny Under-16 Championship Shield
2010 Piltown beat Mullinavat 3–6 to 3-2 at St. Johns Park
Kilkenny Under-15 Féile Na nGael Plate
2021 Piltown beat Erins Own 5-4 to 1-1 at Kells Road
2024 Piltown beat Clara 3-3 to 1–6 at Mooneenroe
Kilkenny Under-14 Championship
2014 "B" Piltown beat Barrow Gaels 7–3 to 1–8 at Graignamanagh
2020 "B" Piltown beat Kilkenny City 4-3 to 0–0 at Thomastown
2022 “C” Piltown beat Erins Own 6-5 to 1-1 at James Park
Kilkenny Under-14 Championship Shield
2024 “B” Piltown beat Slieverue 5-7 to 3–0 at Piltown
Kilkenny Under-14 League Shield
2024 “B” Piltown beat Kilkenny City 4–8 to 3–7 at Dunmore
Kilkenny Under-13 Championship
2015 "B" Piltown beat Erins Own 2–7 to 0–2 in Clara
Kilkenny Primary Schools Under-13 Championship
2008 "B" Piltown beat Gowran 5–6 to 2-2 in Nowlan Park
2009 "A" Piltown beat Thomastown 10–1 to 1-2 (Replay) in Nowlan Park
2010 "A" Piltown beat St. Johns 6-2 to 1–3 in Nowlan Park
2010 "D" Owning/Templeorum beat 2-13 to 2-0 Galmoy in Nowlan Park
2011 "C" Owning/Templeorum beat Carrickshock 2–5 to 2-4 in Piltown
2012 "B" Owning/Templeorum beat Kilmanagh 3–6 to 1-0 in Kilkenny
2023 “C” Piltown beat Urlingford 4-2 to 1–3 in Kells Road, Kilkenny
2024 "D" Owning/Templeorum beat Coon/Muckalee in Thomastown
Kilkenny Primary Schools Under-13 Shield
2024 "B" Piltown beat Kilkenny School Project in Thomastown
Kilkenny Primary Schools INTO Mini Sevens
1992 Piltown
1997 Piltown
1999 Piltown
2002 Owning/Templeorum
2003 Owning/Templeorum
2007 Piltown
Kilkenny Under-12 Championship
2015 "C" Piltown beat Muckalee 6–6 to 3-4 in Clara
2016 "D" Piltown beat Dunnamaggin 2-4 to 1-1 in Thomastown
2017 "B" Piltown beat Clara 13-4 to 0–0 in Piltown
2018 "C" Piltown beat Clara 4–5 to 0–2 in Dunmore
2021 “A” Piltown (Black) beat Thomastown 2–7 to 1-6 (AET) in Thomastown
2022 “E” Piltown beat Erins Own in Kells Road (2 game/2 team blitz)
2023 “F” Piltown beat Thomastown in Dunmore
Related Research Articles
The Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking senior clubs in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Kilkenny hurling.
The Kilkenny Senior Football Championship is an annual club Gaelic football competition organised by the Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking senior clubs in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland. It is the most prestigious competition in Kilkenny Gaelic football.
Ballyhale Shamrocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballyhale in County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. The club was founded in 1972 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling. Ballyhale Shamrocks are the most successful club in the history of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship with nine titles.
Piltown, historically known as Ballyfoyle, is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. 5 km east of Carrick-on-Suir, it is on the R698 road and near the N24 national primary road.
The Kilkenny Premier Junior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking junior clubs in the county of Kilkenny in Ireland. It is the third tier overall in the entire Kilkenny hurling championship system.
The 1995 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 101st staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board. The championship began on 13 August 1995 and ended on 13 October 1995.
The 2019 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 125th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The championship began on 21 September 2019 and ended on 27 October 2019.
The 2020 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 126th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The championship began on 29 August 2020 and ended on 27 September 2020.
The 1997 Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship was the 33rd staging of the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1929. The championship began on 15 August 1997 and ended on 19 October 1997.
The 2010 Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship was the 46th staging of the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1929. The championship began on 18 September 2010 and ended on 17 October 2011.
The 2022 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 128th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The championship ran from 17 September to 16 October 2022.
The 2022 Kilkenny Premier Junior Hurling Championship was the inaugural staging of the Kilkenny Premier Junior Hurling Championship and the 112th staging overall of a championship for the junior-ranking hurling teams in Kilkenny. The championship draw took place on 27 February 2022. The championship ran from 17 September to 23 October 2022.
The 2023 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 129th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The opening-round fixtures were confirmed on 9 September 2023. The championship ran from 23 September to 29 October 2023.
The 2024 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 130th staging of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1887. The championship ran from 14 September to 27 October 2024.
The 2023 Kilkenny Premier Junior Hurling Championship was the 113th staging of the competition since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1905 and ran from 19 September to 21 October 2023.
The 2020 Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship was the 110th staging of the competition since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1905 and ran from 19 August to 3 October 2020.
The 2019 Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship was the 109th staging of the competition since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1905 and ran from 3 September to 20 October 2019.
The 2018 Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship was the 108th staging of the competition since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1905 and ran from 25 August to 21 October 2018.
The 2017 Kilkenny Junior Hurling Championship was the 107th staging of the competition since its establishment by the Kilkenny County Board in 1905 and ran from 23 August to 14 October 2017.
The 2024 Kilkenny Premier Junior Hurling Championship was the third staging of the Kilkenny Premier Junior Hurling Championship and the 114th staging overall of a championship for the junior-ranking hurling teams in Kilkenny. The championship ran from 8 September to 2 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
