| Cumann Báire Setanta | |
| Founded: | 1980 |
|---|---|
| County: | Dublin |
| Colours: | Navy blue, Sky blue |
| Grounds: | Club Teach Setanta |
| Coordinates: | 53.390726,-6.26511,16 |
Setanta Hurling Club is a hurling club in Ballymun, Ireland. [1] The club is concerned with the games of hurling and camogie and plays in the Senior 3 devision of the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship . [2] [3] The club's clubhouse and pitch are adjacent to the Ballymun Library. [2]
Setanta was created in 1983 after hurling left Scoil an tSeachtar Laocht leaving no ways to play hurley nearby. Following this, the school's headmaster Padraig Ó hEarcain helped set up the club. When starting out, the club aimed to achieve senior status by the end of 2000. [4] Later that year, the club won the Division IV All-Ireland of Felie na nGael in Croke Park. [5] [4]
In 1991, Setanta made it to the Juvenile Hurling championships for the first time, being defeated 4-2 by Crumlin GAA. The Evening Herald noted that during the match, "Ballymun/Setanta never gave up" and that 3 of its players were in fine form. [6]
In February 1993, one of Setanta's players(Keith Adams) was chosen to represent Dublin in the Leinster Minor Hurling League. 8 days later, in March, The Evening Herald reported that Setanta's Under 14 camogie team would be playing their first championship in Portmarnock after completing their primary education on 14 March 1993 against St. Oliver Plunketts. Niall Scully, writing for the Herald described the team as "one of the most distinguished names in Dublin camogie", the person in charge of their team(Frances McManus) as "one of camogie's finest servants", their school(Scoil an tSeachtar Laocht) as famous and cherished and that a fabulous wave of camogie energy was sweeping Ballymun. [7] In June, Setanta beat Naomh Barrog in the Junior C Hurling Championship final. Writing for the Evening Herald, Niall Scully described the match as sparkling, noting that both teams "displayed a fierce determination in a cracking match of terrific commitment". [8]
In 1994 Wexford People claimed that the club consisted of players from Oulart- The Ballagh, Monageer-Boolavogue and Ballygarrett clubs because they couldn't make their own minor team. [9]
In July 1995, Setanta achieved the Junior "A" League Hurling Top Four title after a match against St Sylvester's at Malahide Castle, advancing to the intermediate league. [10] Niall Scully reporting on the match for the Evening Herald stated that during the first of the match, St Sylvester's was in the lead, looking like they would likely win the match. At halftime, it was 1-7 to 1-2 in St Sylvestor's favour but Setanta's response was "slowly gaining momentum" and that their full-back was "performing like a king". 50 minutes into to match, the 2 clubs were tied in Setanta's favour after they scored on St Sylvestors. Setanta then scored 2 more points within a minute of eachother, winning them the match. Sylvestor's mentor Danny O'Connor attributed this defeat to an early goal from Setanta 17 minutes into the match. Scully noted that the victory will "act as a real lift for Setanta's Keogh Cup final date against Liffey Gaels in O'Toole Park tonight as the young club continues it's rise from Junior "D" five years ago to Intermediate next season." calling it "Highly commendable progress". [11]
In March 1996, The Evening Herald reported that in the first half of the clubs first season playing in the intermediate season, Setanta were in second place, stating that "The Ballymun Blitz continues as stylish Setanta come up in the world on Dublin hurling." They remarked that the progress was remarkable considering they were in the Junior "D" league 5 years prior. At the time, the club played on the grounds of Ballymun Comprehensive (now Trinity Comprehensive School). Padraig Ó Maoilsteighe, the clubs mentor told the Herald that they needed a new base for the club and that there is a site in Ballymun they'd be delighted to have. They had no changing room in Balcurris because of vandalism and a flat gifted to them by Dublin Corporation was also wrecked by vandals. The club couldnt afford to fix the flat as they'd already spent £1,400 on it. [5] On the 29th of May 1996, Dublin Corporation announced that it wouldn't be moving forward with a proposal to ban football and hurley from the pitch Setanta and St Joseph's National School had been using since 1981 after plans to do so had been leaked. [12]
In 2000, Setanta were promised land by Dublin Corporation that would allow them to build a new clubhouse. Later that year in August, Setanta lost a match against St Vincent's in the Intermediate final, a match that would've advanced them to the senior status, making them the first club to ever play senior hurling in Ballymun. One of the club's founding members Prionsias O Conghaile said in an article for the Evening Herald that, Setanta aimed to achieve senior status by the end of the year and that he was hopeful that they would win in their next match against Craobh Chiaráin the following weekend which would give them senior status. O'Conghaile was hopeful that the promotion would "keep on-the-field events in tandem with the off-the field strides made by the club" he also noted that victory was very achievable and would be a dream come true for everyone associated with the club. [4] Setanta were able to beat Craobh Chiaráin and advanced to senior status. [2] [13] Later that year, after a survey was carried out to gauge interest in Gaelic Games locally [2] , Setanta applied to Dublin Corporation's successor Dublin City Council for planning permission to build their clubhouse between Ballymun Library and Ballymun Comprehensive School(now Trinity Comprehensive School) on Ballymun Road. [14] Setanta also requested 5 additional pitches. [2] Planning permission was granted for the clubhouse and pitches in the same year as part of the regeneration of Ballymun. [2] At the time, Setanta was considered part of Dublin's "Fab Four" alongside Commercials, Faughs and Kevins. [2]
In 2008, The Evening Herald described the club as one of Dublin's most loved clubs when reporting on their frustrations with the scoring difference rule and lack of matches being given to them at the time. [15]
In 2014, Setanta played a friendly hurling match against Nihon Gaels, a mixed hurling team from Dublin City University made up the universities Japanese students who are members of the universities Japanese Society. The match was a celebration of Irish and Japanese culture. After the success of the first event, another was held in 2015. The match in 2014 was recorded and turned into a short film called "Hurling: Nihon Gaels vs Setanta" which is streamable for free on the Irish Film Institute's Archive Player this short film is part of the Irish Film Institute's Ballymun Community Films collection.. Former President of the Gaelic Athletic Association Aogán Ó Fearghail, Former Dublin GAA chief John Costello, Dublin County Board Chairman Seán Shanley and representatives of the Japanese Embassy were guests at the 2nd event. The 2nd event was sponsored by the Dublin City Council, Pat Daly and the Games Development Department in Croke Park. [16] [17] [18] In October of the same year, Setanta made it to the Dublin Senior 'B' final advancing to Senior A Status for the 2015 season. [19] Also in October, Setanta claimed the Dublin Junior 'E' Hurling Championship title after beating Commercials 4-3 to 3-3 at O'Toole Park in Crumlin. [19]
In 2015, a few days before Setanta's second match against Nihon Gaels, the Irish Independent described the club as " one of Dublin's great hurling clubs" after they made their Dublin Senior Hurling 'A' Championship debut. They also noted that "Setanta hadn't been tipped to win. They play in Division 3. They had no management team at the start of the year." also noting that they only had 35 players they could call. [18]
In 2018, the club asked the Drugs Minister at the time Catherine Byrne to "take 'immediate action' to tackle a crack cocaine epidemic threatening to wipe out a generation of young people". Trevor Quinn of DublinLive.ie stated that it is understood that two former players are now dealing drugs in Ballymun. he also said that "the situation had became so bad the Setanta chairperson Eilis Ni Chearnaigh appeared on The Late Late Show last night to speak about it." citing several murders and deaths that recently happened at the time of the article's publication on 10 November 2018. [20]
In 2020, Setanta beat Na Fianna 5-19 to 0-16 in the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship at St. Mobhi Road in Glasnevin. [21] [22]
In 2021, Setanta built a new hurling wall, with GAA President at the time, Larry McCarthy and Former Dublin GAA chief John Costello coming down to the club to celebrate the occasion, McCarthy was the first person to hit the wall with a sliotar. In an article for the Irish Independent, Niall Scully(the articles author) noted that as the president hit the sliotar, there was " joy, and pride, written on every face." Setanta chairman Seán Ó Connachtaigh stated "It’s a massive moment for the club, but also for the entire community of Ballymun", "We sometimes say that Setanta is a small club with a big heart. And that our members are its heartbeat." and that "The development of our hurling wall and Astro is the beginning of the new legacy that we wish to continue." Scully reported that McCarthy saw the club's progress himself, hearing about the clubs increasing membership reporting that McCarthy claimed "They have long nurtured the hurling and camogie tradition on the Ballymun Road. And the love of Irish music." and that "the new ball wall will bring even more cheer." In the same article, Scully called Setanta "Leaders of tomorrow" stating that "the future is looking better than ever as the club’s solid juvenile structure continues to grow" and said that it was a "week to remember for Setanta, On and off the pitch." after Setanta were in three adult finals. [23]
In June 2022, Setanta defeated Naomh Maur 4-16 to 2-19 in Rush, winning them the Division 3 league prize. Setanta gained the title near the end of the second half of the match. Niall Scully, writing for the Irish Independent described Setanta as champions and "Top of the tree in the Go-Ahead Adult Hurling Division 3 League." noting that it was a "joyous day for the Ballymun club". [24] Later that year in October, Setanta was featured on the 5th episode of the 3rd season of TG4's C.L.U.B. [25]