Our Community

Clane GAA Club

An Athletic/Sports Day held in Clane on 12th June 1884 unearthed a future Irish and World Champion runner, Tommy Conneff. Equally notable it led to the formation of Clane Gaelic Football Club (G.F.C) in Spring 1887. The club was originally known as William O’ Brien’s. The Club’s first chairperson was Dr. O’ Connor M.D with James Kelly the first Secretary. The club won its first senior football championship in 1887, with the actual final played in 1888. Further football championships followed in 1890, ’92, ’95, ’97, 1901, ’02, ’03 and 1916. There was a 67 year gap to our next championship win in 1967 with further championships in ’75, ’80, ’84 (Centenary Year), ’91, ’92, ’95, and ’97.



Clane also has a proud hurling tradition having won the Kildare Senior Hurling Championship nine times in a row between 1903 and 1911. The Championship was abandoned by the County Board in 1912. Clane won again in 1913 but lost on an objection, but won again in 1914, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’19 and ’22. Junior hurling titles were won in 1915 and 1983.



Clane Famous Players from the 1903 All-Ireland V Kerry (After 3 Matches) Larry “Hussy” Cribbin, William Merriman, Ned Kennedy, Joe Rafferty (Capt.), Jim Wright, Bill Bracken, William “Steel” Losty, Johnny Dunne.



All of the above, except Jim Wright, who had gone to live in Dublin, won All Ireland medals in the 1905 All Ireland Final (which was played in 1907).



Other Clane players to play for the Lilly Whites at Senior Level include: Jim “Kaiser” Bracken, Pa Connolly, Seamus Connolly, Tommy Carew, Joe Giblin, Mickser Condon, Frank Mulligan, Ambrose Bracken, Frank Marron, Des Marron, Paul McLoughlin, Martin Lynch, Willie McCreery, John Finn, Eddie McCormack, Paul McCormack, Brian Murphy and David Lyons



Club Development

In the pre-clubhouse days, various fields were used for matches e.g. Ennis’ Field (Hoganswood), McEvoy’s Field (where the primary schools now stand), the “Sports Field” (location of Oatfield Park), Shortt’s (Richardstown), Manzor’s (site of Loughbollard) Blackhall (field later purchased by Don Murray).



In 1975 Conneff Park with temporary dressing rooms was officially opened when Kildare played Offaly. A field said to have been transformed from “ponds to pitches” under the stewardship of Chairperson Joe Bracken and Secretary Sean Cribbin. The transformation was funded by a huge fundraising programme by way of Field Days, Poker Classics, Pony Races, Donkey Derbies, Football Tournaments, Marquee Dances (late ‘60s to early ‘70s) accommodating in excesss of 1,000 people.



The Hall

The Hall was opened in 1980 on the night of the Senior County Football Championship victory. The dressing rooms, dedicated to the late Tom Merriman, were opened in 1982.







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