75th Anniversary Formal Dinner
Entertainment News for Members
HOME
Congratulatrion to the Club Scor acts on reaching the East Down Final, Mark Smith in Solo Singing and James Magennis and Sean Mac Caisin in the Novelty Act. All the best wishes in the East Down Final on Sunday 24th February at 6-30 in St Malachy's School Castlewellan
Founded back in 1932, Ballykinlar GAC has a proud tradition in the participation of gaelic games in Down. In those early days the club fulfilled its fixtures in fields kindly loaned by friendly farmers. However, this nomadic existence did not stop the club winning the Junior Football Championship in 1936, 1941, 1945 and 1955. Indeed 1955 was a major year for the club, with the purchase of its existing pitch to add to the Junior Championship success.
On the 10th June, 1956, Memorial Park was officially opened by the General Secretary of Cumman Luthchleas Gael, Padraig O’Caoimh. Therefore we became the first club in Down, and possibly the first in Ulster to own its own ground. In 1960 and 1964 the club contested its only two Senior Championship finals but lost out on both occasions to Newry Mitchels. Ballykinlar, however did fulfill some of their undoubted potential by winning the Down ‘A’ League in 1961 and 1961 with Paddy ‘Mo’ Doherty, possibly the greatest ever GAA footballer, helping them complete the double.
During the 60s and 70s Ballykinlar won many Sevens competitions and were quite renowned for their sevens skills. They won the Down ‘B’ League in 1973 but thereafter their success on the field of play took a downward turn. However, off the field they opened new changing facilities, a social centre and in September 1983 work began on erecting floodlights around the ground and thus Ballykinlar became only the second club in Down (Burren being the first) to be able to provide this facility to its players.
In more recent times Ballykinlar have contested three Junior Championship finals. Although they lost the first final against Clonduff in 1992, victories against great rivals Bright in 1995, and a never to be forgotten success over Darragh Cross in 1998, proved the club could be successful on the field.
In 1996 Ballykinlar reached the final of the All-Ireland Juniors Sevens held at St. Jude’s, Dublin, where they were defeated by a strong Gaeltacht team from Kerry.
The club possesses one of the best playing surfaces in Ireland and virtually every county team to have come out of Down in recent years has prepared on the lush green expanse of Tadgh Barry Memorial Park. During the winter especially it is remarkable how the pitch stands up to five nights’ training for up to four months each year.
Ballykinlar have four club members who have tasted All-Ireland glory:- Gerry Doherty, 1946; Paddy ’Mo’ Doherty, 1969, 1961, 1968; John Smith, 1961; and Gerry McCashin 1961.
Famous names from the club who have donned the red and black of Down with distinction include, Paddy, Harry, John and Francis Doherty, Brian Johnson, Sean Magorrian, Stephen Mason, Gerry McCashin, Malachy Smith, Paul Mahon, Darren Killen, Colum Savage and Paul Hanna.
Some of our club members have held various positions within the association. Hugh Hogg was vice-chairman of the East Down Board, Sean Magorrian was assistant-secretary of the County Board and past chairman and secretary of the East Down Board. James Magennis, current club treasurer, was chairman of the Games Administration Committee and chairman and secretary of the East Down Board. Current club secretary Sean McCashin is currently Down Youth Officer and a past East Down secretary and Down Youth Board secretary, and a member of County Competitions committee and past Regrister of East Down. Club chairman Gerard Tumelty is the club's county board member.
Club Notes more
Entertainment News click here
WWW.GAA.IE NEWS