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1977 Senior Champions in 2017.jpg

A Bit About Who We Are

Píosa faoi mhuid

The origin of Monasterevan Gaelic Football Club is one of the oldest. Not only in the county of Kildare but also in the entire country. Founded originally in 1884, and then in 1887 Monasterevan was one of the first clubs in the county to affiliate under GAA rules, along with Clane, Carbury and Kilcock, though at this time these clubs were more athletic than they were Gaelic. Although solely a football club in the present day, Monasterevan won the first Senior Hurling Championship ever played in Kildare. In fact, they triumphed in the first three Senior Hurling Championships:

1888 v Maynooth

1889 Unopposed

1890 v Moorefield

In 1888 they went on to represent Kildare in the Leinster Hurling Championship but were beaten by the Dublin Kickhams 4-3 to 0-2 in Elm Park, Donnybrook.

Monasterevan stormed to a football-hurling double in 1890 (defeating Clane, by 1-3 to 1-2, in the football final) wearing the racing colours of the Cassidys, the local distillery and brewery family (straw and blue). A medal of this team shows the team described as the "Fizzers".

Inspirational figures of this era included Paddy Molohan (a leading protagonist in the foundation of Kildare GAA and a highly proficient hurler) and Ned Lawlor.

After this, Monasterevan not only faded from the hurling scene, but they also vanished for five years from domestic competition in both codes. Monasterevan re-emerged as a force once more when capturing the inaugural Junior Championship of 1906 (inspired by the return of Ned Kennedy from Clane). They extended their roll of honour by winning a second Junior Championship in 1910 and a second Senior Championship in 1911 (defeating Roseberry, 2-1 to 0-2), only to be denied a third senior crown by Roseberry in the 1912 decider. Outstanding players of this epoch included Stephen Vanston, Maurice Twomey, Mick Dowling, Richard "Stix" Dowling and Mick "Joyce" Byrne.

Monasterevan were not to win a Senior Championship again until 1977 though they were always to the fore in the Kildare GAA scene, securing an Intermediate Championship in 1959 and 1971, Junior Championships in 1935 and 1954 and Senior Leagues [Leinster Leader Cup] in 1973 and 1974, along with many underage titles. However, the icing was laid on Monasterevan's football renaissance during the 1970s, with the elevation of the Royal Blue and White complement to the status of Senior Champions in 1977; and in turn, Kildare All-Stars' Club of the Year.

Having savoured success in the seventies, the following years were a disappointment. However, with the advent of Monasterevan Og in 1988 came a bountiful harvest of success at underage level, both in championship and league competitions, the pinnacle of which was the U.16 "A" Championship in 1990.

In recognition of their focused endeavours, Monasterevan Og had the honour of receiving the award for Bord na nOg Club of the Year in 1990.

In respect of more contemporary accomplishment at adult grade, the 1990s failed to yield a copious harvest. However, the Royal Blue and White complements' second outfit did nonetheless enjoy substantial supremacy in Division 2 of the Junior Football League, netting two trophies from three divisional final appearances in four years (1993 and 1995); whilst, Monasterevan's first team did, for three years running, only narrowly miss out on a return to the top flight of S.F.L. Division 1 (1994-1996).

Sadly, this revival did not last too long as two years later (i.e. 1998) the club's first team were relegated to Division 3 for the first time in the club's history.

Over the years Monasterevan has been represented on the County Senior football team by many footballers with men like Liam Gleeson and Bob Harrison (Kildare AllStars' Player of the Year for 1976) having many a fine game for their county; and Hugh Hyland having the honour of captaining the County Senior Team in the Leinster Final of 1978.

More recently again, Monasterevan were crowned Kildare Intermediate Champions in 2012, and backed this up by becoming Leinster Intermediate Champions 2012, beating O'Connell's of Louth, in Louth in December 2012.

From the early sports days in J.P. Cassidy's field, the club has moved to various venues including John Dunne's field, Clogheen; Lawlor's field; and Clodhdeo, before finally purchasing its present grounds (Father Prendergast Memorial Park) in 1954. From being one of the first clubs to own their own grounds, Monasterevan have progressed and developed their dressing room facilities and social centres to make their grounds a most attractive venue for events, be they sports or social. May it long continue and may the Barrowside Blues of lreland's Venice continue to be a potent yet progressive force in the GAA for years to come.

The Club's Roll of Honour:

S.F.C.: 1890, 1911, 1977.

     Runners-up: 1907, 1910, 1912, 1973, 1976;

I.F.C.: 1959, 1971, 2012, 2019;

     Runners-up: 2008, 2018;

Leinster I.F.C.: 2012;

J.F.C.: 1906, 1910, 1935, 1954.

    Runners-up:1930, 1945;

S.F.C. 'B':

     Runners-up: 1992;

J.F.C. "A": 1950, 1954;

J.F.C."C":1998;

M.F.C.: 1928.

    Runners-up: 1992;

U.16 F.C.:1990.

     Runners-up: 1993, 1996;

S.F.L. (Leinster Leader Cup): 1973, 1974.

     Runners-up: 1975;

J.F.L.:1945, 1954.

     Runners-up: 1933, 1948;

J.F.L. (Div. 2): 1993, 1995.

     Runners-up: 1973, 1996;

J.F.L. (Div. 3B): 1998;

M.F.L. (Div. 1):

     Runners-up: 1993;

M.F.L. (Div. 2): 1992;

M.F.L. (Div. 3): 1990;

U.17 F.L.: 1984;

U.16 F.L. (Div. 1): 1992.

     Runners-up: 1993;

U.16 F.L. (Div. 2): 1991, 1996.

     Runners-up: 1990;

Is e bunús de Mainistir Eimhín ceann de na bunús is sine. Ní hamháin sa chontae Chill Dara ach chomh maith ar fud na tíre. Bunaítear é i 1884 ó cheart, agus ansin i 1887 ba é Mainistir Eimhín ceann de na chlubanna is sine sa chontae a bheith faoi rialacha GAA, chomh maith le Claonadh, Cairbre agus Cill Choca, ach ag an am sin bhí na clubanna seo níos lúfaire ná gaelach. Cé gur club peile é faoi láthair, bhuaigh Mainistir Eimhín an chéad Chraobh Iomána Sinsearach a bhí á imirt i gCill Dara. I ndáiríre, bhuaigh siad na chéad trí Chraobh Iomána Sinsearach:

1888 in aghaidh Maigh Nuad

1889 gan freasúra

1890 in aghaidh Achadh Mhordha

I 1888 leanaigh siad ar aghaidh chun iondaíocht a dhéanamh ar Chill Dara sa Chraobh Iomána na Laighean ach chaill siad in aghaidh Kickhams Baile Átha Cliath i bPáirc na Leamhán, Domhnach Broc.

Bhuaigh Mainistir Eimhín an Chraobh Peile agus Iománaíocht le chéile (in aghaidh Claonadh, 1-3 go 1-2, sa cheannais peile), ag caitheamh na dathanna rásaíochta den Cassidys, an drioglann áitiúil agus clann na grúdlainne (tuí agus gorm). Déantar cur síos ar an bhfoireann seo mar "Fizzers" ar bhonn.

Ba iad Paddy Molohan (ceannaire den bhunraíocht GAA Chill Dara agus iománaí den chéad scoth) agus Ned Lawlor dhaoine spreagúla sa tréimhse seo. 

Tar éis seo, chuaigh Mainistir Eimhín as amharc, ní hamháin sa suíomh iománaíochta, ach ar feadh cúig bliana ón gcomórtas intíre idir an dhá cód. Tháinig siad amach mar forneart arís nuair a bhuaigh siad Chraobh na Sóiséar i 1906 (inspreagtha ag an bhfilleadh den Ned Kennedy ó Chlaonadh). Shín siad amach a rolla onóra nuair a bhuaigh siad an dara Craobh na Sóiséar i 1910 agus an dara Chraobh Sinsearach i 1911 (buadh in aghaidh Rós Mhuire, 2-1 go 0-2), ach diúltaíodh a dtríú choróin sinsearach ó Rós Mhuire sa chluiche 1912. Imreoirí den chéad scoth ón tréimhse seo ná Stephen Vanston, Maurice Twomey, Mick Dowling, Richerd "Stix" Dowling agus Mick "Joyce" Byrne.

Níor bhuaigh Mainistir Eimhín Craobh Sinsearach arís go dtí 1977 ach bhí siad chun tosaigh sa suíomh GAA Cill Dara, ag buaite Craobh Idirmhéanach i 1959 agus 1971, Craobh na Sóisear i 1935 agus 1954 agus Sraitheanna Sinsearacha i 1973 agus 1974, chomh maith le go leor coirn faoi aois. Bhí an dlaoi mhullaigh ar renaissance peile Mainistir Eimhín i rith na seachtóidí, nuair a bhfuair siad an stádus den Bhuaiteoirí Sinsearacha i 1977; agus faoi seach, Club den Bhliain sa Sárimreoirí Chill Dara.

Cé go raibh rath ag an gclub sna seachtóidí, bhí na blianta tar éis sin mar diomách. Thosaigh Mainistir Eimhín Óg i 1988 áfach agus tháinig rath ag leibhéal faoi aois, le comórtais craobhacha agus sraitheanna, an ceann is tabhachtaí ina measc ná an Chraobh u16 i 1990. 

In aitheantas a iarrachtaí dírithe, fuair Mainistir Eimhín Óg an onór den ghradam "Bord na nÓg Club den bhliain" a ghlacadh i 1990.

Maidir le duaiseanna níos nua-aimseartha ag grád an duine fháis, theip na nóchaidí chun fómhar ollmhór a bhaint. Bhain an dara fhoireann den ghorm an rí agus bán sult as a gcomórtas sa Roinn 2 den Sraith na Sóisear, ag buaite dhá coirn ó thrí cheannais i rith ceithre bliana (1993 agus 1995); ag an am céanna, chaill an chéad foireann amach ar feadh trí bliana le linn a chéile chun fill chuig an chéad Roinn den Sraith (1994-1996). Ar an drochuair, níor mhair an athbheochan seo i bhfad mar dhá bhliain tar éis sin (1998), cuireadh an club i leataobh chuig Roinn 3 don chéad uair riamh. 

I rith na blianta iondaíodh Mainistir Eimhín ar an bhfoireann sinsearach Chill Dara le fir cosúil le Liam Gleeson agus Bob Harrison (Imreoir den bhliain sa Sárimreoirí Chill Dara) a bheith den scoth don a gcontae; agus bhí an onór ag Hugh Hyland mar captaen na foirne den Fhoireann Sinsearach an Chontae sa cluich ceannais Laighean i 1978.

Níos déanaí arís, bhuaigh Mainistir Eimhín an Craobh Idirmhéanach i 2012, agus lean siad ar aghaidh leis seo nuair a bhuaigh siad Craibh Idirmhéanach Laighean, nuair a bhuaigh siad in aghaidh O'Connells i Lú i nDeireadh Fómhair.

Ó na laethanta is sine den laethanta spóirt i bpáirc J.P Cassidy, bhog an club chuig suíomhanna éagsúla, páirc John Dunne, An Chloichín; páirc Lawlor agus Clodhdeo, sular cheannaigh siad an áit atá acu anois (Fr Prendergast Memorial Park) i 1954. Ón ceann de na gclub is luaithe a bhí a dtalamh féin acu, dhíotáil agus d'fhorbraigh Mainistir Eimhín a n-áiseanna seomraí feistis agus ionad sóisialta chun feabhas a chur ar a dtalamh, do spóirt nó siamsaíocht. Go maire an 'Barrowside Blues' de Venice na hÉireann a bheith ina bhfórsa forásach sa GAA go ceann na mblianta.

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