St. Senans GAA Club

The History of St. Senan's GAA

Playing of Gaelic football in the area cannot claim the antiquity of the Tailteann Games, which originated around 1829 BC. In fact, it cannot even compete with the great match of football played at S lane on the banks of the Boyne, between the young men ofMeath and Louth in 1712, as recounted in the Iberno Celtic Journaofthat year. However, the lads around St. Senan-s country had been kicking ball and pucking sliotars long before the inception of the G.A.A. in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Hall described the game of hurling inierry around the middle of the nineteenth century thus "the players sometimes to the number of fifty or sixty hems, chosen for each side m two opposing ranks, with their hurleys crossed await the tossing up of the ball the crash of mimic war hurley rattles against hurley - the ball is struck and re-struck; the men grapple, wrestle and toss each other with amazing agility, neither victor nor vanquished waiting to take breath but following the course of rolling and flying prize."

     Football matches were played in similar vein. There were no rules and matches usually degenerated into rough and tumble battles. However, from an early stage after the forming of rules for the game a team from the area emerged to beat the best in the mighty Kingdom. This team became known as Irremore or the "Irremores". It was at the turn of the century, during the latter part of the 1890-s that Irremore really came to prominence. Irremore is squashed between two rivals and near neighbours Finuge, and Senan's country. In fact the team members for the Irremore temn came essentially from within the geographical confines of the St. Senas/Finuge football areas as we know it today. Names such as Hayes Carroll of Irremore, the Trants of Lisahane, the O'Carrolls of the six crosses, Brosnan of Rnockreagh the Sewards brothers, Jim Sheehy, Garret Joy, Jim Deenihan and Kennelly all from Finuge formed the backbone of the team.

    In 1890, Irremore played Knockanure at The Island in Listowel, before a large crowd on March 29th The Irremores drove over the first point after ten minutes, but Knockanure leveled before half time The "Irremores" scored 2-5 without reply in the second half to run out easy winners. Irremore took the mighty John Mitchel's of Tralee in their next match on April 26th 1890 in Listowel. "Emon" the reporter for the "Kerry Sentinel" recorded the following:
    "The Tralee Mitchels traveled by special train to Listowel on Sunday (April 26th, 1890) to play the Irremore team They were accompanied be a large crowd. At 2o 'clock the match was set in motion. The Mitchel's won the toss and played with a strong breeze. The consequence was that play at once settled in Irremore territory, but the latter cleverly played for the side lines every time and the Mitchel's were tantalisingly prevented from scoring. Play continued in this fashion for about twenty minutes, the leather being brought once into the neutral ground, and then quickly returned. Tralee then scored the first point and added two more from free kicks in a short time. Half time score: Tralee Mitchel's 0-5, Irremore 0-0.
    During the second half the advantage of the wind to Irremore made matters even and a good deal better play occurred than was visible in the first half. Irremore score a point. On the ball being kicked out the wind drove it behind the goal line before it had been touched by any of the players. Irremore claimed a forthy yards free kick and the referee was rather undecided as to what to do. The Irremore men, however made up their minds quickly about the matter and kicked the ball during the debate that ensued. They did not score".

    The remainder of the game was tight and tough, according to "Emon". Mitchel's finished the stronger and won 0-7 to 0-2.

 The "Irremores" played and beat Dingle in the first round of the 1896 County Senior Championship. Valentia Young Islanders fell in the second round by 0-4 tp 0-3. John Mitchel's bested the "Irremores" again when they beat them in the semi-final by 0-2 to 0-1. That must have been a tough match. The "Irremores" were back with a vengeance in 1897. Listowel fell in the first round of the County Senior Football Championship on the score 1 -6 to 0-2. Portmagee were dispatched in round 2 and Killarney Crokes gave them a walkover in the Semi-final. Guess who won the other semi-final?. Yes, Tralee Mitchel's were to be their opponents. But they had to wait as the final did not take place until May 1898. The venue was a field at the back of the Half Way Bar in Glenoe The "Irremores" triumphed by 0-8 to 0-7 over their old rivals.

    But hold, why doesn't the name of lrremore adorn any of the record books as Senior County Champions? Because Mitchel's objected on several counts. A County Board meeting was held in Tralee on May 18th, 1898 to deliberate over the objections. The "Irremores" were represented by J. Brosnan, P. Carroll, J. Quilter and D.Daly. The referee, M. Bunyan was on the side of lrremore, and awarded them the match. This is seconded by J. Brosnan. However, this was not accepted. A Mr. T. Slattery from Tralee proposed that the match be declared a draw and replayed.' This was voted on and the vote was carried in favour of this proposal. The match was re-fixed for Listowel on 29th May, 1898. However, Mr. Carroll of the Irremore team said that they would not play anymore.

    The "Irremores" refused to play and Mitchel's were awarded the title. Among the men who lined out for the "Irremores" during those glory years were: J.Deenihan, J. Sheehy, D.Sheehan, T.Kennelly, P.Hartnett, W.Sewards, P.Sewards, M.Sewards, H.Carroll, P.Carroll, T.Connell, J.Connell, M.Relihan, T.O'Connor, M.Kelly, G.Joy, P.Kelliher, J.Brosnan, R.Galvin, J.O'Connor, E.Somers, J.Trant, J.O'Connell, J.O'Carroll, J.Hannon, F. Crowley.

    Tim O'Connor, one of the forwards for the "Irremores" is reputed to have missed the side car for a match against Tralee Mitchels in Tralee one Sunday. He arrived late to "The Hut", in Mountcoal and learned that his team-mates had galloped off to Tralee without him. Tim ran as far as the Half-Way Bar, supped a pint of his favourite tipple, wiped his lips and ran all the way to Tralee. There he togged off and played a stormer (Tim was also a boxer and noted weight thrower). This type of spirit and attitude to life and the game sums up this era and the magnificent "Irremores" who represented the area with such pride and distinction.

     The Irremore team had a special band known as the Irremore Brass and Reed Band, who followed the team wherever they played. John Trant of Lisahane was the band leader.

The Club Crest..

The club crest was commissioned and designed in 1980s. The then Club Committee approached Kingdom Print to design a crest which would be fitting of and represent the local area. The finalised crest was presented to the Club and great credit is due to the designers for the splendid design which truely captures the essence of the club and community.

The crest is divided into 4 sections each representing the traditions of the locality:

Although St. Senan's is a football club, hurling has long had a strong tradition in the area. There were many teams who played and practiced in the fields from Kilflynn to the Six crosses. Today and down through the years the club has strong representations from both the Crotta and Lixnaw hurling clubs.

Football - the number one activity in the club. The passion for the game can be seen in the rich history of the game in the area. The passion of both young and old for the blue and gold remains and it's our responsibilty to continue what many of our forefathers commenced. Naomh Seanáin Abú.

The tale of the hound in the community is far reaching into the past. Many's the Sunday that was spent on the hills of the Stack's Mountains and far beyond by the folk of the locality chasing the quarry through meadow and bush. The Hounds of Glenoe were famed throughout the land and it's apt that they are remembered in our club crest .

Music, Song, Poetry, Dance, Drama and all the arts are represented by the fiddle, bodhrán and music book. The musical tradition of the area is well known and one only has to hear the melodic notes and voices of our current Scór participants to know that the tradition reamins alive and well. And our fantastic Drama Group produce first class performances year after year. Long may it last.