GAA clubs in Mayo

The Achill GAA Club was officially established and affiliated to the Mayo County Board in 1941. Although the area was not new to Gaelic games, there never existed a club as such to bring together the footballers of the numerous villages to play as one team and represent the parish itself. The Junior footballers contested their first ever West Mayo Championship in 1942 and not only did they win that, they also proceeded to capture the County title.

We are a small club located in a small village in East Mayo, who compete in all competitions for under 8 to under 18 and at Minor and Senior grades. In the early days of the club we were known as Shamrocks due to the amalgamation of the Aghamore and Kilmovee parishes. This team went on to win the Mayo Senior County football championship in 1977. The clubs first committee was formed in 1970.

Ardagh Gaa Club is located in the parish of Ardagh between the towns of Ballina and Crossmolina in North Mayo. Here in Ardagh we are very proud of our parish and our achievements as a junior club. We aspire to provide an interest and an outlet for the young people of our parish both on and off the pitch and to support and enhance the lives of all our parishioners. The first record of Ardagh fielding a GAA team was in 1908 when they played Knockmore in a challenge game. Although there was a keen interest in football in the area, there was no official team in Ardagh until 1929. As it was the custom then for the better players to play with the great Stephenites club in Ballina. That team recorded some notable wins during the years 1929-’32. That team disbanded in 1932 when a lorry in which the team were returning from a playing a match in Skreen crashed and many of the players were injured and never played again.

Ardnaree Sarsfields was founded in 1921 in Mayo, having competed in the Sligo Championship up until the turn of the century with the change in County borders and was attached to Ballina Stephenites, until 1949, when the club went on its own.

Balla GAA club is located in the village of Balla in County Mayo and was founded in 1921.

Ballaghaderreen GAA Club is almost as old as the Gaelic Athletic Association itself. A note in the Western People newspaper states that the club met in 1886 for a practice match. This was the first meeting of the club since the previous year-1885. The new GAA pitch and clubhouse were developed and opened in 1980. The new stand was constructed in 1995. The club’s facilities went under major reconstruction in the naughties with the pitches being redeveloped into a full sized pitch and a slightly smaller training pitch with proper drainage and the addition of a sanded area for winter training. The clubhouse was also redeveloped with the dressing rooms and shower getting a complete overhaul and the meeting rooms and gym being extended upstairs. The club has been well represented at county level through the years, with Andy Moran and David Drake recently on the senior panel.

The Ballina Stephenites Club was founded on the 28th (last Saturday) of August 1886 by James Wallace Melvin. (Pen-name Larry Doolan) who also penned the Club’s rallying song-“Forward to the goal of victory” The first meeting was held in “Barney’s Boreen” at the top of Convent Hill. The first President of the Club was Tom Courell with “Cappy” Fitzgerald as Secretary and Michael Connolly as Treasurer. The club is named for James Stephens (1825–1901)

Ballinrobe GAA club is recognised as one of the most progressive GAA clubs in Mayo, with three adult teams, ten underage sides, ladies football and state-of-the-art floodlighting at Flanagan Park

Ballintubber GAA is based in Ballintubber, County Mayo. The club fields Gaelic football teams with its home pitch is located at the Ray Prendergast Memorial Park, Carrowkeel, Clogher, Claremorris, Co. Mayo

Ballycastle, with its small population, is a place where the footballing tradition goes back to 1892. The early teams, had many challenge games against other parishes. Sometimes they travelled by boat, often not returning until the next day.

Ballycroy GAA club is located in Ballycroy, in northern County Mayo. The club is focused exclusively on Gaelic football and was founded in 1889. In the 1960’ss Ballycroy played alongside Kiltane in the club St Pat’s. Ballycroy’s first appearance in a men’s county final was a league final in 2019 on the 130th anniversary of the club they beat Louisbourg 0-12 1-8 after extra time.

Ballyhaunis GAA club is located in the town of Ballyhaunis in eastern County Mayo. The club fields both football and hurling teams and is a member of the East division of Mayo GAA.

Bonniconlon GAA are a club based in the north of Mayo at the foothills of the Ox Mountains. The club celebrated our 125th anniversary in 2014 and have a long and proud tradition in the history of Mayo football providing players at underage, junior and senior levels for the county teams as well as management positions on several county teams.

Breaffy GAA Club has been an integral part of the Gaelic Football scene in the parish of Aglish and the county of Mayo for the past 70 years. Our catchment area includes the national school areas of Breaffy, Ballyheane, Errew and Derrywash. The Club has been active in all age categories playing football, hurling, handball, camogie and rounders. Ladies Gaelic Football is very much to the fore in the Club. Participation in junior and senior Scór is an important aspect of cultural life in the Club.

Burrishoole GAA club is located in Newport, County Mayo. The club is exclusively focused on the sport of Gaelic football.

Caiseal Gaels Juvenile Hurling Club was founded in Carracastle in November 2008 following a public meeting where great support for establishing a hurling club was very evident amongst those present. The children in the local national school had been playing hurling for a couple of years and were eager for the chance to continue their involvement in the game. To provide this opportunity for the young people a juvenile hurling club was formed.

Carras GAA Club in based in the parish of Roundford, Robeen and Carras in South Mayo.

Castlebar Mitchels GAA Club is located in the heart of Castlebar. We have a proud and distinguished history, with our first adult team having being set up in 1885. We have been providing underage football to the children of our community for over 100 years. Castlebar GAA is formed on December 11th 1885 following a meeting in the Reading Room (above the Town Hall) and shortly after adopted the name of Castlebar Mitchels. The original colours were Green & Yellow and initial games were played at Pigeon Park (also known as the Fair Green). Youth involvement begins at an early stage as only four months on from the founding of the club, a Juvenile team (Under 15) plays its first match.

Moy Davitts GAA Club serves the villages and districts of Bohola, Straide, Foxford, Toomore, Callow, Attymachugh and Attymass in Co. Mayo. The present club was founded in the early 1970s but there was a very long tradition of football in this area dating back to the founding of the GAA. Teams from the area competed under various names including Bohola, Foxford, Toomore, Killasser, Ballyvarry and the Foxford Geraldines in 1898. Following a meeting of the Foxford club Bohola GAA Club changed its name to Moy Davitts in 1977, a name which better represented the three parishes along the banks of the River Moy.

Castlebar Mitchels GAA Club is located in the heart of Castlebar. We have a proud and distinguished history, with our first adult team having being set up in 1885. We have been providing underage football to the children of our community for over 100 years. Castlebar GAA is formed on December 11th 1885 following a meeting in the Reading Room (above the Town Hall) and shortly after adopted the name of Castlebar Mitchels. The original colours were Green & Yellow and initial games were played at Pigeon Park (also known as the Fair Green). Youth involvement begins at an early stage as only four months on from the founding of the club, a Juvenile team (Under 15) plays its first match.

The Charlestown Sarsfields Club was founded in 1888 and is now well into celebrating it`s 134th year in existence. The club has a long and proud history and tradition in Mayo G.A.A. circles and continues to make its presence felt and punch above its weight on the play fields. The Club have top facilities with Fr O’Hara Park the obvious jewel in the crown as it remains one of the finest playing surfaces in Mayo and beyond. Fr O’Hara Park was officially opened in 1953 and was named after Fr Eddie O’Hara a man who spread the gospel of G.A.A. in the community at the time and who was instrumental in the purchase and subsequent development of the land together with a core of dedicated and committed club members.

CLG Cill Chomáin is a Gaelic football club located in Kilcommon in north-western County Mayo. The club colours are white and black. Cill Chomáin won the Mayo Junior Football Championship in 2005 and 2012, beating Castlebar Bs and Ardnaree respectively. Cill Chomáin reached the Mayo Junior County Semi final in 2020 where they were beaten by Kilmaine.

Claremorris GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association Club based in the town of Claremorris in County Mayo, Ireland. The club was founded in 1884 and is a member of the South division of Mayo GAA. The club represents and draws players from the town of Claremorris and half parish of Barnacarroll to the north. The club currently competes at Senior level and has won the Mayo Senior Football Championship 4 times in the 1960s and 70s. The club previously had a hurling team which won 2 Mayo Senior Hurling Championship titles in 1968 and 1971 and has a competitive Ladies football team.

Crossmolina Dr. Crokes GAA Club – was affiliated to the County Board in 1887. In 1906 the club was changed to Deel Rovers. The officers were chairman Fr Eddie Doherty, CC secretary Pat Rowland; Treasurer Willie Joe Tolan. The big breakthrough for the club came in 1926 when the club won the first North Mayo Junior title defeating Ballina by 0-10 to 0-5 in Crossmolina and went on to capture the county title defeating Kiltimagh.

Davitts GAA Club is in the parish of Kilvine. The first football teams in the parish were formed after the ending of the Civil War (1923-1924) – a team in Irishtown and a team in Ballindine. Gaelic football was still in it’s infancy in the parish during the 20’s and 30’s, with no rules and no definite number of players on each side. Championship games took place only between the larger towns. The smaller local teams depended on challenge games among themselves. The name Davitts was only a year old when the club won silverware for the first time in 1975 by beating Hollymount in the South Junior A Championship Final on the last Sunday of the year. In the next three years, Davitts took part in two County Intermediate Finals, but were beaten by Lacken in 1976 and Kiltimagh in 1978. It was to be third time lucky in 1981 however, as Davitts took their first Intermediate county championship title by defeating Tourmakeady

In the early 1980’s a number of Bekan parents noticed that many of their children were good athletes and interested in playing Gaelic football. They organised a number of challenge games and were pleased with the outcome. This led to much talk about setting up a club in the parish. A number of meetings were arranged for Bekan, Logboy and Brickens to discuss the situation. There was general support that the setting up of a GAA club in the Parish be investigated. An organising committee was set up, charged with the task of preparing an application to Mayo County Board to establish a GAA club in Bekan. The committee prepared a document seeking to establish a club in Bekan. This was presented to East Mayo GAA board in Swinford and a delegation was selected to present the application to a County Board meeting in Castlebar. The Board approved the application and cleared the way to set up a club in Bekan. The Inaugural meeting of Eastern Gaels GAA club was held in the Community Centre in Brickens.

The first ever gaelic football match that can be recalled is a game between Lissatava and Garrymore (Known then however as Ballyglass) in the year 1918 in Killeenrevagh, Co Mayo. Matches were played in local farm fields, mostly in the heath. Other clubs that completed against Ballyglass at the time were Hollymount, Claremorris, Milltown and Kilcreevanty. The first set of jerseys were purchased in Claremorris by Paddy Coyne and were black in colour with a yellow hoop. A tournament used to be played in the Heath with money, rather than trophies, being the prize. Two long sticks were used as goal posts, which could be easily transported to which ever field it was they would play in. However, then the ‘Troubles’ broke out in the late ‘teens and early 1920’s the team was disbanded temporarily and when it was re-organised a number of years later, younger and more stylist players came into the scene.

Hollymount Carramore GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in south County Mayo, Ireland. The club is an amalgamation of the two former clubs of Hollymount and Carramore , Hollymount having won 3 Senior championships in the 1990s.[1] Hollymount-Carramore currently compete in the Mayo Intermediate Football Championship. From 1989 to 1991, Hollymount won every championship match they played in Mayo, beginning with the 1989 Intermediate campaign (when they won the title) and then winning successive Senior titles

Islandeady GAA club was established in 1904.The jerseys worn at the time were black with a yellow stripe. The club didn’t own a pitch at the time so games were played in various fields around the parish through the early years. It was in 1928 that Green and White were registered as the club colours. In general, during the 1930s and 40’s the local organisation of the Gaa was very loose and Gaa activity suffered due to the war, lack of transport and emigration. In the early 70’s the club was on the verge of collapse due to lack of success and many years in the doldrums. At the AGM at the end of 1973 many young players expressed a desire to leave the club but it was decided to make one last effort. The longest standing member of the club, Sean Moylette, sponsored a parish league which got underway the following March. Jackie Deffelys team emerged victorious and this league acted as a springboard for the clubs most successful era.

Kilfian GAA club is based in Kilfian parish in North Mayo. In 2023 the club received a derogation from Croke Park GAA authorities to join with Lacken GAA in fielding a joint adult football team on a renewable basis subject to annual approval.

Killala GAA Cub in based in the town and parish of Killala in North Mayo. Killala GAA Club was founded in 1926 by local Garda, James McCartan. In the early years most of the club’s games were local community based leagues played at the famous Poll Bu. In 1971 the club purchased a field from the Land Commission and began the process of developing it. In 1977 the pitch was levelled and in 1979 the old dressing rooms were built. Further development saw the erection of new dressing rooms in 1991, erection of flood lights in 1993 and the drainage of the pitch in 1994.

Kilmaine G.A.A. Club was founded on the 9th of March, 1937. The first meeting of Kilmaine GAA club was held in Durcan’s carthouse on 9th of March 1937, in candle-light.The first competitive game ever played by a Kilmaine team was against Castlegar (Claremorris), in Curran’s field. One of the biggest crowds ever to attend a sporting event in the parish, watched the game. After a thrilling encounter Kilmaine were defeated by a single point.

Kilmeena GAA Club was founded in 1889. Club records show that they played their first game against Westport at Kilmeena on the 10th March 1889. The club was affiliated to the County Board in the same year. They contested their first county senior final against the mighty Ballina Stephenites and were beaten. The Club secured their own grounds in 1938. It was named Saint Brendan’s Park. Despite contesting a number of county finals at various levels without success throughout the following years, it wasn’t until 1968 the first breakthrough came in the Junior A division, when the Club won the West Mayo Cusack Cup for the first time, beating Westport in the final in Westport. They had a further wait until 1977 before they won their first County Junior title, beating Carramore in the final in McHale Park Castlebar. Incidentally, the under14 team of 1970 can justifiably lay claim to bringing the first county title to the club by winning the championship that year. Many members of that under 14 team were also part of the winning junior team of ’77.

Kilmovee Shamrocks are a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in County Mayo. The club focuses primarily on the sport of Gaelic football and represents and draws players from the villages of Kilkelly and Kilmovee and the surrounding parish. The club is a member of the East Mayo Division and as of 2017 has been promoted to the Mayo Junior Championship.

Kiltane GAA club is located in Bangor Erris, County Mayo. The club existed under the name St. Patrick’s from 1962 until 1971.

The first record of GAA activities in Kiltimagh is a reference to a game played at the Racecourse in Claremorris in 1884 between Milltown and Kiltimagh. The reference to this game is recorded in the Galway Centenary Book in 1984. However, it is generally accepted that football was played on a regular basis in the area, usually between teams from the different villages. In 1888 a meeting was called to form a GAA club in the town. In the 80s the club continued to progress on the field of play with a lot of effort being put into underage. They won a number of East Mayo titles at Under 12/14/16 and minor and were defeated in the County Minor final in 1989. 2009 was a wonderful year for the club with the senior team lifting the County Junior League, East Mayo Junior Championship, County Junior Championship, Connacht Junior Championship and also winning County Senior League Division 1C to secure promotion. The minors won the County Minor League Division 1 title. They also won the East Mayo Championship against neighbours Swinford and narrowly lost the County A Championship Final to Castlebar Mitchels.

Knockmore G.A.A. Club was a relative latecomer to the ranks of the GAA. Established in 1958 it wasn’t until 1960 that it was registered. The club claimed its first title in 1968 winning the North Mayo junior championship. Within four years an intermediate title was won before remarkably winning Senior County and provincial championships a year later. Today the club is testament to that early sense of purpose. Since gaining our senior status in 1972 the club has never lost it, winning 9 county senior titles (2020 most recent win) and 3 senior provincial titles along the way. Since 1971 we have also won 8 Division 1 league titles.

Lacken Sarsfields G.A.A club is based in Lacken parish in North-Mayo. In 2023 the club received a derogation from Croke Park GAA authorities to join with Lacken GAA in fielding a joint adult football team on a renewable basis subject to annual approval.

A G.A.A. club existed in Addergoole parish at various times up to the 1950’s. Whatever few players emerged in the parish up to the mid-sixties played football either with Newport or with Crossmolina. Because of the greater access to second level education in the 60’s more potential footballers emerged. For this reason in 1966 a group of enthusiastic football supporters, not all of whom were footballers, came together to form a new G.A.A. club, i.e. Lahardane McHales. n 1975 the local Parish Priest made ground available in Bofeenaun for the construction of a football field and clubhouse. The first games were played in the new pitch in the Autumn of 1975. In the winter of 1975/’76 Lahardane McHales won its first ever competition, i.e. the North Mayo Winter League.

Louisburgh GAA club is located in Louisburgh in west Mayo.

Mayo Gaels GAA Club is a GAA club based in Co. Mayo, based in the parish of Mayo Abbey, it has an catchment area Mayo Abbey, Ballyglass and Facefield villages. In the Autumn of 1975 a group of young men held a meeting. The purpose of same, which was held in O’Donnell ‘s hall was to re-establish the G.A.A. club in Mayo Abbey parish, affiliated to the County Board and entered competition in 1976.

Moygownagh is a small rural parish, centred in North Mayo. Gaelic games were being played here from early in the last century, with the annual Moygownagh sports held on the grounds of Belville house, provided by the local Orme landlords, first recorded in 1895 and run under GAA rules by 1910. In time, this field would become the site of the present football pitch. The first recorded GAA match held in the parish was a football tournament on 20 July 1903, no doubt influenced by parish priest Fr. Michael Smyth – a brother of PG Smyth, the first president of Mayo GAA and co-founder of the Western People. As early as the 1908-9 season, Moygownagh was one of only ten senior football teams affiliated with the Mayo GAA County Board, with only sixteen teams affiliated for that season overall – and all bar five in North Mayo. During decades of resurgences and lapses, mainly driven by the ebb and flow of rural emigration, parish footballers often played with nearby clubs. The present club grounds and facilities were developed by the parish through the superb work of local volunteers. St Cormac’s GAA club was officially formed in 1979, with the purchase of ‘Cawleys Field’, where the sports were formerly held. After tremendous community effort, the present pitch and stand were officially opened in 1982, as the Fr Michael Gilroy Memorial Park and the club has been a very active social outlet for both young and old since. In 1987, with further local effort, the Community Centre and dressing rooms were built. The facilities have further developed over the years, with a very successful CE Scheme, community offices, stage and hall, the Learning Centre, (formerly home to ‘The Women of The North West’) and Daria’s pre-school Daycare. The Moygownagh Camoige team won the county senior championship in 1984. The senior footballers had their best year in 1986 when they won almost every cup available to them. The club took their first ever North Mayo Junior title in that year, in a replay against Crossmolina, 0-8 to 0-5. That team featured both Anthony ‘Larry’ Finnerty and Pat Holmes – both of whom would grace the field in All-Ireland finals wearing the green and red of Mayo. The next generation of footballers won the second North Mayo Junior title against Ballycastle in 1994, winning 0-7 to 0-6 in a very stormy Ballina. After a long gap, on 21 October 2017, Moygownagh Juniors won the club’s first senior county football championship, winning the Junior ‘C’ County Cup in (a very stormy!) Centre of Excellence in Bekan, defeating Kilmaine 1-7 to 1-5. On the 29 October 2022 at MacHale Park, Castlebar, Moygownagh played Achill in the county final of the Junior B Championship, managed by David Finnerty with Gary Carey and JD McDonnell. Unfortunately Achill proved too strong on the day on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-6.

ParkeKC GAA Club was formed in March 1970 and in the following month the West Mayo GAA Board accepted the clubs application to compete in their divisional competitions. On Sunday, April 26th 1970 saw the clubs now distinctive colours of Black and Amber on display for the first time in an away game, but the joy of sporting our new wears was overshadowed by a defeat of 1-8 to 0-02. Underage football within our club is run under the auspices of the Bord na nòg. As well as the clubs officers, an active and efficient Bord na nòg committee is in place. This coupled with the excellent support of parents and the support of the broader community contributes to the efficient running of the activities of our club.

Following the amalgamation of Shrule and Glencorrib in 1992, the Club has gone from strength to strength and has had many successful seasons over the last 26 years. During the early 2000’s the Club achieved significant success. In 2000 we won the Division 4 league and the following year (2001) we won the Division 3 league which saw the Club getting promoted to the Intermediate Championship. In 2002 we made it to the Intermediate Championship County Final only to lose out to Ballinrobe. In 2004 the Club were promoted to Senior Championship / League and in the space of just a few short years the Club went from playing Junior football to competing and challenging for honours at the highest level in the county.
Following the amalgamation of Shrule and Glencorrib in 1992, the Club has gone from strength to strength and has had many successful seasons over the last 26 years. During the early 2000’s the Club achieved significant success. In 2000 we won the Division 4 league and the following year (2001) we won the Division 3 league which saw the Club getting promoted to the Intermediate Championship. In 2002 we made it to the Intermediate Championship County Final only to lose out to Ballinrobe. In 2004 the Club were promoted to Senior Championship / League and in the space of just a few short years the Club went from playing Junior football to competing and challenging for honours at the highest level in the county.

There is evidence that the parish of Swinford boasted three football teams in the 1880’s. This was shortly after the founding of the GAA in 1884 in Hayes Hotel in Thurles. Football fell into decline in the 1940’s – due mainly to World War II when socially and economically times were lean. But in 1949 our Junior football side reached the Mayo Final, where they had to bow to Mulranney by a narrow margin. Two years later –1951– a County title came our way when the Minor team, which included the late Harry Brennan, did the honours. The 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s saw the game flourish at underage, junior and intermediate level with the odd spell in senior grade.

The Neale GAA club origins can be traced back to the early 1900’s when there were two local teams in the parish called “Lavelles” from Cong and “Cross” from Cross. The club is situated on the shores of two lakes, Lough Mask to the north and Lough Corrib to the south.

Tooreen Hurling Club is based in the village of Tooreen, County Mayo and is located in the parish of Aghamore approximately four miles (6.4 km) from the town of Ballyhaunis in eastern County Mayo which is the county’s hurling stronghold.The club was formed in 1957 and celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007. Players are drawn from the Tooreen area as well as from the Aghamore, Ballyhaunis, Kilkelly and Knock areas. The club is affiliated as an Exclusive Hurling Club to the Mayo County Board.

Tuar Mhic Éadaigh GAA Club has been in continuous existence since 1965, although there were a few earlier versions, going as far back as Phartraí GAA Club in 1907. On the occasion of the club’s 50th anniversary in August 2015, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh launched a book entitled By the Shores of Lough Mask: A history of Gaelic games in Partraí and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh describing the history of Gaelic games in the parish. Tuar Mhic Éadaigh GAA is based in the Gaeltacht area and we have a rich history and heritage. The aim of the Tuar Mhic Éadaigh GAA is to support the Irish language, Irish dance, music, singing and Irish culture.

Earliest records suggest that Westport were playing in organised competitions as far back as 1889, when a report in the ‘Tuam News’ of March 29th suggests that Westport defeated Kilmeena on a scoreline of 1-06 to nil. Then in 1936 at a meeting on March 24th in O’Malley’s new hall all the GAA sections of the parish joined forces and re-organised the Westport GAA club as one unit. The first pitch the club could really call its own was opened in 1958 at a cost of £3000 and appropriately called St. Patrick’s GAA Park.