History of GAA at Grangegorman

Founded in 1920 by Jim Doyle, (father of Canice and Jim), the club was originally known as the Richmond Asylum Hurling Club. The name was changed in 1923 to St. Dympna's and the team was comprised of players from Portrane and Grangegorman. The club finally became known as St. Brendan's in 1958 to coincide with the change in title of the hospital.

Players who starred in those early years were the Ryans - Paddy, Mick and Tom, Bill Flanagan and Tony Moore. Bill Flanagan won an All Ireland Junior Medal with Dublin in 1924.

St. Dympna's Hurlers provided the Club with its first major success when they won the Dublin Junior Championship in 1950. They went on to sweep the boards in 1952 by winning the Intermediate League and Championship as well as the Corn Ceiteann. Grangegorman based players central to this success were Mick Forde, Tommy Brogan, Jackie Brennan, Tommy Conroy, Barney McCabe, Joe Tyrrell and Dinny Dunne. Players from Portrane who filled the remaining places on the panel included Jimmy Manton, J. Carney, J. Rogers and the Stanleys.

Tommy Brogan and Tommy Conroy won all Ireland Junior Medals with Dublin in 1952 to cap a truly magnificent year for the Club. In 1954, a football team was formed based on Inter County players J.J. 1 Fitzgerald (Dublin), Christy Burke (Kildare)and Des Taffe (Meath) and Morny Murrihy (Kildare).

In spite of lack of success, the Club continued to fulfil its fixtures for the rest of the 50's and right through the 60's. Staff members who ensured this were Dinny Neville, Mick Somers, Eddie Gilligan, Paddy Hanley, John McHale, Oillie Flynn, Paddy Gahan, Paddy Kearns, Seamus Glennon, Jack Farrelly and Eddie Cullen.

In the Intermediate League Final played at Islandbridge, a most remarkable incident occurred. From the puck out by Mick Forde at full back for St. Dympnas he put the ball in the opposing goal. This hit the headlines of the sports columns of both the evening papers the following day. A remarkable feat surely.

The most successful period in the Club's history began when the hurlers won the Junior Championship and the League double in 1970. In 1971 they won the Intermediate League and completed the collection with the Intermediate Championship in 1972.

Members of the panel - many of whom won all four medals - included P. O'Sullivan, F. Kearns, M. Roban, M. Reilly, Jim Brennan, T. Neary, W. Shanley, J. Buckley, P. Ryan, F. Beale, 0. Flynn, K. Bernie, P. Storey, W. Walshe, S. Furey, Joe Kelly, M. Kearns, M. Healy, J. Coughlan, F. Madden, J. Mahoney, D. Harris, C. O'Driscoll, John Brennan, H. Brennan, F. Spellman, J. McCormack, A. Farrell and P. Denieffe.

The truth of the saying "success breeds success" was proven spectacularly by the exploits of the St. Brendan's Club at this time. Inspired by the achievements of the hurlers, the footballers proceeded to win the Junior League and Championship double in 1971 playing football of the highest calibre and described in one report as “the best team ever to win the Junior Football Championship”. They followed this success by winning the Intermediate League in 1972. They agonisingly lost the Inter Championship Final to an overtime goal by Ballyboughal.

The panel included: S. Murphy, M. Doyle, T. Smyth, C. MeGee, J. Cassidy . O'Neill, S. Furey, J. Leslie, J. Hughes, P. Ryan, F. Spellman, P. Storey, J.J. O'Connor, P. Barnett, J. McHale, W. Shanley, J. Higgins, P.J. O'Connor, J.J. Fitzgerald, W. Walshe, C. Kearns, P.J. Carty, K. Bernie, and J. Kelly.

The footballers continued to contest the latter stages of the Inter Championship for the next 7 - 8 years without success while competing in the Senior League Division 3.

After the successes of the previous decade, the fortunes of St. Brendan's went into decline during the first half of the eighties. Two factors contributed to this - firstly, the retirement of a number of longserving players and, secondly, the lowering of staff recruitment numbers. As a result, both hurling and football teams had returned to Junior ranks by 1986. The brief decline was followed by a brief revival, particularly by the hurlers. In 1987, they won the Junior Hurling Championship and League Double and, in 1988, won the Intermediate League and were, unluckily, defeated by the narrowest of margins to miss out on the Double Double.

Players who contributed hugely at this time were C. Paimer, S. Hayes, D. Harris, F. Delaney, F. Brennan, A. O'Reilly, W. Shanley, P. Lohan, P. Brennan, James Brennan, B. Hobbins, P. Jordan, B. Walshe, J. Walsh, G. Grey,V. Reddin and John Brennan.

Unbelievably, D. Harris, W. Shanley and W. Walshe were assembling their second set of Junior and Intermediate medals 17 years after their first successes.

Promotion to senior ranks followed but, this time around, the demands were too great and the hurling club disbanded in 1989.

The football team, however, continued to fly the black and amber colours mainly through the dedication of Gerry Ryan, J.J. Fitzgeraid, E. Ryan, Frank Dardis and J.J. Reilly and laterally John Brennan. They were rewarded with the Junior B Championship in l993 and Division 4 of the Junior League. The Mooney Cup was also won in that year.

Amazingly, Joe Cassidy, T. Smyth and J.J. Fitzgeraid - all winners in 1971 - still tog out for St. Brendan's and were involved in the 1993 success. Other players who shared in these victories were M. Crehan, P. Lohan, F.Delaney, P. Newman, E. Walsh, N. Finn, S. Forde, A. Henchy, T. Healy, S. Martin, M. Munnelly, T. Breslin, R. Ryan, G. Ryan, B. O'Connor, P. Scott and P. MeEnenley.

The hurlers continued to build on their success of the early 70's by winning Division 2 of the Senior League in 1974. They went on to become one of the top Senior Hurling teams in Dublin at that time. They confirmed their status by reaching the Senior Hurling Final in 1979. The game against Crumlin ended in a draw after a nail biting contest. A long delay of 5 weeks before the replay seemed to affect St. Brendan's form and they never reached the heights of the drawn game losing by 5 points to Crumlin.

However, all the disappointment was forgotten one year later, when they qualified for their second final in a row. Playing precise hurling of high quality, backed up by exceptional teamwork and fitness, they accounted for Naomh Fionbarra, Whitehall Colmcille and Na Fianna to reach the final against Faughs.

A measure of the task facing St. Brendan's can be judged by the tradition and quality of the opposition. Included in the Faughs team were All Ireland winners Ned Rea, Jim O'Donnell and Seanie Buckley, as well as, the Burkes of Offaly, Newmans of Westmeath and Cunnighams of Tipperary.

St. Brendan's finished a sea-saw battle in a high scoring game on a triumphant 111 note, winning by 3 points, 6 - 1 0 to 4 - 13. St. Brendan's team consisted of C. Palmer, T. Finn, D. Harris, Jim Brennan, M. Prendergast, W. Shanley, P. Brennan, G. Hayes, F. Spellman, W. Walsh, P. Storey,M. Barnett, J. Walsh, S. Dowling and M. O'Donnell. Subs included M. Roban, B. O'Connor, G. Kelly, P. Holland, James Brennan, M. O'Brien, 0. Flynn, K. Kenny, P.Hynes and F. Beale.

Chairmen, secretaries, Treasurers, managers, motivators, magic bottle carriers and bagmen all play a vital role behind the scenes in a successful club. Over the years St. Brendan’s have been very well served in this area.

At the time of the St. Dympna’s success Larry Byrne and Benny Cambell were in command of the clubs fortunes off the pitch. That role was carried on throughout the fifties and sixties by staff members such as JJ Fitzgerald, E Gilligan and M Somers.

In the mid sixties Paddy Kearns took over the training of the teams and many will attribute the success of the early seventies to his meticulous preparation of players at this time. Always a fitness fanatic, Paddy led by example and had the happy knack of making training sessions enjoyable. From here the spirit and teamwork required to be successful was built. Mick Somers, PJ Carty, Mel Doyle, G Kearns, F Dardis, B Walsh, and J Leslie all shared the running of the club during the successful seventies.

Mick Forde took over the chair in the club and for ten years he acted as a father-figure to the players, as well as being one of the best singers on the Sunday night sessions. T Finnerty, J Brennan, F Dardis and M Boyle gave him great assistance.

Jimmy Reilly spent twelve years as chairman from 1982 - 1984. Always associated with him are the tireless Gerry Ryan, M Farrell, P Lohan, JJ Fitzgerald and Eddie Ryan.

Frank Dardis was the chairman at the time of his untimely death in December 1994. John Brennan now carries the can and the magic bottle. J7unior hurling is again played at St. Brendan’s since September 1997 with the continuing services of Charlie Palmer and Michael Jordan, senior championship winners in 1980. Bart O’Connor and Gerry Kelly of the junior team of that year along with Vincent Reddin (Nephew of the famous Tipp. Goalie, Tony Reddin), Brendan Hobbins, Padraig Lohan and Fintan Delaney come together to give solid background to the present squad which is looked after by Jon Brennan, frank Beale and John Clarke.

1924 Bill Flanagan - All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship with Dublin
1952 T. Brogan and T. Conroy - All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship with Dublin.
Des Taffe - All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with Meath.
1975 Willie Shanley - All-Ireland "B" Championship (Hurling) with Westmeath.
1983 Tommy Conroy - Won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with Dublin.
1995 Dessie Farrell - Won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with Dublin.
1996 Martin Storey - All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship with Wexford.

Lawn bowls

Lawn bowls was always played at Grangegorman since the turn of the last century. With a lady and gents green, today St. Brendan’s play in two leagues. The first team is in the senior league. In the past the teams were comprised of not only staff but patients also.

Cricket

Cricket was played at Grangegorman until the late 1950’s. Some of the same players played all sports at the hospital.

Hockey

Another sport to be very big for many years, playing at senior league level until recently. There are three teams playing at the moment. One of their most prominent players until recently has been Dessie Farrell, the Dublin Gaelic football team captain and all-round sportsman.

Soccer

Soccer has been played at the hospital once with a team playing in the league of Ireland.

Lawn Tennis

There were four grass courts in the hospital at one time. Today they are seldom used.

Handball

Handball was very popular in the late 40s and 50s. The most notable player was the late Jim Mahon. Today the two alleys are in poor repair but are still used quite especially by hurlers practising their shooting and blocking skills.

Pitch and putt

The course was very popular in the grounds all through the 80s and early 90s but due to management structure changes the pitch and putt course was abandoned in the 90s.

Sports complex

This was set up in 1986 and was for use of all the staff of the Eastern Health Board. It was funded directly by deductions in staff salaries but due to unfortunate circumstances it had to close in 1994.