Wild Geese of Oldtown
One of the oldest and probably one of the smallest clubs in Dublin. They are located in North County Dublin and caters for hurlers in Ballyboghal/ St. Margarets and Oldtown. They were founded in 1888 just 4 years after the GAA itself was founded and while primarily a football club, this year, for the first time, they entered an adult team to represent the club in hurling They play at Junior D league level and also have 3 underage teams – under 8s 9s and 11s. Huge progress is being made in the club particularly at juvenile level.
They are working well with the local schools to establish a hurling culture there. This year they also entered a team in the Dublin u-21 championship for the first time. Wild Geese are making a huge effort to ensure that hurling is thriving in the North of the county.
Their motto is “the only way to learn to play hurling is to play hurling”
Naomh Barróg
Compared to Wild Club this club is only a blow-in. Founded in 1974 to cater for GAA affairs in the Kilbarrack/ Bayside area. They cater for teams at every age – from under 8s to u 21s and also at Junior A level. An excellent relationships with the local schools in crucial in their development and to help this they invite the teachers to a Christmas lunch. They are in the minor hurling county C final and they play St. Brigids in the Junior A County Final. Club players are now on the county development squads and for the first time they have representation on the county minor, u-21 and senior squads. Last Sunday they created history by representing Dublin in the Leinster Junior hurling championship – a match in which they won. Their submission states that it is now cool to play hurling in the area and a culture and love for hurling is growing rapidly.
Liffey Gaels
The club was founded in 1951 and was originally known as Rialto Gaels. They then became Saints Michaels and James and when they joined up with Donore Iosagáin in 1984 they changed their name to Liffey Gaels. Their catchment area is Ballyfermot, Rialto and Donore Avenue. They have a presence in 5 local schools and over the past couple of years with the help of the parents and their GPO they have began to make serious progress at under age level. Participation numbers in Summer and Easter Camps have increased dramatically in the last 2 years and in 2007 one of their members Conor Connolly captained Dublin Colleges to the All-Ireland Colleges title. They definitely are a club on the move.
