About Us
Who We Are
Southern Gaels is a hurling (and camogie) club based in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland. Westmeath GAA+1
Founded in 1973 — following the merger of two older clubs Athlone GAA and Walderstown GAA — Southern Gaels emerged to pool resources in a time when both predecessor clubs were struggling to field teams, especially at juvenile and adult levels. Westmeath Independent+2Southern Gaels+2
Today the club fields hurling and camogie teams across all age groups, from academy level through to adult, and is the only club in Athlone area dedicated to hurling and camogie. Southern Gaels+1
Over recent decades the club has grown substantially — with expanded underage participation and ambitious plans for improved facilities — reflecting its ambition to strengthen hurling and camogie in South-West Westmeath.
History
| Taken from the book: Southern Gaels Hurling Club 1973-1998 Incorporating A History of South Westmeath Hurling Since 1885 Despite their many previous successful years both Athlone and Walderstown hurling clubs were encountering difficulty in fielding teams in the early 1970’s. Even playing at Junior level, both found that their pools of players were diminishing and the future for adult, not to mind juvenile levels, was in danger of being consigned to history. It was Mick Ward of Drumraney in conversation with Frank Young, Chairman of Athlone, who suggested that both clubs amalgamate their resources, and so Southern Gaels was born. The first meeting was held in February 1973 in Pairc Chiarian and the first club committee was: President: Patsy Norton, Chairman: Frank Young, Vice-Chairman: Mick Ward, Secretary: Bill Stacey, Assistant Secretary: Brendan McCormack, Treasurer: Joe Ryan, Assistant Treasurer: Ken O’Neill, P.R.O’s: Bill Stacey and Brendan McCormack. The first reported training session of the new club was for Sunday, March 4th in Páirc Chiaráin at 2pm. A training match was held on St. Patrick’s Day, with the following teams : Walderstown/Tubberclair/Caulry -v- Athlone/Moate, at 2pm in Páirc Chiaráin, with Ned O’Brien to referee. The club decided to wear the Drumraney colours of a yellow jersey with a maroon horizontal band, and this has remained the club jersey to this day. The first match as Southern Gaels was a Junior League fixture on Sunday, March 26th in Páirc Chiaráin against Kilbeggan. Colm Corless was captain for the day and he led his teammates to a notable victory with the score reading: Southern Gaels 4-2 Kilbeggan 0-2. The lineout for that historic first match was: C. Corless (Capt), B. Gilhooley (goals), B. Daly, M. Rabbitte, K. O’Neill, T. Dolan, V. Reynolds, T. Farrell, P. Buckley, D. Lonican, O. Seery, P. Bannon, J. Irwin, R. Browne, K. Naughton. Subs: J. Guilfoyle, T. Collins, M. Collins. |