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The search for an alternative pitch?
Naomh Barróg GAA Club
In July 1976 the controversial
site to build the Shopping Centre
in Kilbarrack-Foxfield was sold to
Tancot Ltd representing Albert
Gubay and three Guys. Naomh
Barróg knew then that the day
would come when the bulldozers
would move in to commence
their work building their Shop-
ping Centre and to witness the
erosion of more open space in
the Community to the developer.
At a Public Meeting in the Com-
munity Centre in Kilbarrack-
Foxfield on Tuesday the 3rd May
1977, a Panel Discussion took
place on the proposed Shopping
Centre by Mr Albert Gubay. The
attendance was approximately
500. The Chairman of KADCA,
Mr Fred Rankin opened the
meeting by welcoming Mr Albert
Gubay, the Minister for Posts
and Telegraphs Dr Conor Cruise
O‟Brien, Local Councillors Joe
Cosgrave, Tom Duffy, Séan D
Loftus and Ned Brennan.
After the preliminaries Michael
Woods took the chair for the
Panel Discussion. The panel
consisted of Mr Albert Gubay
and his representatives Mr. T
Spence and Mr. O‟Malley, Mr.
Noel Mannion, Planning and
touch with Dublin Corporation.
Their response was to say „we
will look into the matter‟. They
met and listened to us but had
no solution. The Corporation
were developing the open
space between Foxfield Park
and Grove. We tried unsuc-
cessfully to get the temporary
use of that. The Club then
looked at the land owned by the
22 residents of the Howth Junc-
tion. Cottages. This was a quiet
oasis for generations of families
until it was immersed during the
construction of thousands of
houses during the 60‟s & 70‟s
The Executive of Naomh Barróg
realized the importance of look-
ing for an alternative site within
the parish. They had received
the support from Clanna Gael to
use their Pitch 14 in St Annes.
This was appreciated by the
Club and were indebted to them
for their support. The Club felt
not having its own pitch within
the parish, where our members
could play at home, where the
parents could see their children
play and support them, would
make our development and
growth as a Club difficult.
In September 1977 we were fielding
teams at, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 12,
13, 14,15,16,17 and Adult. For a
Club only four years in existence to
be fielding so many teams was won-
derful. It was imperative for the
survival of the Club to find another
pitch in the parish for the young
people and children of our communi-
ty. A miracle was needed to locate
an alternative pitch within the com-
munity. The Club early on in 1977
began the task of looking around to
see was it possible. Firstly we got in
Issue 13 History of the Club (1974-2014)
24th August 2014
Environment Committee, KADCA, Mr T Brennan, Donaghmede Communi-
ty Association, Mr R Wallace, Wholesale Grocery Trade and Mr Dick Fields
representing all sporting groups in the area. The questions which had all
been put in writing before hand were then put to the panel by Dr Michael
Woods.
The first question put to Mr Gubay was “Why did Mr Gubay decide in 1977
to open his chain of Discount Stores?” He replied, “..that 1977 was not
picked out specifically to open in this country. My marriage had broken
down and I wanted to start up in business again. I have been in and out of
Ireland secretly for the past 2 years and as I wanted an English speaking
country, I found Ireland entirely satisfactory”.
Everybody was in favour of a shopping centre being built in Kilbarrack-
Foxfield. A compromise was needed and that was what the majority of the
people desired.
Scór: Inter Club Talent
Show.
This was an Inter Club Talent
Competition between Gaelic
Clubs in Ireland. We first en-
tered this competition in 1977.
In our second year we were
very successful in an area final
that took place in the Player
Will‟s Theatre, South Circular
Road on the 30th of January
1978. There were eight events
in the competition. Naomh
Barrog entered in six of them,
winning four and came second
in one.
We won the following events
1. Novelty Act:. The
script was written by
Luke Brodigan and the
performers in the Act
were John Whelan,
Liam Carroll and Luke
Brodigan.
2. Recitation Performed
by Glenna Walsh the
sister of Enda Walsh
the play writer.
3. Solo Singing: Jenny
Hyland
4. Instrumental Group:
Ray Mc Manus, Paul
Byrne, Dixie Byrne All
teachers in Scoil
Lorcáin at the time
5. The Ballad Group: It
came 2nd. Singers
were Marianne Reyn-
olds, June Matthews,
Ray Mc Manus and
Dick Fields. All were
teachers in Scoil
Lorcáin at the time.
Seán Ó Síocháin was present
in the packed Player Wills
Theatre‟s audience that night
and was mildly surprised at the
wealth of talent from Kilbar-
rack.
Ray Mc Manus, Paul Byrne, Dixie Byrne performing in Scór representing Naomh Barróg in Jan 1978
Jim Butler as Secretary of Naomh Barróg
1976-1977 was very active along with other
members in progressing the Club further.
As well as trying to obtain our own pitch in
the community, the Club was ambitious to
develop our own Social Centre. Joe Cos-
grave who was a Fine Gael TD at the time
and was also a Member of Dublin Corpora-
tion gave us great help and support dealing
with the Corporation. The Club only two
years in existence at the time was even at
that stage of our development showing a
vision and ambition that would lead us .
On the 2nd of February 1977 Jim wrote to
David Byrne, Principal Officer of Dublin
Corporation, Planning and Environment
Section.
This is a synopsis of his letter.
“ I write on behalf of Naomh Barróg Hurling
and Football Club, Kilbarrack. As you know
due to the proposed Shopping Centre Com-
plex at Greendale the site, which includes
our pitch is due for development……...I
would like to apply for a pitch as the Corpo-
ration intends to lay out pitches in Baldoyle
in connection with a new Comprehensive
School….Perhaps you could also tell me
who is the legal owner of the land on which
the present Health Centre is sited. We have
no Club House at present and as I under-
stand a new clinic is to be provided on the
Greendale Rd site. We would be interested
in buying or renting the present building
when it is vacated”.
Response from Dublin Corporation
On the 24th of February 1977 the Club
received a response from Dublin Corpo-
ration Community and Development
Department. It read
“ Dear Mr. Butler, I wish to reply to your
letter of the 2nd February on behalf of
Naomh Barróg . The proposed park at
Seafield, Baldoyle to which you refer in
your letter is at present under develop-
ment . It is expected that playing pitch-
es will not be available there for two
years,
The site at the junction of Briarfield Vil-
las and Foxfield Green on which the
Greendale Comprehensive School and
Health Centre are located. The Health Centre
has been disposed of to the Department of
Education for some time……”
On the 1st March Councillor Michael Joe
Cosgrave arranged a meeting for the 22nd of
March 1977 between the Club and the Com-
munity and Environment Department. The
Club was represented by Jim Butler, Denis
Dunne, Paddy Rankin and Dick Fields. All
our proposals were listened to but nothing of
any worth for the Club came out of it except
leasing Pitch 12 in St Anne‟s from them, We
knew if we were going to make progress, fulfil
our vision it would be up to us and our mem-
bers.
The land in Howth Junction?
Negotiating with Dublin Corporation
possibility of renting the land for a pitch, to
give the Club time to plan its future vision
and direction. They listened with interest
and were agreeable to try and support us.
The name of the Club in Howth Junction was
Star of the Sea. They won the Dublin Junior
Championship in 1942. When Naomh
Barróg was founded in 1974 we were not
aware of the existence of this Club. I believe
the Club disbanded in the 50‟s. In those
days there was a great community spirit in
Howth Junction. They had their own
Community Centre , where dances were
held, a full size snooker table and a place for
the young and the neighbours to gather.
They could even field their own Gaelic team.
Page 2 Naomh Barróg GAA Club
The first houses in Howth Junction Cottages
were built over a hundred years ago. The
cottages at that time were surrounded by
farms owned by the Flood‟s, Barnwall‟s and
Loftus‟. The people mostly found employ-
ment working on the farms, working for CIE
on the railways, as signalmen and in Howth
Junction Station. They were part of Baldoyle
parish and their children went to the local
school there. They had their own Gaelic
Football Team called Star of the Sea and
won the Dublin Junior Championship in 1942.
John Anderson‟s father was on that victori-
ous team. The Kilbarrack Road as we know
it today was a bóithrín, (Boreen) or country
road that linked the Howth Rd with the parish
of Coolock. The way of life for the people
who lived in this environment before the huge
housing development in the 60‟s com-
menced, was simple, peaceful, a rural way of
life with the advantage of living close to the
sea and to the city. When Naomh Barróg was
founded in 1974, the Howth Junction Cot-
tages Community got involved and supported
the Club. David ‟Budser‟ Flood, John Ander-
son, former West Bromwich Albion, Newcas-
tle and Ireland International, Shay Brady
whose son Robbie, formerly with Manchester
United and now with Sunderland, Philip Red-
mond, Seán and Brendan O‟Connor, Joe
Styles were all natives of Howth Junction
Cottages and played for Naomh Barróg. Bet-
ty Flood, David‟s mother ran the Weekly Draw
in Howth Junction supporting the Club finan-
cially.
The residents of the cottages owned the land
around their houses where Redmond Court is
today. The Club approached Tom Redmond
and Richie Brady, the father of Shay Brady.
These two men represented the people of
Howth Junction Cottages. On the 4th of April
1977 Naomh Barróg enquired about the
The Club forwarded the result of the survey
to the P & E Section of KADCA who dis-
cussed our survey. They had to tell us that
the Corporation would not provide a pitch
since it was clearly against residents wishes.
Some residents had got together to oppose
our proposal. Their numbers were at vari-
ance to ours. The Club not wishing to create
discontent among neighbours decide to
pursue a different course.
We held our Mini Leagues in Foxfield Park
for a few years, when we had no pitch in the
area with great support from the vast major-
ity of the residents who encouraged us..
The Planning and Environment Section of
Dublin Corporation developed the Park
between Foxfield Park and Foxfield Grove,
a wonderful facility for the families and chil-
dren who lived on those roads and for the
adjoining roads of the community. This
development took place in 1977 when Na-
omh Barróg were negotiating with Dublin
Corporation .to provide them with a pitch.
Many of the Mentors and players in Naomh
Barróg lived on these roads. The Club de-
cided to do a survey of the houses in Fox-
field Park to get the opinion of the resi-
dents, to see what support we would receive
as we did not wish to upset any of the house-
holders. The Mentors, Denis Dunne, Jim
Butler, Noel Lonergan and others who lived
on Foxfield Park canvassed the people. A
letter explaining our proposal was deliv-
ered to each house explaining that the pitch
would be only for a temporary period as a
Gaelic pitch is envisaged in the final devel-
opment at Greendale Rd. 147 houses were
canvassed with the result as follows, 70 in
favour of a temporary GAA pitch in the
Park, 42 against, 28 not in, 3 undecided
and 4 with no opinion.
In spite of our problems the Club continued to thrive.
Foxfield Park
The Club were using all their contacts and
resources to resolve their dilemma for a pitch.
Seán O Síocháin was the 16th Ard Stiúrthóir.
He became a great supporter of our Club and
encouraged us to achieve and aim for the
stars. It was a time when you could call into
him in Croke Park for a chat without having to
make an appointment. It was a different time.
Dick Fields became great friends with him and
received great guidance and advice from a
wise and shrewd West Cork man from Cill na
Marta, near Macroom. In April 1977 he wrote
the following reference for our Club. He saw
great potential and future for Naomh Barróg.
“A Chara,
Club Naomh Barróg are doing very necessary
and very important work for the children and
teenagers of their community in arranging
games and other physical and cultural activi-
ties for them to occupy their leisure hours and
to help them develop as healthy and responsi-
ble citizens.
All our efforts to obtain a pitch in the parish
were thwarted. It was suggested at one
stage that if we failed to obtain a pitch in
our own community, that it would be better
to amalgamate with one of the local Clubs
e.g. Trinity Gaels who had better facilities
and plenty of pitches and not to far away.
Trying to promote Gaelic Games, organis-
ing training, transporting players would be
very challenging and difficult. These obsta-
cles made us more determined to keep
going and view other options. Possessing
your own pitch in your own community is
the best incentive to get young people
involved in sport.
The members began to realize that they
needed a miracle to achieve their vision. In
spite of the set backs the Club continued
to go from strength to strength.
By February 1978 we had 200 boys in our
Mini Leagues, 11 football teams and 4 hurling
teams. An Adult Hurling team was formed
and we started a Handball Section. On Satur-
day mornings Cecil Halpin coached the boys
in Kilbarrack Fire Brigade Station where they
had a fine Handball Alley. Unfortunately the
Handball Section did not succeed and we
abandoned the idea.
Our Oíche Gaelach in Scoil Lorcáin was very
popular. In the Adult Scór the Club entered for
the second year running. It took place in the
Player Wills Theatre on the South Circular Rd
on the 30th January 1978. The Club won four
out of the six events. We also entered Scór
na nÓg which took place on the 1st of De-
cember 1978. Our 1st Dinner Dance took
place in the Claremont Hotel Howth on the
21st April 1978. .
Seán Ó Síocháin Ard Stiúrthóir (1964-1979) lends his support-1977
Page 3 24th August 2014
The Club is working under insuperable diffi-
culties in that they have no playing area or
Community Centre of their own, both of
which are essential if the Kilbarrack commu-
nity is to develop along normal, progressive
lines.
The Gaelic Athletic Association is very con-
cerned that any community should be so
handicapped and particularly so where there
are dedicated and highly reputable teachers
and motivated and spirited parents and
young men prepared to do the work…….
The GAA support the Club in their efforts and
will help them financially when the oppor-
tunity offers…..
The work the Club is planning to undertake
goes far beyond the immediate needs of a
cultural and sports organization. It embraces
the social, cultural and physical needs of the
present and future young people of their area
both at their present age levels and when
they grow to young manhood…………”,
Scór
Seán ó Síocháin speaking at a Naomh Barróg Function 1978
Truly incredible”.
Damian O‟Connor is a Quantity Surveyor
living and working in Dubai for the past five
years. His family originally lived on St Mar-
garet‟s Ave. He attended Scoil Eoin and cap-
tained the team to a great win in 1990 when
the school team beat St Brigid‟s NS
Blanchardstown in Corn Chumann na nGael
Div 1 Final in Croke Park. After Scoil Eoin he
attended St Joseph‟s CBS in Fairview. His
father Tony O‟Connor was a loyal member of
our Club for many years managing teams and
involved on committees. Damian loves to get
our e-Newsletter and sharing the following
memories with us.
“Just a short note to say thank you for the
Newsletter. The background to the founda-
tion of the Club and the history of the Commu-
nity is really interesting.
My own memories of Naomh Barróg start with
being brought by my Dad to the Official Open-
ing of Páirc Bharróg in September 1984. I
think Dublin played Meath. Well that and you
halting a class lesson in Scoil Eoin to give us
34 odd and slightly bewildered 11 year olds‟ a
detailed lecture on how the drainage system
on the main pitch worked! Your pride was
infectious. Playing wise we had our moments.
Winning a schools cup in Croke Park with
Scoil Eoin, thanks to Mick Deering‟s scores
and Bernard Harris‟s spectacular goal line
save (Our goalkeeper John Paul Martin had
gone walk about) gave us memories that will
last a life time. On the Club front we were
reasonably successful during our u12 to u16
period. I think we won u13, u14 and u16
leagues under your expert management along
with Bill O‟Neill and Alan Martin. At one stage
because of constant fixture clashes, a few of
us who were playing soccer for Stella Maris
had to decide whether to stick with playing for
Barróg or pursue our dreams of wealth and
fame with the “foreign sport”. I think I lasted
about six months away. There‟s a difference
between playing for a team and being a mem-
ber of your parish Club.
Despite all of the above when I read your
Newsletter and recall my memories of Barróg
it‟s not the games, goals or freezing cold Sat-
urday mornings that springs to mind. It‟s that
men like yourself, Bill O‟Neill, Alan Martin,
Seán Murphy, John Kiernan, Pat Ryan, Mick
Featherston, Austin Seagrave, Dave Fitzger-
ald Denis Dunne, Jim Butler, Noel Lonergan
and Joe Potter (miraculous procurer of Dubs
tickets) among others, gave your time to
coach us so freely and with such enthusiasm.
This enthusiasm might not have always been
reciprocal but the qualities you all tried to.
Instill in us about respect, discipline, loyalty
and sportsmanship might not have been ap-
preciated by a gang of unruly 15 year olds,
but they‟re understood and accepted today.
The odd time I get home and wander down to
the Club, I hear the same values now being
taught to my nieces by many of the same
faces, 30 years after it all started for me.
Memory Lane
Jim Butler was one of the founder members of
Naomh Barróg when he attended the first meet-
ing in Scoil Lorcáin when the new Club was
being formed in 1974. Jim‟s love for hurling was
legendary and he was one of the main motivators
for the introduction of hurling into the Club. He
was a gifted coach who was responsible for so
many young boys getting to know and love the
game. Under his management and coaching
skills the Club was to experience many success-
es and memorable occasions over the years.
This love for hurling began in his native and
beloved Kilkenny, He was born in the town land
of Shanbough, Rosbercon in 1933 across the
Barrow River from New Ross. Jim‟s two sisters
and himself attended the local National School in
Shanbough where his mother was one of the
teachers. In Kilkenny in those years the County
Council offered two scholarships to assist young
boys financially to attend Secondary School. Jim
was one of the successful candidates and won a
Scholarship to attend the prestigious Good
Counsel Augustinian College in New Ross, Wex-
ford as a boarder. Jim represented the school in
football and hurling and lost an u18 Leinster
Football Colleges Final in 1952 v Knockbeg
College, Carlow?
Jim played football and hurling for his local Club,
called Tullogher and played Senior football at 16
years. He tells a story about reaching the Kilken-
ny Minor Football County Final when his Club
played Kilmaganey. Jim described the game as
„warfare‟. The match was played on a Saturday.
At that game the Manager from a team called
Insurgents from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford was
present. He asked Jim and two other players
from Tullogher would they tog out on the Sunday
to play in the Wexford County Final. Jim and the
two lads obliged and were delighted because
they knew there would be a great feast after-
wards. Jim and his two friends made history that
weekend, playing in a Kilkenny and Wexford u18
County Final. They lost both finals.
The skullduggery that went on in the GAA in
those days was legendary! (To be continued in
Issue 14)
Profile: Jim Butler
Page 4 24th August 2014
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Jim Butler former Secretary of Naomh Barróg