Club Folklore & History
Formed in 1887 Portlaoise GAA Club has a long, rich and varied history with many stories to be told and events to be remembered and saved for posterity.
Over time the club will be adding more of these important historical items to the site.
Sources for these stories come from club members past and present as well as from the invaluable books about the club including Peter O’Neill’s book Portlaoise G.A.A. ‘One moment in time’ – A Pictorial Collection of “The Town” 1887 – 2013 and Teddy Fennelly and Brian Delaney’s Portlaoise G.A.A. 1887-2016 C’Mon The Town, and Pat Critchley’s 2008 book “Hungry Hill”.
Teddy Fennelly remembers 72
Teddy Fennelly Snr remembers the first Leinster win for Portlaoise on the 50th anniversary of the great win agains Athlone.
Larry McEvoy remembers the Portlaoise club of old
Larry was a dedicated follower of Portlaoise teams all his long life as, indeed, were all his family. His father trained the town hurlers to win their first senior championship in 1928.
The road to 1964
Teddy Fennelly Snr describes his personal journey to the clubs first Senior title in 57 years in 1964.
Bill Phelan – A Tribute
Bill and I soldiered together through most of our lives. Of the same age we went through the CBS to Leaving Cert in the same classes and had similar interests especially regarding GAA. The games were an important part of school life with Bro. O’Mahoney taking a particularly keen interest in preparing us for competitions.
The Rovers … a once great club
SLIOTHAIRS again slap on ash in Rathleague—after a pause of six decades or more. It’s a sound that evokes thoughts of a once great GAA club, The Rovers, that, alas, is fast fading from living memory.
C’Mon “D” Town!
Current Rathleague Groundsperson and avid Town supporter Liam Breen describes his time supporting “D” Town.
The Great Town Team of the 1980’s
Pat Delaney describes the emergence of Portlaoise as a Hurling power house in the late 70s and 80s.
Interview with James ‘Jas’ O’Reilly
Player, selector, administrator and fund raiser. The Portlaoise great Jas O’Reilly.
A Goalie’s Tale
I sometimes get asked “when did you first get
involved in the GAA?” and I often respond that
“my grandfather captained Galway to win the
Football All-Ireland in 1938, so I think I got
involved in the GAA about thirty years before I
was born!”
The Move
In the Summer of 1998 Portlaoise Senior Hurlers were in the midst of their preparations for a senior Hurling Championship game. Seamus “Cheddar” Plunkett was our manager then and, as the Players togged out in the dressing room, he was pacing the side of the main pitch waiting for a juvenile football match to finish so he could set out his cones and drills.
Relocation put on hold
“Portlaoise GAA in Turmoil” – This was a front page headline no club would wish to see in their local paper.
Development sub-committee formed
At an extraordinary general meeting of the club in July 2005 it was decided to allow a sub-committee explore all the development options open to them including a possible sale of their grounds at Fr. Browne Avenue and the development of a bigger site in the town.
A Home for The Town
There was a press conference held in the Killeshin Hotel in March 1978 revealing future developments of the club. The main speaker was Con Murphy the President of the GAA.
First Leinster Club Success
December has been a happy month for Portlaoise in Leinster Senior Club football. We’ve won 4 of our 7 in December.
Victories over Skryne in 2004, Garrycastle in 2009, Parnells in 1988 and Baltinglass in 1985.
Tom Flynn Pays Tribute to the Men of 66
Tom Flynn pays tribute to the men of 1966 who brought the county title back to the Town.
Tom Flynn Pays Tribute to the Men of 64
Tom Flynn pays tribute to the men of 1964 who won the Laois football title for the first time in 57 years.
The Game That Changed History
After fifty seven years, Portlaoise finally regained the championship trophy with a narrow victory over Graiguecullen, 1 – 5 to 0 – 7, the first title in the grade since 1907.
The Magpies
An edited version of a poem attributed to “Little Sport”, which was contributed along with other items by a lifetime Portlaoise supporter living in Dublin, Joe Scully, formerly from Borris Road, who hails from a family steeped in the “Town” GAA tradition.
1928 – First Senior Hurling Title
A report detailing Portlaoise’s first Laois Senior Hurling win in 1928.
Tom Flynn Pays Tribute to the Men of 58
Tom Flynn pays tribute to the men of 1958 who won the Laois football title only for it to be taken away on appeal in Portlaoise Courthouse.
Leinster win of 1889
Teddy Fennelly Snr writes about the first Leinster provincial title won for Laois by the men from Portlaoise (Maryborough)
