Cuala is the ancient name for the area of land which comprised much of South Co. Dublin and North Co. Wicklow. One of the five roads which converged on prehistoric Tara when it was the seat of the Kingship in Ireland, ran via the now Dun laoghaire/Rathdown County area, through, Wicklow into North Co. Wexford and was called Sli Cualann, ie. The Cuala Way.We still follow the Cuala Way. Following the demise of the first Cuala Hurling Club in the 1920's, of which a team photograph with relatives of current Cuala players survives, Gaelic games remained unorganised and neglected in Dalkey until the late 1950's.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuiochas a ghabhail le gach duine a chabhraigh liom i scriobh na staire seo. Ma ta botuin ann ba mhaith liom iad a cheartu.
Colman O Drisceoil

Cumann Camogaiochta Naomh Mhuire
Cumann Camogaiochta Naomh Mhuire (Camogaiocht) was founded in 1948. It was based in Sallynoggin but played its matches in the Phoenix Park. Later the club started playing in Sallynoggin.

In 1972 the Club associated with Cuala Casements. In 1982 the Naomh Mhuire name was discarded leaving just Cuala. The Senior B League and Championship were won in 1975 and again in 1985. More than ten players have played for Dublin and Leinster. A Cuala player has also captained the county team.

A Junior Football section was formed in 1959. Access to Hyde Park was eventually gained on 12th November 1961 when U-13 and Junior Hurling matches were played. On 6th January 1962, Dun Laoghaire Borough Council voted to remove the wall at Hyde Park and when it was demolished over a year later, the pitch as it is today began to take place.

In the summer of 1964 it was decided to build the present dressing rooms in Hyde Park. Work commenced on the property without any permission. The Corporation eventually stopped the project, but after lengthy meetings permission was secured for the dressing rooms beside the pitch.

During the 60's Dalkey Mitchell's grew in strength. In 1967 the Junior Hurling Championship was won. The Intermediate Championship final was lost the following year. In 1969 Dalkey Mitchell's were promoted to the Senior Hurling League, the first ever Senior Hurling Team in South County Dublin.

Members of the Cuala Boys were drawn mainly from Dun Laoghaire C.B.S. They competed in the Dublin League when they proved too strong for the local opposition. Their colours were blue with a white collar. The first set of jerseys were bought with the proceeds of a raffle, the prizes for which were; a transistor radio, a ladies or gents bicycle and a quarter ton of coal. Tickets were 3d. each or five for a shilling. Most homes in Sallynogging subscibed.

Roger Casements
Roger Casement's were formed in 1966 to cater for minors. Some of those involved came from Cuala Boys and others from Dalkey Mitchell's. Dalkey Mitchell's presented the club with "twelve hurls as a gesture of goodwill". They wore red and white. In 1967 they were beaten in the M.H.C. Final.

Cuala Casements
In the Autumn of 1967 Cuala Boys and Roger Casements amalgamated to become Cuala Casements. Red and white became the predominant colours. On the 19th of January 1968 the Cuala Bingo began in the Astoria Hall, Glasthule, now the Forum Cinema. It later moved to the Assembly Hall in Dun Laoghaire. For years it was the main source of income for the club. That same year the U.15 Hurling Championship was won and the Sallynoggin Pavilion, built by the parents of the players, was opened on the 15th of September.

A newspaper report from 1969 states that there was "no shortage of players...however it is difficult to get suitable, competent officals to look after all the teams and generally it is the same four or five". A unique treble was also achieved in 1969 with the U.15, U.16 and U.18 Hurling Championships. It was "a hell of a run". Sallynoggin was the only hurling pitch available to the club at this time. The club fielded "a bit of a Junior Hurling team".

The years 1970-72 also saw three U.21 Hurling Championship finals in a row being lost. In 1971 the Warwickshire Juvenile Board visited Cuala with a party of 30 players. Summer Leagues were organised in which the "the oranisers wish to emphasise that this competition takes second place to events such as Scout outings, Cubs Altar Boys etc". 1972 saw the J.H.C won by the club for the first time with a 3-10 to 0-11 victory over St. Vincents. It has been won three more times since then. The J.H.L was also won that year. Bingo was in the Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire. At this time the club adopted a policy of dealing with hurling exclusively until the players were 14 years old.

Cuala
In January 1974, following discussions, Cuala Casements and Dalkey Mitchells amalgamated to form Cuala G.A.A. Club. During this period a plan was prepared ans presented for turning 7 acres of Kilbogget Refuse site into a G.A.A. complex and family centre. The G.A.A. had promised support for the scheme, though the £300,000 mentioned in the newspapers at the time was a bit optimistic. The plan was rejected by Dun Laoghaire Corporation.

In 1976 the I.H.C. was won bringing the club into the Senior ranks for the first time. This was the year in which the Hall on Hyde Road in Dalkey was bought for £24,000 from the dormant Dalkey Boxing Club. The hall had been built by local initiative, each house in the area paying for one brick.

Fas agus Forbairt
In 1976 the S.H.L. Division 2 was won and again in 1981 and 1990. Winning the Boland Cup in 1986 was the beginning of a great run for the hurlers which has continued to this day. The S.H.C was won for the first time in 1989 when the team reached the Leinster Club Final. The team also won the Division 1 League that year. The S.H.C. was won in 1991 and, of course for the third time in 1994.

The J.H.C. was won again in 1977, 1985, and 1993. In 1976 the U.21 F.C. and U.21 League were won by the footballers. A year later the Junior Team won the Conlon Cup. In 1978 the J.F.C. was won. The S.F. team won Division 3 of the League in 1980 and 1984. Division 3 of the J.F. League had been won in 1980. The S.F.C. final was lost to Parnells in 1988.

An tIonad Soisialta
During the summer of 1985 the Club Social Centre was opened. This provides a valuable social outlet for club members and associates and also produces revenue to fund club activities. It is discreetly placed behind the hall, so discreetly that it seems many members have problems finding it!! Club members work voluntarily to maintain the Social Centre.

An Faiche Nua
Another milestone in providing facilities was reached in December 1989 when the redeveloped Dalkey Pitch was opened, hosting a challenge between Dublin and Galway S.F. teams. The pitch was levelled, drained and reseeded.
Cuala also have the use of pitches in Shankill, Sallynoggin, Meadowvale and Dalkey.

Tuairim
We have a long, proud tradition. Apart from our own successes we have had players on county, provincial and national teams who have won many major honours. Cuala referees have also reached the top level. We have provided delegates and officers to the County Board who were democratically elected to the higest positions. This reflects well, primarily on the individuals involved, but to some extent on the club also.

Just as important as those referred to heretofore are the small people, those who perform small, seemingly unimportant tasks, but without which the club couldn't function and those who play wihtout any hope of winning a Senior Championship medal. A mamager who takes on a "no-hoper Team" has to put in just as much work as any other mamager. Spouses who suffer patiently shouldn't been forgotten. The "small people" are just as important as anyone else.

These are people still involved in Cuala who were there from the very beginning. For various reasons a lot who were at one time active in the club have opted out and some have gone to other clubs. We wish them well and thank them for the time they gave to Cuala. They will always be part of the extened Cuala family.

Colman O Drisceoil

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