Cartlann Digiteach Cuala was recently shown this fascinating picture of an 1886 GAA medal. The holder has asked for Cuala’s help in learning more about the club whose name it bears –  “Dunleary GAA 1886“.

Now we know that Cuala draws its ‘pedigree’ from a variety of clubs that existed throughout the old ‘borough’ (See Who do you think you are) but we’ve never been able to identify how this particular team was, if at all, linked to Cuala. Here’s what we know –

The name Dunleary was the earliest name for the tiny village that was to grow into the modern town of Dun Laoghaire. Based originally around the present day Purty Kitchen, the modern town expanded rapidly in the 18-19th century, was re-named Kingstown in 1821(in honour of the visit from King George IV). Its hardly surprising that clubs founded on the principle of promoting gaelic culture would continue to deploy the older name.  In fact, by 1920 this native identity had grown to such an extent that Kingstown changed its name to the original gaelic form of Dunleary – Dún Laoghaire (The Fort of Leary).

But back in 1866, “Dunleary” was one of just 8 clubs affiliated to the then fledgling Dublin Board. These were Metropolitans, Davitts, Faughs, Freeman’s Journal Hurling, Drapers Apprentices, Grocers Assistants, Golden Ball and Dunleary. Interestingly, the latter two were the only ones based in specific localities. Later that year, a “JJ Cullen” from Dunleary was elected to the Dublin Board as was a “JJ Reilly” from Loughlinstown.

We reported previously of players from Dunleary  being present at a monster tournament in Thurles on Easter Sunday 1886. Dublin football was represented by Faughs, Davitts, Bray Emmets and Dunleary (the official programme may have mentioned “Kingstown”). The only Dublin hurling team there on the day was Metropolitans. Might the medal have been set to commemorate the Dunleary men’s participation in that seminal event? We’re not so sure – because one would imagine such a medal would bear some reference to the tournament itself or its hosts, Thurles Sarsfields.  Similar tournaments were held in and around Dublin that year but we know of no event hosted or organised by Dunleary.

Glasthule Mitchels (Image courtesy of Joe Dodd, Author "Soccer in the Borough)

Glasthule Mitchels (Image courtesy of Joe Dodd, Author “Soccer in the Borough)

Dunleary GAA was still going strong in 1887  and by now had local company with the likes of Dalkey (Football), Geraldines (Cabinteely), Killiney and, wait for it, Mitchels. Based in Glenageary/Glasthule, Mitchels was probably one of the reasons why “our” St Begnets GAA was re-named Dalkey Mitchels in 1962. The Glasthule version was active until at least 1917 when the transfer of Thomas Cassidy to St Begnets GAA was sanctioned.

By 1888, Dunleary’s JJ Cullen was appointed GAA Records Secretary. And another local resident JF Meagher was appointed Dublin Treasurer. After that, the Club name seems to disappear only to return several years later in various guises.  e.g.

  • Dunleary United – of which we know very little.
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    Dunleary Commercials (Image courtesy of Joe Dodd, Author “Soccer in the Borough”

    Dunleary Commercials – Founded by Patrick Moran, their name suggests that they drew players from shops and other businesses in the 19th century town. This is all the more likely since Chairman Moran was a Grocers Assistant in Georges Street and later moved to manage a similar business in Blackrock. But it was their later involvement in what was to become a pivotal event in GAA history that made them remarkable. It is reported that, having qualified for the final of the Dublin Intermediate Championship, their match was was played as the “warm-up” game before an Inter-County Challenge match between Dublin & Tipperary in Jones’ Road.  The date – Sun. 21 Nov 1920 – Bloody Sunday!  Patrick Moran was executed in 1921 and the club was subsequently renamed in his honour. In 1962, there was discussions between Cuala Boys and Dun Laoghaire Commercials about a possible merger. In the event, Cuala was advised by L. Warren (a founder of Cuala Boys ) that “he was disbanding Commercials when present engagements were completed and handing over the boys to the Cuala Club“.   However it would seem that Commercials/Patrick Morans  later merged with Foxrock Geraldines.  Many of their original adult players were accomplished in other sports and, whether because of “the Ban” or otherwise, many, alongside players from Glasthule Mitchels, moved on to form the famous Glasthule-based Edenville Soccer Club.

  • hist_dunleary_daniel_oconnels

    Dunleary Daniel O’Connell’s (Image courtesy of Joe Dodd, Author “Soccer in the Borough”

    Dunleary Daniel O’Connell’s .  The club was formed in 1909 and had a meteoric rise in Junior Football winning the 1910-11 League and, in the following year, playing Senior Championship Football. Kitted out in Black & Scarlett, their success on the field was remarkable; by December 1910, they has accumulated 30 goals & 118 points out of just 11 matches – a record that stood from the formation of the League in May 1901. O’Connells enjoyed significant support in the town and the club were in the habit of arranging special trams for away matches. The spectators at home games were sometimes entertained by a local band.  Their home games were played in Mr Field’s field on Monkstown Avenue (present-day Sailors & Soldiers Field) and at “Adelaide Road” which was actually the modern (former Pres.) grounds at Glasthule. Read more here.

  • Dunleary Independents, a breakaway Club formed following a split in 1890’s from the then Cabinteely Geraldines. Incidentally, what remained of the Cabinteely club went on to become our good neighbours, Geraldine Patrick Morans (having merged in the 1970’s with the Blackrock-based Patrick Moran’s GAA).

So, as yet, we know that Dunleary GAA existed but we still cant say what, if any, roots they contributed to the great Cuala family tree.  Cartlann Digiteach Cuala would love to know more.  Can you help?


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Cartlann Digiteach Cuala (Cuala Digital Archive) was established in 2009 to assemble an on-line archive of images, stories and memorabilia relating to Cuala and its ‘ancestral’ clubs.
If you have any information or material to share with us, please contact –
Michael Goodwin, +353 (0) 87 2266140,  history@cualagaa.ie
Contributors can be assured that all material will be kept safe, treated with care and returned promptly.  
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