History of Kilworth GAA Club
From records dating back to early September 1928, the concept of establishing an officially registered Gaelic games club in the area was first proposed when a Mr. Birmingham from Mount Rivers, Kilworth wrote to the 4-year-old North Cork GAA divisional committee seeking information regarding the registration of a football team in the district. Following this enquiry the committee unanimously agreed to accept Kilworth as an affiliated club once the necessary requirements had been fulfilled. Kilworth played numerous tournaments and challenge games throughout this year which included Mitchelstown, Ballyduff, and Kilbehenny, but it was not until 1929 under the Chairmanship of Thomas Ryan, Secretary John Lomasney, and Treasurer Denis Connors that the first official game as an affiliated club took place, when on Sunday May 26th, 1929, at Kildorrery, Kilworth wearing the clubs original colours of green and gold contested Mitchelstown in the first round of the North Cork Junior Football Championship. The following report was published in the wake of Kilworth’s first ever championship match.
“On Sunday last at Kildorrery, Mitchelstown and Kilworth teams met in the first round of the Junior Football Championship. The day although rather foggy, with a thick mist falling in the morning, turned out very fine in the afternoon. During the progress of the match a brilliant sun shone out from a cloudless sky, with the heat being tempered by a slight refreshing breeze. The game did not reach the usual high standard of play associated with football championships, but now and then throughout the hour some interesting bouts were witnessed. Both teams were pretty evenly balanced, but some individual play was responsible for winning the game for Mitchelstown. The local hurling club had the field arrangements in perfect order.
Kilworth won the toss and played with a slight breeze in their favour. They were the first to open the scoring by hoisting the white flag. Again, their opponents were called upon to defend, which they did and cleared effectively. From the delivery Mitchelstown got going and sent in a major, to be shortly followed by a similar score. Continuing the pressure Mitchelstown were met with a stout resistance, and after repeated efforts to score the ball eventually went wide. At this stage of the game a Mitchelstown player named O’Hea had to retire injured, having sustained a fractured rib. A substitute was provided, and play was resumed, when Kilworth got a free close in, and after a short struggle were rewarded with a goal. Shortly after the short whistle went, leaving the score; Mitchelstown, 2 goals – Kilworth, 1 goal 1 point.
Resuming, after the interval, Mitchelstown attacked but sent the ball wide. Renewing the attack again from the kick out, this time it resulted in a point. The ball was now transferred to Mitchelstown territory which the latter cleared and again sending it all the way for another goal. Alternate wides was the order of the play for the next few minutes, until Mitchelstown finally shot another point. Kilworth now assumed the offensive, and after some brilliant play brought off a goal. Subsequently they forced their opponents to concede a “50”, but this was foiled. Mitchelstown however, annexed another point before the final whistle went, thus leaving the score; Mitchelstown 3 goals 3 points – Kilworth 2 goals 1 point. Mr. M.F. Thornhill (Oldcastletown Intermediate hurling club) refereed.”
It wasn’t however until 1932 that permission was obtained by the Department of Defence to use the old British Army soccer pitch as a GAA ground which was rented annually at a cost of £1. The soccer pitch was originally developed by the British Royal Engineers who were stationed in Moore Park at that time, and they must be acknowledged for the efforts that were carried out to make the current playing field the success that it is today. The painstaking process involved meticulously raising the sod and rolling it back, with the undersurface then levelled and cindered before finally replacing the sod.
Four years later the clubs first hurling team was registered and on Sunday July 16th, 1933, at 4.30pm, Kilworth took to the field of play as an affiliated hurling team and yet again contested Mitchelstown in the first round of the North Cork Junior Hurling, B grade Championship. Played in Kilworth with both clubs minor football teams providing a curtain razor, Kilworth came up triumphs on this occasion only to fall victim to Shanballymore on their next outing. The following match report was published upon Kilworth’s first ever championship hurling match.
“Junior Hurling – Kilworth 3-6, Mitchelstown 3-3. The above junior teams, B grade, in the hurling championship, North Cork division met at Kilworth last evening. The game was well contested for the full hour with both teams giving their best to secure a further passage in this grade. Although the boys from the Galtee district put up a strenuous fight, they went under to the youngsters from the banks of the Funcheon. Kilworth team; T. Doran, P. Flynn, M. Pearse, J. Pearse, D. Pearse, M. Howard, M. Bermingham, E. Forde, W. Meehan, T. Carey, E. Finn, J. Barrett, T. Condon, P. Forde, & H. Forbes. Mr. T. Barry refereed.”
In 1959, the year of the sub-division of Moore Park, the present field was purchased from the Land Commission with Bill Magnier, Pad Coughlan and John Finn (all RIP), named as trustees. Fast forward 10 years and the energetic club committee unveiled exciting plans to develop modern, spacious dressing rooms each fitted with 4 showers, together with a referees room and fully functional toilets adjacent to the playing field costing a whopping £2,000 with a further £1,200 to spend on the field development. Once constructed the new dressing room development, would see Kilworth become the first club in North Cork to have dressing rooms and showers fully equipped with both hot and cold showers. Gone would be the days of “Togging off” behind a ditch and washing from a bucket of cold water!
At a divisional board meeting held in the Parochial Hall, Doneraile in October 1969, a letter was read from the Kilworth club seeking a grant from the board towards the dressing room erection and field improvements. Following this meeting, a grant of £100 was approved with the late Rev. Fr. Burns, C.C. extending the clubs sincere thanks to the board adding that the divisional board had given as much as the county board and GAA councils combined to the project and that this is indeed a significant reflection on them.
The club pushed ahead with the project spearheaded by club Chairman William Magnier, Hon. Secretary Sean O’Callaghan, and Hon. Treasurer John Finn (all RIP), with financial support coming through subscriptions from the local public, grants and raffles. The majority of the work was carried out by voluntary labour with 2 local Kilworth builders, Messrs. Larry Howard and Pad O’ Brien (both RIP) co-operating with the club throughout the project. Christy Lucey, Tim Long, Mick Greehy, Mick Hogan, and Bill Coughlan (all RIP), to name a few also contributed considerably.
Upon completion the Kilworth venue, which has been noted as being one of the best in the division and county, set a glowing headline in pioneering a laudable movement which showed appreciation to all teams visiting its amenities. Such was the success that on Thursday June 1st, 1972, Kilworth hosted an Inter-County Senior Hurling challenge match between Cork and Kilkenny in an event to mark the official blessing and opening of the grounds and dressing rooms. John Carey (RIP) club Chairman presided with Rev. P. Condon (Parish Priest) conducting the blessing ceremony. Derry Gowen (RIP), Chairman of the Cork County Board performed the opening ceremony who in his short address said that the spirit which animated and inspired the members of the Kilworth club was the same spirit by which the GAA rallied the people of Ireland in difficult times. Following this the Thomas Kent Pipe Band provided entertainment to the spectators before the headline event commenced, with Kilworth native John Hogan lining out at wing back. Cork, however, didn’t seem too inspired by the ceremony beforehand and failed to ignite! With both sides fielding skeleton selections, and although Ray Cummins did take to the field in the second half and level proceedings, Kilkenny ran out winners on a final scoreline of 5.11 to 3.08.
In 1991 the club under the Chairmanship of Mossy McNamara together with the support from the community council negotiated the purchased sale of land from Dairygold and developed the second pitch. It soon became evident that space to tog out before matches and training was limited with all the expanding teams and ever-increasing number of players on the books.
1996 saw the introduction by the club of a highly successful 3-month development draw held in March, April and May which net £25,000. The proceeds were used for the erection of poles and high-rise netting behind the 4 goals with the remainder set aside towards the dressing room expansion project. The new expansion plans would see the building renovated to increase the number of dressing rooms to 4, along with extra toilet facilities and a large meeting room included in the design.
Another milestone was achieved by the club in 2002 with the completion of the 300-seater stand and team dugouts in the main pitch with the new stone wall main entrance and gates following in 2005. Following initial support from the Sports Capital Programme, the Munster Council, and a very successful Golf Classic, funding for the floodlighting of the second pitch and development of the winter training area was subsequently secured with the works completed in 2009 costing in excess of a quarter of a million euro.
It is a true testament to all the many hardworking club officials and members involved throughout the years that these amenities are the fruits of what we now see today.
The club has played host to many entertaining contests throughout the years including inter-county, divisional, club, college and challenge games with many a tale to be told. Whilst the dressing rooms have seen many a player, mentor and team embark through their doors, be-it on a winning, drawn or losing side, it’s safe to say that many a fond memory may be recalled. If only the walls could talk!
