Young Irelands Gaelic Football Club Sydney
Formed in 1969, the club has had a chequered 40 seasons. Winning both League and championships in 1970, our next championship wins were in 1978, '80, '81, '84, '88, '90, '91, '93 and '94. League wins were in 1983, '84, '87, '89, '90, '91, '92, and '93 The club has had it's tragedies with the deaths of Seamus Dowling, Tom Kearney, Cormac McIlroy and James McGirr. R.I.P. All were outstanding footballers and club members. They are commemorated annually when the NSW GAA present their trophies. Seamus Dowling (Championship), Tom Kearney (League) and James McGirr (Inter Provincial).The club has promoted our native game at all levels from under 10 years to adult, enjoying many successes down through the years. In 1971, Young Ireland won the only Australian interstate club game defeating Young Irelands Melbourne in Wagga Wagga. In 1989 Young Irelands became the first GAA Club IN THE WORLD to wear our sponsor's name on its jersey. Mike Hughes Finance still supports the club and the company logo on our gold jerseys has been there ever since. In 1990, we played a curtain-raiser against Wolftones Melbourne in Canberra before the Ireland-Australia Test. A great moment for the club Since 2000 Young Ireland's have dominated the gaelic football landscape in NSW, winning championships in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007and being narrowly defeated in 2004 which would have made it an impressive six in a row. In 2005 it was decided by the committee that club needed a recognisable identity so it employed the talents of Donegal native Debbie Gallagher who came up with the crest below. The crest is used on all of our club merchandise including jerseys, polo-shirts and bags 
2007 was the clubs most succesful on the field when we won all gaelic football competitions entered in New South Wales.This is an achievement unmatched by any other club in N.S.W. history. Below is that record breaking squad. 
2008 was a year of transition for the club with it losing a large number of players from the teams core over the last number of years. Despite this Young Irelands fielded strong teams in all competitions making the finals of three of the five it entered. We narrowly missed out on making it four championships in a row Lets hope 2009 is another bumper year for the famous green and gold. Young Irelands Abu!! |
