| Na Piarsaigh | |||||||||
| Founded: | 1968 | ||||||||
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| County: | Limerick | ||||||||
| Colours: | Sky blue and white | ||||||||
| Grounds: | Páirc Uí Dromgúil, Elm Drive, Caherdavin | ||||||||
| Coordinates: | 52°40′15.43″N 8°40′7.01″W / 52.6709528°N 8.6686139°W | ||||||||
| Playing kits | |||||||||
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| Senior Club Championships | |||||||||
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Na Piarsaigh (Irish pronunciation: [n̪ˠə ˈpʲiəɾˠsˠiː], na PEER-see) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club situated on the north side of Limerick City, Ireland. It was founded in 1968. Following their 2-8 to 2-6 victory in the 2022 Limerick Intermediate Football Championship over Dromcollogher Broadford, Na Piarsaigh are one of four dual senior clubs in hurling and Gaelic football in Limerick. As of 2024, the club fields five adult teams three in hurling (senior, Intermediate & Junior) and two in football (Senior & Junior), the most of any club in Limerick.[citation needed]
History
[edit]Formation
[edit]Na Piarsaigh GAA Club was formed in early 1968. Its formation was initiated in the industrial boom time of the 1960s and the inaugural meeting was held in the Ardhú House Hotel on Tuesday 16 January 1968 when the attendance included Rev.Fr.J.Browne C.C and three officials of the Limerick County Board – Jackie O'Connell, chairman; Tom Boland, secretary and Mick O'Brien, treasurer.[citation needed]
Opening the meeting, Noel Drumgoole said that the attendance levels were heartening and an indication of the interest in the formation of the GAA club in the parish.[citation needed] He paid tribute to Treaty Sarsfields for their work in promoting Gaelic games on the north side of the city, but stressed that in view of the considerable housing development in areas such as Greystones, Highfield, Mayorstone, Clareview and Caherdavin a new club, which initially would cater solely for underage players, was a necessity.[citation needed]
Jackie O'Connell expressed his "delight" at the formation of the club and promised the full support of the county board. He outlined details of the various grants which were available for the purchase and development of a playing field and mentioned that consideration was given by the Central Council of the GAA, by way of additional grants to clubs in city areas.[citation needed]
Fr. Browne spoke at length on the importance of providing recreational facilities for the youth of the parish.[citation needed]
After several suggestions were made, it was unanimously agreed that the club would be called "Cumann Na Piarsaigh". It was agreed that, for 1968, the Na Piarsaigh club would enter teams in the City Bord na nÓg competitions in the under 14, 15 and 16 grades in both hurling and football. Street leagues and challenge games were also arranged.[citation needed]
Pending the purchase of land, the club decided to avail of the offer of a playing pitch in Caherdavin. In accordance with top level GAA policy, the meeting decided that Na Piarsaigh would emphasise social activities for the members and it was envisaged that a pavilion and Pitch and Putt course would also be included in their proposed pitch and complex.[citation needed]
Underage development
[edit]Na Piarsaigh's underage teams have had some successes at both divisional and county level.[citation needed] These include winning the U14 All Ireland Féile na nGeal Hurling Championship in 1984. The club's underage development program involves links with the local schools.[citation needed] Many of Na Piarsaigh's younger players attend Scoil Chríost Rí Caherdavin or John F. Kennedy memorial school. There is also a link to the local secondary school, Ardscoil Rís, with Na Piarsaigh players making contributions to the successful Dr. Harty Cup panels of 2010, 2011 and 2014.[citation needed]
21st century
[edit]In 2011, Na Piarsaigh won their first ever Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship.[1][2] In November 2015, Na Piarsaigh won their third Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship after a 2–18 to 2–11 win against Ballygunner in the final.[3][4][5] On St Patrick's Day, 2016 Na Piarsaigh won their first ever All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship beating Ruairí Óg, Cushendall 2–25 to 2–14 in Croke Park, becoming the first ever Limerick club to do so. In December 2022 Na Piarsaigh won the Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship beating Croagh-Kilfinny 1-19 to 0-14, earning promotion to the Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship for 2023 and are the only club in Limerick to field teams in both the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship & Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Honours
[edit]Hurling
- All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (1) – 2016[6]
- Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship (4) – 2011,[7][8] 2013,[9] 2015,[10] 2017[11]
- Limerick Senior Hurling Championship (8) – 2011,[12] 2013,[13] 2015.,[14] 2017,[15] 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023
- Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship (1) – 1994, 2022
- Limerick Junior Hurling Championship (2) – 1990, 2016
- Limerick Junior B Hurling Championship (1) – 1991
- Limerick Under-21 Hurling Championship (12) – 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Limerick Minor Hurling Championship (4) – 1989, 1992, 2011, 2016
- All Ireland Féile na nGael Championship (1) – 1984
Football
- Limerick Intermediate Football Championship (3) – 1975, 2014, 2022
- Limerick Junior A Football Championship (1) – 2006
- Limerick Under-21 B Football championship (1) – 2011
- Limerick Under-21 Football Championship (2) – 1973, 1997
- Limerick Minor Football Championship (2) – 1981, 1994
Notable players
[edit]Inter-county hurlers
[edit]- Damien Quigley (GAA Hurling All-Star Recipient 1994)
- Shane O'Neill – Former Na Piarsaigh hurling Manager
- Mike Casey
- Cathal King – Former club Hurling Captain
- William O'Donoghue – Current Club Hurling Captain (GAA Hurling All Star 2021)
- Shane Dowling (GAA Hurling All-Star Recipient 2014)
- David Breen
- Adrian Breen
- Kevin Downes
- Peter Casey ( GAA Hurling All Star 2021)
- Ronan Lynch
- Conor Boylan
- Jerome Boylan
Inter-county footballers
[edit]- Maurice Horan former Limerick Senior Football Manager
References
[edit]- ^ "Na Piarsaigh take hurling crown with thrilling finish". Irish Examiner. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- ^ "Na Piarsaigh win Munster title". Limerick Leader. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- ^ "Powerful Piarsaigh's blistering pace too much for tired Bridge". Irish Examiner. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) 4–14 Sixmilebridge 0-08". RTÉ Sport. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Stack leads Piarsaigh past weary 'Bridge". Irish Independent. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Immortality for Na Piarsaigh as Cushendall rue big-day flop". Irish Examiner. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Munster club decider ends all square". Irish Examiner. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ "Supersub Breen lends finishing touch to magnificent breakthrough for Na Piarsaigh". Irish Independent. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- ^ "Powerful Piarsaigh's blistering pace too much for tired Bridge". Irish Examiner. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Na Piarsaigh use grit and experience to wear down Ballygunner". Irish Examiner. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ "Late Na Piarsaigh surge sweeps aside Ballygunner in scrappy Munster final". Irish Independent. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "The famine finishes for Na Piarsaigh in fine style". The Irish Times. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ "Downes sets the tone for Na Piarsaigh to grind it out". Irish Independent. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Na Piarsaigh pounce late". Irish Examiner. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ "Limerick SHC final: Impressive Na Piarsaigh dispose of Kilmallock". Hogan Stand. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.