| Rath an Iuir | |||||||||||||
| Founded: | 1931 | ||||||||||||
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| County: | Wexford | ||||||||||||
| Club colours: | Black and amber | ||||||||||||
| Grounds: | Nicky Rackard Park | ||||||||||||
| Playing kits | |||||||||||||
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| Senior Club Championships | |||||||||||||
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Rathnure St. Anne’s is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Rathnure, County Wexford, Ireland. Rathnure's most famous players are the Rackards and Quigley brothers.
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At a meeting in Rathnure in the year 1931, Rathnure St. Anne's GAA Club was founded. Founder members on that night were Pat Byrne, James O'Leary, Pat Doyle, Thomas Murphy, Nick Mernagh, Denis Brennan and Master O'Rielly. Also on the night, the meeting was attended by two 14 year old boys Mikey Redmond and Ned Caulfield. The first Chairman of the club was Mr. Hugh O'Rielly, the first Secretary was Pat Byrne and the first Treasurer was Pat Doyle.
In its first year in existence, Rathnure fielded in junior hurling. However success in terms of championship medals was slow, but more important players were given the opportunity to play their native game, a game that was eventually to flourish in the parish of Rathnure. From the outset great interest was aroused in the club, and it gradually grew in strength both from a players and a supporters point of view. After just seven years in existence Rathnure finally succeeded in making that magical breakthrough to a County Final. This was in the junior grade and with many young hurlers in the team it augured well for the future of the club. In this final Rathnure were opposed by St. Fintan's, the south Wexford club with a tremendous hurling reputation, a club that had many fine achievements to its credit up to then. This match was described as the hurling spectacle of the year and signalled the arrival of Rathnure as a hurling force in the model county. The final score was St. Fintan's 4-5 Rathnure 5-0.
The following year, Rathnure were represented again in the county junior hurling final. This time however, it was a winning one and proved a historic breakthrough for the club. A member of that history making team was Nicky Rackard, a man who was to lead both club and county to historic victories in the ensuing years. In the final Rathnure defeated Horeswood by 6-1 to 1-2. The winners were never seriously challenged and proved the superior team in every aspect of the game, with Nicky Rackard coming off with two splendid goals to his credit.
1941 was Rathnure's first year in senior hurling ranks and it is notable that the club has fielded in the Wexford Senior Hurling Championship every other year to date, a feat not equalled by any other club in the county and very few in Ireland. In 1948 Rathnure St. Anne's won our first of 20 Wexford Senior Hurling Championships. There were celebrations lasting for a full week after that County Final. Further victories came in 1950, '55, '61, '67, '71, '72, '73, '74, '77, '79, '80, '86, '87, '90, '96, '98, '02, '03 and 2006. Following 6 of the above county successes, Leinster Club titles were also won.
Other titles won over the years include Senior football, Intermediate hurling, Junior A & B football, Junior A hurling (3), Junior B hurling (3), U21 hurling (9), including 6 in a row, Minor hurling (14), Juvenile hurling (14), Under 14 hurling (7), Under 12 hurling (3), All Ireland Feile na nGael, Minor football and U14 football.
Rathnure not only boasts of great achievements, but also of some hurling legends - Nicky, Billy & Bobby Rackard, Quigleys, Barrons, O' Connors, Codds, Redmonds, Morrisseys, John Conran, Jimmy Holohan and Fr. McDonald to mention just a few.
Nicky Rackard Park currently provide two full sized playing pitches and an underage pitch at Nicky Rackard Park catering for all ages of girls and boys. Our sports complex consists of 4 full sized dressing rooms, squash court, fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and a well stocked GAA shop. The clubhouse also contains a very historic trophy and meeting room dedicated to the great Syl Barron.