Lámh Dhearg GAC

Not to be confused with Keady Lámh Dhearg Hurling Club in County Armagh.
Lámh Dhearg GAC
Lámh Dhearg CLG
Founded: 1903
County: Antrim
Nickname: The Lámhs/ Hannahstown
Colours: White and Red with red hand badge
Grounds: Páirc Lámh Dhearg
Coordinates: 54°35′17.84″N 6°02′17.47″W / 54.5882889°N 6.0381861°W / 54.5882889; -6.0381861Coordinates: 54°35′17.84″N 6°02′17.47″W / 54.5882889°N 6.0381861°W / 54.5882889; -6.0381861
Playing kits

Standard colours
Senior Club Championships

All Ireland Ulster
champions		 Antrim
champions
Football: - - 3

Lámh Dhearg is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based on the Upper Springfield Road in west Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was established in 1903 and plays Gaelic football, Ladies' Gaelic football, Handball and Hurling.

Lámh Dhearg

The club's name, Lámh Dhearg, is the Irish for Red Hand, referring to the traditional symbol of Ulster. The club's motto amongst its supporters is Lámh Dhearg Abú, an old war cry meaning 'Red Hand to Victory'.

History

In its infancy Lámh Dhearg was run by Art Magill who was also County Secretary and played in South Antrim Junior leagues. In the 40s their seven-a-side team were undefeated in 32 tournaments and the club organised popular sports days which even attracted top Irish athletes. In 1952 the club won its first silverware, the McKenna Ginley cup and the 60s was a glorious decade as the club progressed from division 6 to division 1. In 1971 wooden dressing rooms at Budore were blown up and in 1972 during a South Antrim football game against Dwyers, three players were wounded as machine gun fire was directed indiscriminately at players and spectators.

In 1967 the club won the Junior Football Championship and in 1971 they won the Senior Football Championship beating the Johnnies and in 1972 were runners up. The club have participated in the Senior football league since the mid 60s and have won 5 league titles in 1971, 1972, 1993, 1995 and 2004. And were runners up to Cargin in the 2003 League Final Play Off. In 1983 the seniors were narrow runners up in the Championship and in 2003 were beaten by St Gall’s in a Championship final replay. The club won the 1992 Under 21 Football Championship and were runners up in 1991, 2001 and 2003 deciders. The club won two Minor Football championships in 1988 and 1992 and were runners up in Minor Finals in 1987, 1991 and 1994.

In 1994 the club won the prestigious Letterkenny Seven a-side Tournament and won the Beringer Cup in 1995 and our reserve team won the All County Junior Championship in 1996 and the McDermott Cup in 1999 which included father Jim Herron (43) and son Michael (15). Over the years the club have a very proud tradition of players representing County Football teams at all levels. Past players and clubmen Frank Fitzsimmons (Sen) and Sean McElhatton have managed Senior County Football teams and Terry McCrudden was a selector in Brian White’s management team. Former players Frank Fitzsimmons (Senior), John McKiernan and Sean McQuillan have represented Ulster and J.P. O’Kane had the unique distinction of representing Ulster and Leinster and a Rest Of Ireland Select. Former players Jackie Duffy and Sean McElhaton won Ulster S.F.C. medals with Tyrone and Jackie Fitzsimmons won a Ulster S.F.C. medal with Down.

In Easter 1984 the club opened a new Prunty pitch with Floodlights and pavilion and have been very generous in allowing County and College teams as well as local clubs such as St John’s’ St Gall’s and Cushendall etc. to avail of their floodlights. The new facilities were a different class compared to previous pitches such as Budore, The Rock Pitch, The Bullring, Magill’s and Hamill’s fields etc. The social club has been a success in helping to finance the promotion and development of Gaelic games and maintaining our facilities and has provided our members and local community with many hours of entertainment and memories and produced very successful Ladies Darts and Pool Teams.

In 1985 hurling was revived under the inspiration of Kieran Megraw and Cork’s Fr John O’Donovan, who was curate in St Oliver Plunkett. In 1986 the club won the Junior Hurling Championship and Division 3 league title. Lámh Dhearg were runners-up in the Intermediate Hurling finals in 1995 and again in 2003, but won the Division 2 league title by beating Sarsfield's in a replay and achieved division one status for the first time. In 1992 the club won its only Minor Hurling Championship to date, and in 1999 it won the Ulster Minor 7 a-side tournament. It won the All County Junior title in 2002 and many players have represented the county at all levels. Ciaran Herron won Ulster Hurler of the Year in 2002, won RTÉ's Man of match award for his display against Wexford and was an All Star Nominee and was an all Star replacement to the States. He, along with his brothers Michael and Brendan, represented Ulster. Michael Herron was selected as 2007 County Hurler of the year. The club hosted Féile in 2000 (Knockbridge, County Louth) and in 2002 (Celbridge, County Kildare) and has established strong links with Celbridge, resulting in biannual exchange visits.

In 1992 the club won seven championships (including Senior, U-16, U-18 and U-21 Football; U-18 Hurling; South Antrim Football) three leagues (U-14 Div. 2 Hurling; U-16 Football, and South Antrim Division 2), also securing the Ulster GAA Writers' award for Club of the Year.

The Club has also a very strong Handball section and have progressed rapidly from Division 8 to Division 3 and have a successful record in achieving honours at County and Provincial levels. In 1998 in Cork, Brendan Herron won the All Ireland Under 16 titles and currently Kevin Holmes is All Ireland Colleges champion and Under 21 All Ireland Doubles champion. Ladies and girls football have recently started and hopefully will go from strength to strength..The club have consistently entered teams into the popular Scor competitions as we strive to enhance and promote our culture. In 1995 over 100 club members and families club went on a very successful and enjoyable three-week trip to Toronto, St Petersburg and Orlando.

The club have a strong tradition of a very vibrant youth policy with a strong emphasis on participation and quality coaching and can face the future with great optimism and will undoubtedly continue to be a leading club in the promotion and development of Gaelic games in Belfast and Antrim. Youth affairs are now co-ordinated by an energetic Coiste Na Nog Committee which was restructured in 2006. The club celebrated their centennial in 2003 with a successful programme of celebration events. The celebrations went very well such as a popular Family Fun Day, a Centenary Hurling Challenge game against Carey Faughs, fellow Centenary club using 1903 rules and A Journey through the archives. The club also sold over 300 Centenary Commemorative Polo T-Shirts designed by O’Neill’s Sportswear.

The highlight was a successful Centenary Reunion on Nov 29 in their clubrooms. Over 300 attended with members coming from all parts of Ireland and many friendships were renewed, memories relived and it was a night of great nostalgia. The celebrations concluded with a glittering and stylish sell out Centenary Gala Dinner in the Europa Hotel on Saturday 28 February 2004. In May 2004 Peter Canavan launched our Centenary Commemorative booklet produced by Paul Buchanan and Kieran Megraw to a packed clubrooms. In June 2007 we held our inaugural Family Fest, which turned out to be a very popular event and now will become an integral part of our comprehensive programme of events.

Honours

External links

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