Faughs G.A.A. Club was founded at Easter 1885 under the Big Tree in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Its inaugural meeting was held in no. 4 Gardiners Row, the then home of Michael Cusack (now the Dergvale Hotel).

The first Club officers were:

Chairman: Larry O’Toole,
Secretary: George Washington
Treasurer: John Kennedy
Captain: Paddy Burke

When the Dublin County Board was formed in 1886, Larry O’Toole was on the committee. At this time Faughs, wearing colours amber and black played both hurling and football, took part in the first Dublin championships in 1887, and were winners of the Dublin football championship in 1889.

In January 1891 Faughs merged with the Davitts who like Faughs were mostly Spirit Grocers Assistants. As Faughs/Davitts in colours amber, black and blue, they won their first Dublin Senior hurling championship in 1892 and were beaten by Redmonds of Cork in the All-Ireland final in an unfinished match. The Faughs/Davitts coalition declined after that, as indeed did most clubs at the time due to the Parnell split?.

In 1895 a member of the original Faughs club Pat Cullen who was destined to lend invaluable aid to the spread of native games in Dublin, revived and reorganized the club with the assistance of Tim Gleeson, Jack Cleary and Tom Hogan who were also members of the original club. After 1895 Faughs became a hurling only club and adopted the colours of saffron and green which it has kept to the present day.

Prominent officers elected then were:
Chairman: Pat Cullen; Secretary: Ned Egan; Captain: Danny McCormack; Vice Captain: Tim Gleeson. These men held office for many years, laying the foundation and success of the club and spreading the popularity of the national pastime in the metropolis.

The early years of the 20^th Century proved to be very successful for the club, winning the first four senior championships in a row 1900 -1904, and another five before 1920. Big names throughout this period were Jack & Jimmy Cleary, Danny McCormack, Andy Harty, Jack & Will Connolly. Playing at fullback on the team that won the 1914 & 1915 championships was Harry Boland, famous for his part in the 1916 Rising and War of Independence. He was later killed in the Civil War.

The 4 in a row was again achieved in 1920 – 1923. Best year of all was 1920 when they won the Senior Championship & League, Intermediate Championship & League. The team led by Bob Mockler, the greatest midfielder of his time captured the All-Ireland title beating Cork in the final by six points. The final score was 4-9 to 4-3.

Included in this team were Jim Builder Walsh, the only man selected on all three Tailteann Games Ireland teams, Tommy Moore, Mick Neville, Martin Hayes, Tom Hayes, Jimmy Cleary, Ned Tobin, Bob Doherty and John Joe Callanan who would later captain Tipperary to beat Dublin in the 1930 All-Ireland final.

The next great era was from 1939 1952 when eight championships were won including two 3 in a row, 1939, 1941 and 1944 and 1946. These teams included many prominent inter county and inter-provincial players including the gifted and stylish Harry Grey, Ned Wade, Phil Farrell, Mick Butler, Terry Leahy, Mick Gill, Jim Mullane, Martin Quinn, Dan Canniffe, Charlie Downes, Jim Egan, Johnny Callanan, Dan Devitt, Murt O?Brien, Jim Prior, Mick Williams, Tony Herbert, Liam Cashin, Tom Fahy, Jack Sheedy and Tommy Boland.

A lean period was to follow, although winning four senior league titles in the interim, Faughs next senior championship success had to wait until 1970. Then they almost won five championships in a row! The beat St. Vincents in Croke Park to win the 1970 title. In May 1971 after a tremendous but gruelling game they were unlucky to be beaten by one point by Buffers Alley in the Leinster Club Championship. A few days later they were knocked out of the Dublin championship, again by a single point margin by Craobh Ciaran who went on to win their first Dublin title. (On the same day Buffers Alley were also knocked out of the Wexford championship).

Faughs won the next two county championships of 1972 & 1973 and reached the final in 1974 which they lost to Kilmacud Crokes by yes, one point. Helping in these victories were goalkeeper Mick O’Mahony, Paddy Spellman, Eamonn Long, Eamonn Rea, Liam White, Sean White, Mossie Walsh, John Hearne, Sean Buckley, Mick Kennedy, Billy Dwyer, John Conway, Willie Devitt, Colm Muldoon and Pat O’Neill. While still wearing the jersey as a substitute was the ever-green Timmy Maher, who had played on the Faughs team that won the Dublin Championship in 1952.

Two senior titles came in the 80’s, 1986 & 1987 with Joe Cunningham, Jim Lyng, Richie Reid, M. J. Ryan and the Newman brothers Martin & P.J. to the fore. Two more came in the 90s, 1992 & 1999 to bring the grand total of senior championships won to 31. Could this be a record? Blackrock of Cork also have 31 ? perhaps a joint record of senior championships won in any county.

From their foundation in 1885 up to 1949, Faughs trained in the Phoenix Park in the Fifteen Acres, Nine Acres, Polo Ground and beside the Hurling Ground or Army Ground, except for a short period in the winter of 1942 & 1943 when they moved out to Dolphin Park. From 1949 to 1958 they leased a ground in St. Anne’s Estate in Killester where they erected their own dressing rooms.

However following serious vandalising of these they moved back to the Phoenix Park to the original Fifteen Acres of the 1885 period. In 1972 training moved to Terenure College where the teams training facilities included the luxury of showers etc. until finally in 1981 they moved to the ground at Tymon North, Templeogue.

In the early days club meetings took place at various venues, including Pat Cullens premises at 27 Upper Ormond Quay, where Dublin Co. Board & Leinster Council meetings were also held. Later and for many years Tommy Moores premises in Cathedral Street was the home of Faughs. It was also the meeting place for all Gaels from all over Ireland attending matches at Croke Park.

From the early 1960?s Stephen Bourke’s premises at 25 Wexford St. became the new home of Faughs. It was here that the plans were laid to build the clubhouse, our present home at Tymon North, Templeogue which was officially opened by Dr. Patrick Hillery, President of Ireland on 30th. November 1986.

From the earliest days Faughs contribution to Dublin G.A.A. and Gaelic games has been considerable. Pat Cullen was a member of Dublin Co. Board from 1887 and its Treasurer from 1902, a founder member of the Dublin Hurling League 1901 and donor of the Cullen Cup to the League winners. He is believed to have helped financially in the purchase of Croke Park by the G.A.A.

Harry Boland who was prominent in the 1916 Rising and War of Independence won senior championships with Faughs in 1914 & 1915. He was Chairman of Dublin County Board from 1911 – 1916.

Andy Harty who won nine championships with Faughs was Co. Board Chairman from 1916 to 1925.

Jim (Builder) Walsh won three All-Irelands with Dublin and was the only player selected on all three Tailteann Games (Ireland) teams. He was Chairman of Dublin Co. Board during 1929 and 1930.

Pat Farrell, hurling correspondent under pen-name P.F. for several decades with the Evening Herald was chairman of the Dublin Junior Board in 1934 & 1935 and was also a senior hurling selector for many years.

Faughs Dublin teams won eight Leinster Champioships. Bob Mockler captained Faughs to win the 1920 All-Ireland for Dublin. Dublin last All-Ireland win in 1938 included Faughs players Mick Butler, Phil Farrell, Mick Gill, Harry Grey and Charlie Downs. Jim Prior captained Dublin in the 1952 All-Ireland whilst Mick Kennedy, who got the first score on R.T.E. represented Faughs in Dublin’s last All-Ireland final appearance in 1961. Mick Kennedy was a selector during Lar Foley’s term as manager in the 1990?s.

Interesting to note that for the period from 1895 to November 1991, – 106 years the club has had only seven Chairmen; Pat Cullen, Tim Gleeson, Tom Hogan, Bob Mockler, Tommy Moore(for 40 years 1929 -1969), Mick Clayton 1969 ? 1985, Eamonn Rea 1985 – 2001. Gus Brennan took over from Eamonn and was succeeded by our current Chairman P.J. Newmann in 2007.

A new club development was introduced and voted in at the 2008 A.G.M. in which the executive is broken up into various different groups headed by various different chairpersons. These groups include Hurling and Coaching (Eamon Rea), Juvenile (Victor O’Se), Finance (John Gleeson), Community and Marketing (David O’Leary), Camogie (Mairead Hogan), John Healy (Facilities). They meet individually as sub committees and report back to the executive on a monthly basis.

Faughs underage section has been thriving in recent times starting with an U16 C Championship in 2002 and a Minor C Championship in 2004. This was followed by an U15 C Championship in 07, an U16 B Championship coupled with a Minor C Championship captained by Scott Murphy in 08.

As regards coaching and development there are visible signs of the hard work at underage level coming to fruition. This would not be possible without the enormous efforts of Michael Devane, Michael Heavey, Michael Halloran, Martin McKenna, Tommy O Mahony and Frank Bennett to name but a few. The results can be seen with so many players who have come up through the juvenile ranks with the Heaveys, Devanes, Ciarana Brennan, Geoff Bennett and Scott Murphy all excelling an senior level. Ciaran Brennan (current Faughs Senior) represented the Dublin Colleges in 2008 when they beat Kilkenny CBS in the final, and has featured for Dublin all the way up the ranks including U21. Fergal Heavey and Emmet McKenna have both represented Dublin at underage and are both involved in this years Dublin Minor panel of whom our very own Martin McKenna is the manager.

Faughs GAA Club has retained Senior A status for the 2009 season having been beaten in the Senior B final last Novemeber by St. Pats of Palmerstown. Our current management team of John Thompson, Tony Spellman and Joe Cunningham (Roscrea) have a tough job on their hands this year in the championship having been drawn against Crumlin, St. Vincents and Dublin South East commencing at the end of August.

Great strides forward have been made in the last 20 years or so. The building of the club-house in fairly close proximity to the pitches led to an increase in the number of teams particularly in the juvenile area, leading to the construction of a gym and additional dressing rooms as an extension to the clubhouse – a good sign hopefully. A ball wall has been constructed and approval has been granted to build an astro turf facility to the rear of the clubhouse which will hopefully nurture the continuation and growth of success within our juvenile section.

The club will be 125 years old next year and plans are underway to mark this occasion.

Ar agaidh leis on obair

Irish Independent Faughs Article-January 2009 here