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Pairc Carraig Na bhFear The Beginning. |
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As Gaelic Games have been played in the area for over 100 years, it is only natural that the club has had many “homes”. Over thirty years ago hurling was played on a piece of land on the upper side of the village-where the local National School is now situated. In the mid to late fifties, a field belonging to the O’ Connell family, which runs directly behind the village, was where “the clash of the ash” was to be heard. This field is known locally as “The Spout”.
Next
stop was to be further North of the village. The late Michael Cashman made a
field available to the club, and it was situated directly behind the residence
of Dr. Healy. Many Championship teams prepared on this field, many team-plans
were made, but perhaps the most
exciting times on this field occurred in the midst of the many
tournament games which were played there. Come
1973, and it was time to move on again. As it was no longer possible to renew
the lease, the club found itself with no playing pitch. The club were fortunate,
as playing facilities were generously made available by the priests of Coláiste
an Chroí Naofa. However, as this was only a solution on a short term basis the
officers at the time decided it was time to begin work on a permanent home for
our club. It must also be remembered, that the late sixties and early seventies
were years when many rural G.A.A. clubs all over Ireland, were in the same
position as we were. A
special General Meeting was held on Saturday
November 23rd 1974, and it was at this meeting that the first
seeds were sown. Landowners in the area were to be approached, in the hope that
suitable land would be made available for purchase. A Grounds Fund was started
and a committee was appointed to raise the finance. For the next two years, this
Committee became involved in numerous fund-raising activities – Ceilis were
organised; a members draw was held; and a parish collection was put in motion .
The people of the area were more than generous and in a very short time the
finance necessary for purchase of a suitable area was raised. As
the finance was being raised, the search for the land continued. The late Mr.
Pat Sheehan (a former player with the club)
made land available, and this was purchased in 1976. It was ideally
suited to us-adjacent to our village and situated in the middle of our
community. Development commenced immediately and by 1987, the playing surface
was ready to play. For the record, the first competitive game on the field was
an East Cork Junior Hurling League game- Carrigtwohill V Carraig Na bhFear,
played on May 25th, 1987. In
1982, it became obvious that we had a drainage problem on part of the playing
area. This needed to be rectified, the pitch needed to be enclosed and it was
also decided to construct clubrooms. Much finance and effort went into these
works, and all those who helped in any way deserve our thanks and gratitude. And
so, as we gather today for the official opening
and blessing of Pairc Carraig Na bhFear , let it be the wish of all that
the youth of this parish will benefit enormously by the most valuable asset.
The
Games- The Memories.
The playing of our Gaelic
Games, both hurling and football, have provided many memories for the people of
Carraig Na bhFear. No doubt we all pick out our own special moment, our own
special game. We can look back and treasure the victories. We can ponder and
wonder what would have happened on certain occasions if… Yes indeed, though
championship victories have been all too few, the games have provided wonderful
moments and memories. They have had our disappointments and set-backs too, but
surely being able to savour their victories and cope with their disappointment
is what the games is all about. Few of our older members will forget the joy of
the victory in 1937. The winning of the Divisional B grade Hurling Championship
that year was a historic win for the club. That win was the first Championship
Victory for Carraig Na bhFear. It was indeed a pleasure to see some members of
that historic team gather together recently for a club presentation. 1966
is another year that stands out in the memories of many. It was a particularly
good year for the club. To begin with, the team had their Under 14 Footballers
capturing the East Cork. A-Grade Championship. That was the year too, in which
the Junior Hurlers surprised many sides in the division, before setting
themselves up for a semi-final meeting with Ballinacura. The following is a
newspaper account of that memorable game.
Carraig
Na bhFear surprise Ballinacurra.
Carrintwohill, 5-11:
Youghal, 1-9.
Carraig Na bhFear, 1-8:
Ballinacurra, 1-6.
The semi- finals of the
East Cork Grade A Junior Hurling Championship at Midleton
yesterday will be long remembered for the shock result in the second
game, where the much less fancied Carraig
na bhFear defeated Ballinacurra by two points and therefore will meet
Carrigtwohill at Midleton on Sunday.
Though lacking in general classic hurling the winners never lessened
their efforts and even with the first half wind behind them they were Trailing
by 1-4 to 0-6 at the interval. Then
came Noonan’s goal in the second half, and this inspired the whole combination
and they withheld severe pressure from their opponents and were serving winners
at the end. Scorers for Carraig Na bhFear: J. Noonan 10,J. McEntyre 0-5, and S.
Walsh 0-3. For Ballinacurra T.J. Foley 1-2 L. Walsh 0-4. Referee: W. Kennefick,
Youghal. In the final we were
pitted against Carrigtwohill, who had easily accounted for Youghal in their
semi-final. This was a star-studded Carrigtwohill side, who had been Divisional
Champions in the previous year. Not alone were they too strong for Carraig Na
bhFear’s representatives in the final, but they also went on to win the County
Championship of that year.
Year by Year:
1887
Carraig
Na bhFear competed in the very first Cork Co. Senior Championship.
1937
Won
East Cork Junior Hurling Championship. Soon after
it disbanded.
1956
Club
reformed.
1957
East
Cork B Hurling runners up.
1958-1964
Reached
the Semi-final of A Grade Hurling
Championship on two occasions. Won several Hurling tournaments in Watergrasshill,
Bartlemy,
Riverstown, Ballinacurrig, Knockraha, Whitescross, Brian Dillons, Rathcormac,
Whitechurch and
Blarney.
1965
Affiliated
a football team for the first time and reached
the
East Cork B football Final.
1966
Reached
East Cork A Grade Final for the first time. Won
u-14
football for the first time.
1973
Won
East Cork B Football Championship and beaten in
the
final of the B Hurling
1974
Won East Cork B Hurling
Championship.
1975
Won
the East Cork A football Championship and reached
the
Co. Junior Football Final.
1979
Won
the East Cork B Football Championship.
1982
Competed
in the City Division Leagues Hurling and Football.
1984
Won
Croabh Rua Cup City Division Hurling. Erected Dressing rooms.
Formed
a juvenile club.
1985
Won
East Cork u-14 Hurling League And Championship.
1986
Won
East Cork u-14 Football League.
1988 Official
opening of dressing rooms and pitch. Compromise Rules
game
between Freemantle Australia and Carraig Na bhFear Selection.
1989 Won
Croabh Rua Cup Hurling in City Division .
Won
u-12 and u-14 Hurling and Football.
1990
Won East Cork Co. Hurling Championship.
Won
East Cork u-12 Hurling and Football Championship and League.
1991
Won
East Cork u-14 C Football Championship.
1992
Won
East Cork and County u-14 Football Championship.
East
Cork u-14 Hurling and Football Leagues and
u-14 C Hurling Championship.
Won Sciath Na Scoil Hurling Competition for the first time ever in Páirc Uí
Chaoimh.
1993 Won
East Cork u-14 Football Championship and also u-14 Hurling
League.
1994
Won East Cork Minor B Hurling and Football Championship and
Minor
A Hurling League.
Won East Cork u-16 A football C Championship and reached County
Section
Final.
1995
Won East Cork Co. B Hurling Championship and reached County Semi- Final.
Won
Minor A football League.
1996
Won East Cork B Hurling and Football Championship.
Reached
Co. Final in Football.
Won
East Cork B Grade Football Championship.
Won
u-12 Football Championship.
Won
u-14 Hurling Championship and League.
Won
u-16 Hurling League.
1997
Won East Cork Co. B Hurling and Cork Co. B Hurling Championship for the
first
time.
Won East Cork u-12 Football Championship.
Won
Sciath Na Scoil Football in Páirc Uí Rinn.
1998 Won
East Cork and Co. u-12 Hurling.
Won
Sciath Na Scoil Hurling in Páirc Uí Rinn.
