CASTLEKNOCK CELTIC (formerly Laurel Lodge 1985-'87))

1987-2006

THE BEGINNING

The home of Castleknock Celtic lies just west of the world-famous Phoenix Park. It started as one senior team, but soon evolved into a fully-fledged junior soccer club with many schoolboys teams. The club has grown from its humble beginnings, playing in the Phoenix Park, to its present day boast of 37 schoolboy teams and 3 senior squads. The team colours adopted by Celtic were the green and white hoops of Glasgow Celtic. The club's membership currently numbers well in excess of 600.

FUTURE PLANS

The club is proud of its achievements to date. They now have a splendid setup in Porterstown, looking down on the Strawberry Beds in the picturesque Liffey Valley, with fine pitches and dressing rooms.  They also have an all-weather pitch in the Laurel Lodge area, which is a great benefit to our members, where they train throughout the week.

They are currently planning the installation of a top class club house and an all-weather pitch at their Porterstown head-quarters which is expected to be installed over the next couple of seasons.

We are also putting in place a coaching programme which will provide its members with the best in soccer coaching. These two steps will complete the development jigsaw, and see the club equipped for the years ahead.

SENIOR TEAM'S ACHIEVEMENTS

While Castleknock Celtic have won many trophies over the years at schoolboy level, the most notable achievement in recent years was the championship successes of their AUL senior team, who have won the league three years on the trot, while winning the double in 1996.

THE OUTLOOK

While they have been around for just a short number of years, Castleknock Celtic have indeed achieved much. Their biggest problem in the future will be maintaining their high standards, but they are relishing the challenge. Castleknock Celtic are determined to see the current phase of their development brought to fruition over the next couple of years.

The club held a sponsored walk on behalf of the St Francis Hospice who propose to build a facility in the Blanchardstown area.  The walk raised €43,000 for the project and we thank all our members for their herculean efforts.  Paul McGrath, Man Utd and Irish soccer legend, made it a wonderful day.

Click for Picture gallery from Paul McGrath meeting Castleknock Celtic for their Hospice Fund Raiser    and click for  click for St Francis Dublin 15 Hospice website  

Castleknock Celtic teams will be travelling abroad in 2006, and pride of place goes to the NDSL U-11 Premier side which travels to participate in the Bavaria Cup in Germany. We wish them bon voyage and the best of luck.

We lost a good friend with the sad loss of John O'Connor who played for our schoolboy teams for many years.  John is third from right on top row in photo below.  Our prayers are with his family.  Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam