We need to split portlaoise in two
A behemoth already. You could forget about it after this.
Have they a rounders pitch included in plans?
Its about the only thing they dont have if not. I’m sure they’ll get on that too.
The age old question.
Historically there were other clubs in and around the town but now it’s a one club town (for football anyway - Clonad probably pull a few hurlers from the town).
A second football club would revitalise the town imho.
This is where Jarly needs to put his energy . Not the big clubs fault but they will totally destroy the competition if not monitored . You’re also losing players as lads won’t hang around to play on a second or third team . The likes of Crokes and Boden having 4 or 5 minor teams is great for them and takes serious organisation and resources but won’t work out well for the GAA as whole long term .
The second club has no chance when this goes through.
Absolutely. If (and it’s a massive if) a second club was somehow created in Portlaoise, its biggest issue would be getting a strong group of volunteer officials and coaches to drive the first 10 years.
That’s leaving aside the issue of a pitch/facilities.
I appreciate its different but there have been clubs successfully created in Dublin relatively recently. Castleknock are only about 20 years old. Ranelagh Gaels a good bit less than that.
Huge difference alright.
Am I imagining it or did a new club in Ennis get formed, initially at juvenile level only, which now has adult teams?
That might be more comparable.
That Na Gaeil club in Kerry too?
Be very hard to attract lads to a new club when the other more established clubs have unbelievable facilities . I thought Castleknock was formed by disgruntled Brigids men ?
The Banner gaa are the other club in Ennis but have been around since the late 70s. It’s only in recent times they made some traction. Can’t remember what exactly happened but there was some kind of policy change or by law brought in to aid them/break Eire Og grip on young players back in the late 2000s
You leave @Spidey out of this now
Can’t remember how Castleknock was formed but their progress has been remarkable.
Ranelagh Gaels have thrived in a non gaa heartland too.
@Rocko will be very upset that his hard work to get a gaa club off the ground in Dublin is going unmentioned here
Formed by GAA men who had moved into the community and saw Brigids weren’t able or interested in catering to the boom in population.
As has Brigids decline from late noughties .
@Raylan o left @Spidey out of it as I reckon he was once a Brigids man himself .
Bit closer to 30 years now. I remember reading that they were founded in 1998 when they qualified for the senior football final in 2016. Ciaran Kilkenny must’ve been in the original cohort.
And Brigids apparently tried to strangle them at birth then…
The Big Dog is covering this