BRIEF HISTORY OF LÁMH DHEARG CLG
In its infancy Lámh Dhearg was run By Art Magill who was also County Secretary and played in South Antrim Junior leagues. In the 40’s 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 60’s 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 indiscrimately 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 60’s 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. and in 1986 we won the Junior Hurling Championship and Division 3 league title. We were runners up in the Intermediate Hurling finals in 1995 and again in 2003, but disappointment soon turned into celebrations by winning Division 2 league title by beating Sarsfield’s in a replay and achieved division one status for the first time. Hurling has went from strength to strength in recent years and in 1992 we won our only Minor Hurling Championship and in 1999 won the Ulster Minor 7 a-side tournament, 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 R.T.E.’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. Ciaran along with his brothers Michael and Brendan have represented Ulster. Also Michael Herron was selected as 2007 County Hurler of the year. The club hosted Feile in 2000 (Knockbridge, Co Louth) and in 2002 (Celbridge, Co Kildare) and have established strong links with Celbridge, Co Kildare resulting in very popular bi -annual exchange visits. 1992 was a Golden Year in the club’s history winning 7 championships and 3 leagues and deservedly Ulster G.A.A. Writers award for Club of the Year.
Under 14 Football Championship
Under 16 Football Championship
Under 18 Football Championship
Under 18 Hurling Championship
Under 21 Football Championship
South Antrim football Championship
Senior Football Championship
Under 14 Division 2 Hurling League
Under 16 Football League
South Antrim Division 2 League
Indeed a magnificent year with so many memories and achievements such as a hat trick in the under 14 final by current N.I. international Philip Mulyrne and the first club to achieve the Minor Double. The only sad aspect was that the Senior football team were denied the priceless opportunity of contesting a championship final due to disiciplinary policies imposed by the County and were nominated by the County as champions and represented Antrim in the Ulster Club Championship. 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 in to 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 3 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 centenary 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 29th 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 28th 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 intergral part of our comprehensive programme of events.
