A brief History of the CIE G.A.A. Clubs Nationwide
The earliest reference to Dublin Transport G.A.A. teams is 1886 when the Inchicore railway workers founded a club called Henry Grattan s. The founding members were M.Gorman, T.Griffin, M. Kelly and the Honorary Secretary P. O.. Hagan. The first recorded match was against the Grocers Assistants and it was played on a home and away basis with each team consisting of 21 players.
The following was the Henry Grattan s team; Hugh O Toole [Capt] W O Connor, J. Peate, J. Tallant, P. O. Hagan, O Hara, Barry, F. Duggan, P. Dolan, E. Langron, J. Murtagh, J. Fitzpatrick, Craddoch, B. Nolan, M. Finnegan, P. Gough, M. Kelly, P. Dwyer, Jones, J. Jameson, P.Cogwell. Henry Grattans held their first A.G.M. on Friday, 10th November 1888 at their rooms in Inchicore.
It was in Athletics that the club mostly excelled itself. It organised very successful Sports meetings in its ground, which were always very well attended by the Dublin and some Country clubs. The club was never really a force to be reckoned with in football and hurling. 
The club managed to keep a football team participating in the league until 1912 when in October of that year Mr Thomas Murphy made an application to the Dublin County board to allow Henry Grattans amalgamate with the newly formed club in Chapelizod, the Green Flags. Mr Murphy pointed out that it would be impossible for him to reorganise the Grattans, and the only way he could do so was to allow the club join the Green Flags. The application was granted.
The Green Flags remained in existence until 1953, when the club disbanded altogether. They won the McEvoy Cup in 1938 when they beat Erin s Isle by 3-2 to 3-1.
The year 1889 was a year to remember in Inchicore, that year both the football and hurling All-Irelands were held there in the grounds belonging to the G.S.W.R. [Great Southern and Western Railways] which now consists of the Tyrconnell Park housing Estate.
The football final was played on October 20th, between Bohercrowe [Tipperary 3-6 and Maryboro [Queens County] nil. The ground was in very bad condition owing to rain. It was very slippery and there were pools of water on parts of it. A couple of thousand people witnessed the contest.
The hurling final was played between Kickhams [Dublin] and Tulla [Clare] at Inchicore on Sunday 3rd November. The final score was Kickhams 5-1 Clare 1-6. The Clare team were at a terrible disadvantage owing to the fact that they played in their bare feet on ground that was so slippery that sawdust had to be laid on several portations of it. They regretted the fact that they had not worn boots like their opponents who had a big advantage on a pitch rendered sodden by heavy rain.
Other G.A.A. Clubs Associated with G.S.R. Works, Inchicore
At the beginning of the 20th Centaury there was a thriving hurling and football club for a number of years known as great Southern and Western Railway Gaelic Football Club. There was a club known as Inchicore Emmets in 1916 and 1917 but it did not last long. Thomas O Brien and James Kinsella represented the club at the annual convention of the Dublin County Board on the 14th January 1917.
Sarsfield hurling Club was founded in 1901 in the Sarsfield road and the Ranch area of Inchicore. In the beginning it was exclusively a hurling club but in later years it catered for football as well. The club held their first A.G.M.. on Wednesday 22nd January 1902. All members of the club were re-elected and with the addition of Messrs O Neill, Bowman, and Curley, M. Gavin and P. McCann, were appointed delegates to the hurling league convention.
The club fielded three hurling teams, Intermediate, minor and junior. In 1903 they were the first team in Dublin to win the County minor hurling league and so were in charge of picking the Dublin team to play the Limerick minors at the thatch in August 1904. They lost this match. The Dublin team; G. Gaynor, Captain, W. Dunlea, J. Woodfall, M. Redmond, T. Newcome, J. Cleary, J. Fitzpatrick[all from Sarsfields] Halpin [Fianna], Walsh, Brown [Davis], Jenkinson [goal], Curran [Clans], Murphy, Farrell [Clan ha hEireann], McKenna, Mullaney, [Fontenoys]. Subs Conway, Byrne and Breen. Score Dublin 1-3 Limerick 2-11.
The club kept functioning in the Schoolboys league until 1923 when all its teams amalgamated with Stars United G. F. C. The senior section of the club had already amalgamated with Green Flags in 1912.
In 1921 a new club Called Foundry Gaels affiliated to the G.A.A., with Michael O Reilly, 3 Saint Josephs Terrace Gratten Crescent, Inchicore, as Hon Secretary and again it lasted for a short period. The team s trainer was Mr J. Hodgkin s who was chief organiser of all sports in the foundery between the years 1910 and 1924. Transport Gaels and Tramway Gaels G.A.A. clubs were also founded in 1900.
Dublin City Service G.A.A. Clubs
Since the 1920s many of the Dublin rail and tram/bus Depots played each other in Inter-Depot competitions that involved teams from the following locations; Conygham Road, Broadstone, Inchicore, Spa Road, Ringsend, North Wall, Knightsbridge [renamed Heuston Station] Pursers, Summerhill, Conyngham Road and Clontarf.
Soon after C.I.E. was established an All Ireland dimension was introduced to the competition. The winners in the various units would play each other in the All Ireland Inter depot football and hurling finals. The finals were played at various locations nationwide, including Croke Park. The C.I.E. teams involved were Athlone, Cork, Dublin Galway, Limerick, Thurles Tralee, Ennis, Waterford, later Laois and teams representing Translink, The Northern Ireland Transport Company.
The All Ireland Inter depot finals were the highlight of the year not just for the players but also the great numbers of their colleges who looked forward to the Annual outings down the Country; Annual reunions etc.
In the 1970s The Dublin Bus G.A.A competitions came under the umbrella of the D.C.B.S. [Dublin City Bus Service]. Martin Duggan was Chairman he was ably assisted by the C.I.E. Chaplin Father Marcellus R.I.P. and Josie Murray. They introduced a quiz competition that was open to all depots, it proved to be an outstanding success due to the efforts of Martin Kenny, Sean Flynn, Martin Hartnett, Larry, Finnerty John McGrane, John McBride, Mick O. Looney and the many others who have served down the years.
In 1974, the newspaper Headline read; Bus strike. This was nothing new during a period of troubled times in C.I.E.-Dublin City Bus Service. But this strike was to be different; by the time it was over the workforce was reduced by twenty percent. This opened the way for an influx of new staff, young and energetic, many of them hurlers and footballers from outside Dublin, to begin a new start in the Dublin City Bus Service. The new employees, mostly Bus conductors breathed new life into the Dublin Bus G.A.A Clubs.
By 1974 each of the seven bus Depots were fielding hurling and football teams in the InterDepot and Inter-Firms Business House league competitions. As the teams included players from almost every County in Ireland it led to great banter in the dressing rooms.
One of the biggest events in the D.C.B.S clubs history was the staging of the Dublin Bus Inter depot Football final in Croke Park on 19th July 1983. The fact that the final was being played at G.A.A. Headquarters created a lot of interest not just in Dublin Bus but throughout C.I.E. Nationwide.
Clontarf panel; Martin Cohen Dave Courtney, Pat Mahon, John Fitzpatrick, Mick Fetherston, Mick Mathews, Mick Brien, Tony Kinsella, Tommy Carlyle, Larry Brough, John Hennessey, Brendan Nolan, Tommy McGowran, Charlie O Connor, Charlie Murphy.
Subs; Seamie Keegan, John Murphy, William Keegan, Dessie Shepard, John McLeod, Mick Fitzpatrick, Kevin Nimmo, Noel Fitzell, John McMenamin, Pat McPartland, Noel Murphy, John McTighe and Mick Greene.
Phibsboro team; Kevin Tyrell, Pat Fox, Joe O Donohue, Martin Kilbride, Tommy Murphy, Pat Doory, Donnie Crearke, Bosco Walsh, Des Carney, Bernie Moran, Sean Flynn, Tom O Reilly, Brendan Normoyle. Subs. John Brady, Vincent Crotty, Nicky Tyrell, Mick Donlon, John Quinn. Referee Mick Forde.
Umpires; Mick Kirby [Donnybrook] Larry Mackey [Conyn Rd] Paddy Stapleton [Ringsend] John Kavanagh [Summerhill] Linesmen; John Somers [Conyn Rd] John Brady [Donnybrook]
The Great Southern Railway Camogie Club
Few teams in any sphere of sport can rival the brilliant record of the C.I.E. camogie teams who swept victoriously across the playing fields of Ireland.
It seems incredible but nevertheless it is true-their senior team were only defeated once between 1945 and 1954. Tom Brady established the G.S.R. Camogie Club in 1931 in order to cater for girls who were interested in playing Camogie. The girls trained after school in the grounds with the boys in a disorganised fashion. The ground on which the Camogie team played was known as the; pond field; This field was originally a water pond, and due to the financial support and good will of the G.S.R. Company the pond was filled in during the 1930s.
The girls had to buy their own uniforms and Hurley s. The affiliation fees etc; were paid for by the Railway Athletic Union who gave great support and encouragement to the Club. The Uniform colours of the Club were wine tunic, green blouse, and white sash the Railway colours.
The first Camogie team in 1931 consisted of the following players, Rose Molyneux, [Captain] Kathleen Neville, Agatha Roche, Maureen Farrell, Dolly Byrne, Dolly Behan, Margaret Behan, Claire Nugent, Kitty Murphy, Nora Roche, Kathleen Lanigan, Edith Stack, and Eileen Nolan. The team was entered in the Intermediate League and were runners-up in the Celtic Cup. [Cup for winners of the Intermediate League]
For most of the lifetime of the G.S.R. Camogie Club they fielded three teams, junior, Intermediate and senior. During the 1940s and 1950s the Club was not alone one of the outstanding Clubs in Dublin but also in the whole of the Country.
In 1945 Dublin and a number of other Counties withdrew from the Ard Chomhairle of the Camogie Association due to a difference that arose at the 1945 Congress. This was also the year that the Comagie team adapted the name C.I.E.
In 1947 the C.I.E. Camogie Club affiliated to the Ard Chomhairle and were therefore elected to represent Dublin in the All Ireland series, they were beaten by Antrim 2-4 to 2-1 in the final that year. In 1948 history was made when girls of the C.I.E. Club representing Dublin beat Down in the All Ireland Senior Camogie final by 11-4 to 4-2.
In 1951 the team excelled themselves, winning the three prized trophies in camogie, the Isle of Man cup, the Dublin league and the Dublin championship, a feat never before accomplished by any single team in one season.
Naturally members of the team were selected to represent their county in many an All Ireland game. It would be difficult to name a few champions from that galaxy of stars, but Kay Mills was recognised as one of the finest players in the country. Kathleen Mills was born in 31 South Square Inchicore and was reared in the area. She was educated in the local Convent School at Goldenbridge. Kathleen s father worked in the Inchicore works and therefore Kathleen was able to participate in and avail of the sporting activities in the G.S.R. Athletic Union. Two pence per week were deducted from the worker s wages to go towards the financing of the sports activities in the Railway.
From an early age Kathleen was interested in all kinds of sporting activities and distinguished herself in Gymnastics and running, she won her first Camogie uniform by coming first in a race in the Railway Union annual sports. In 1938 after finishing her education at the age of fourteen years she played her first Camogie match for the G.S.R .Her first match was in the junior ranks and in the next game she was promoted to the senior panel.
Kathleen played senior from then until her retirement from the game of Camogie in 1961after winning the last of her 15 All Ireland medals. In 1941 at the age of 16 years she played her first senior County match against Cork. At Club level she played her part in helping her club win the senior club championship in 1942, 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1954, and the senior league in 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1958, and 1959.
Kathleen also assisted her County in winning the All Ireland senior Camogie championship in the years 1942 to 1944, 1949 to 1955 and 1957 to 1961, a record 15 All Ireland Senior Medals that no other player in Camogie, hurling or football has equalled or is ever likely to.
Limerick CIE G.A.A. Club
Shortly after C.I.E. was founded in 1945 the Limerick Railway workers founded a G.A.A. club. Football and hurling teams were entered in the junior league and championship. In 1949 they won the junior football championship when the defeated Athea 2-2 to 0-5 at Adare on the 11th December. The Limerick C.I.E. team won the City divisional junior football title two years running, 1948 and 1949
C.I.E. team. Paddy Cox, P. Browne, J.O . Connell, John Maher, M. Moore, Paddy Riordan, Jim Griffin, P.J. Begley, John Clohosey, J. Walker, Donat Rochford, P. Merriman, P.J. Foley, Jim Kelly, Mick Horan.
Limerick C.I.E teams were also competing in the Inter-firms and All Ireland Inter-Depot competitions. In 1952 the Limerick hurling team won the All Ireland Inter-Depot final defeating Dublin C. I. E. at Croke Park by 9-8 to 2-0.
C.I.E. team. Paddy Cox, P. Browne, J.O . Connell, John Maher, M. Moore, Paddy Riordan, Jim Griffin, P.J. Begley, John Clohosey, J. Walker, Donat Rochford, P. Merriman, P.J. Foley, Jim Kelly, Mick Horan.
Cork CIE G.A.A. Club
Over the years a great number of Cork C..I.E. employee s have worn the county jerseys with distinction. Four of the Cork team that beat Dublin in the 1952 All-Ireland senior hurling final were members of the C. I. E. club. They were; Willie John Daly and Mattie Touhy, Jim O Grady and Seanie O Brien.
Another member of team was the great Christy Ring who was, for a number of years a driver attached to the road freight.
In1950 the following teams competed in the Inter depot hurling and football Competition; Cork Coaching, Cork goods, Rock savage, Cork Loco, Road freight, Clerical Officers, Road passengers, [drivers and conductors] road passenger [Capwell] road passengers Parnell Place. Most of the games were played at Saint Patrick s ground at Tivoli Road. Mr D. J. Kelly Stationmaster Glenmire Road donated a silver Cup and the Cork Social and Welfare Club a set of valuable silver medals for the Competition.
In 1953 Cork [Glanmire] won the All Ireland Inter Depot football Championship when they defeated Dublin [Inchicore] by 2-5 to 2-3 that year s final was played at the Athletic grounds, Cork.
The Teams were; Cork. J. Kerry Murphy, J. O Neill, M.O Donohue [Capt]. P. Newman, J. Gould, P. Buckley, J. Curtayne, J.J. Cremin, M. Moynihan, A. Lotty, F. Buckley, J.O Callaghan, F.. Lynne, P. O Mahoney, M. Corbett.
Dublin; R.O Regan, T. Nolan, P O Connor [Capt], K. Looney, P.O. Brien, S. Duffy,J. Hanlon, J. McGuinness, J. Kane, P. Condon, M. McGibney, P.O Carroll, D. O Carroll, G. Murphy, L. O Dowd.
The Club was reformed at a meeting held on the 25th November 1976 in the Favourite Bar North Main Street Cork. The Prop, Mr Dan O. Shea worked as a bus driver with C.I.E.
[On Saturday 30th June 1962 the lapsed Inter-depot football competition was revived when a Dublin C.I.E.. selection travelled to Cork to meet the local club. The game was played at the Cork City divisional grounds at Ballinlaugh.
After an hour of fine football the hosts defeated the holders by 3-2 to 1-6.
The teams were- Cork. D. Barrett, J. Nicholson, P. Buckley, M. Connell, F. Deane, P. Allen, J. Donavan, W. Goode, C. Sullivan, P. Sullivan, F. O. Neill, D. Duggan, M. Donavan, C. Cullinane. F. Keating. Sub D. Dowling.
Dublin T. McGrath, S.O. Bernie, L. Fay, A. Dillon, F. Farrell, J. Goss, L. Blackbyrne, F. O. Neill, A. Bourke, L. Kenny, T.. Hempenstall, K. Culligan, N. McCarthy, K. Looney, B. Keegan. Referee. M. J. Cotter. Cork..
In 1995 the Club was once again reformed and their teams began competing in the local league and championship and the Inter firms and Inter Depot Competitions. The Cork football team won three All Ireland Inter-Depot finals in a row beating Ulster Bus Newry 1997, Derry 1998 and Belfast in 1999.
Laois C.I.E G.A.A. Club
In 1984 A group of Irish Rail workers in Portlaoise founded a G.A.A. club and entered a hurling team in the Inter-Firms Business house league competition. In 1984 they won the Laois Inter-Firms title beating an E.S.B. team in the final. In 1992 a new committee was elected that included Peter Conroy, Jim Shaw, Tom Jones, Paddy Killeen Dan Donavan, Jimmy Cuddy and Tom Dooley.
The hurling team were beaten in the first round of the InterFirms competition that year. In 1993 they reached the Laois Final and were narrowly beaten by a very strong Prison Officers team.
That defeat marked the turning point in the clubs fortunes. In 1994 the rail team started their campaign with their sights set on winning the Laois title. On the way to the final they played Stone Arch, Avonmore and the Prison Officers. As the championship was played on a league basis they played and beat the Prison Officers in the final…
The Leinster championship started with a Leinster semi-final that was held in Borris in Ossary against a team from Birr [Grants Engineering], which Irish rail won by a point. They defeated Apple Ireland L.t.d. from Carlow in the Leinster final, the game was played in Abbeyleix. Musgrave/Styner from Galway was their opponents in the All Ireland semi-final. After an exciting game the sides were level with seconds to go when the rail men got a 65 which David Cuddy pointed with little difficulty.
This led to the All Ireland Final that was played at Borris-in-Ossory on Sunday the 11th December against Shannon Aerospace. Glancing at the scoring performances in the earlier games most people would have fancied the Clare teams chances. In the Clare semi-final they scored 3-15, in the final 2-14, in the Munster championship they out hurled the Limerick champions 6-5 to 0-9 and in the provincial decider they were overwhelming winners on a score line of 5-11 to 1-6.
The Irish rail team captured the 1994 All-Ireland Inter Firms junior hurling title in dramatic style. They withstood a late assault to take the title by 3-6 to 1-10 and in doing so they became Laois s first Inter-firms chapionship 1981.
The Irish rail hurling team are unbeaten in the Laois Inter-firm competition since 1994. Since their All Ireland success the have contested six Leinster finals losing to Dublin Gardai in 1998, Avonmore in 2000, 2004 and 20005 Dunready Eng. 2002.They reclaimed the Lenister title beating the Dublin Gardai in the 2003 final. The rail men have been All Ireland Inter-depot hurling champions since 1996. The clubs football team won the Laois Inter-Firms title in 1995 and the All Ireland Inter-Depot 7-a side competition in 1998.
Galway C.I.E. G.A A. Clubs
In April 1947 a hurling and football club with a membership of 200 was formed at a largely attended meeting, under the Chairmanship of Mr Roche [Goods Office]. Over the years the Galway C.I.E.. teams competed in the following competitions; league and championships, handball, Camogie, Inter-factory hurling league, Inter-firm and All-Ireland Inter-depot competitions.
C.I.E. won their first Inter-Firm football trophy when the overcome Moy Contractors 1-10 to 0-7 on August 24th 1974 at Pairc an Phiarsaigh. Mick Lundy s mastery at centre-field was the difference between the teams and his goal, fifteen minutes from time was a gem putting C.I.E. seven points clear. Others to shine for the winners were Billy Bourke, John Daly,
Paddy Gannon and Paul Rabbite. Tony Audley, Gerry Gilmore and Tipperary All-Ireland medallist, Sean Gleeson were also prominent
The club won the Inter-firm 9- side hurling championship title in 1974-75-76.