You may not be aware that you are currently within walking distance of one of the most progressive and ambitious GAA clubs in Dublin. Clanna Gael Fontenoy is the local GAA Club for Dublin 2 and 4 and for large parts of the South inner city.

Clanna Gael Fontenoy is the result of an amalgamation which took place many years ago between Clanna Gael GFC and Fontenoy Hurling Club. We currently field Adult teams at Senior and Junior Hurling, Intermediate and Junior Football, Intermediate Ladies Football and Junior Camogie along with both codes for both boys and girls across all juvenile age groups.

We are situated on the Sean Moore Road between Ringsend and Sandymount and over the last number of years we have developed our facilities there to include two floodlit grass pitches, a floodlit artificial training pitch and hurling wall, a large clubhouse that includes eight dressing rooms and shower facilities along with a spacious and comfortable lounge bar but most of all we offer a warm welcome to all those who wish to come along and enjoy our facilities.

If you would like to enquire about getting involved at any level, be it as a player, mentor or simply as a social mentor, please feel free to contact the club at 01 6604064 or drop down any time as you can be sure to always find a warm welcome awaiting you.

Eugene Davey, Chairman 2008

Clanna Gael Fontenoy has something for everyone

1. Academy
For Children (boys and girls) aged five years to nine years we have our academy that runs every Saturday morning at 11am from September to June. We introduce children to Gaelic Games in a relaxed and fun way.
The academy is run by parents of children involved and the coaching aspect is organised and implemented by our development officer along with parents and senior players from the club who are all qualified GAA coaches.

Parents are encouraged to help out and take part as much as possible in all club activities. If you would like to bring your children along, please contact our development officer Donal McGovern at 0868066421 and he will be only too delighted to give you any details you may need. Alternatively, simply come along any Saturday morning from 11am onwards.

2. Juvenile Section
Juvenile covers all age groups from ages 10 to 16 years and covers both hurling and football for boys and camogie and football for girls. All of these age groups compete in competitive leagues and championships and receive instruction and coaching to the highest levels.

Times for training and games vary across all the various age groups so if you are interested in being involved it would be wise to contact our development officer Donal McGovern or our Juvenile Chairman Dave Walsh at 0862352021, either of whom will steer you in the right direction.

We cater for children of all standards, size and ability and we believe there is a place for everyone so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

3. Ladies’ Football
Ladies’ football is the most recent addition to our Club and it has also been the fastest-growing section. We currently field teams at most Juvenile age groups right up to Adult level. Ladies football is open to all girls, young or old and regardless of their ability.

We are currently in the process of implementing a County Board initiative entitled ‘Gaelic for Mothers’. This is a novel way of encouraging parental involvement in sport while their children are participating elsewhere in the club. It is a non-competitive and fun way of excercising and it has proved remarkably successful in other clubs throughout the county.

If you are interested in getting involved in any aspect of Ladies football please do not hesitate to contact us.

4. Camogie
Camogie has been established in our Club for over 25 years now and down through the years it has been huge successful. We currently field a team at Adult level and recently we have re-started our juvenile section. For the first time in quite a few years 2009 should see us field at Juvenile level.

Once again, we are open to all ages and standards and look forward to meeting you if you wish to join us.

5. Adult Football
We currently field two adult teams, our first team competes in Div 3 (Intermediate) of the County Football league and our second team competes in Div 7 (Junior). Both teams train on Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm and new players are always welcome.

6. Adult Hurling
We also field two hurling teams, the first team at Senior level and the second team at Junior level. Both teams train on Monday and Wednesday at 7pm and once again new players are always welcome.

7. Social
If playing competitive sport is not for you, then please do not let that put you off coming down to us. If you simply want to train and enjoy some healthy exercise we have some of the best facilities in Dublin for you to use and enjoy.

If simply enjoying a drink and relaxing in a warm and friendly environment is what you enjoy well why not come down and sample the comforts of our modern lounge and bar.

If any of the above is of interest to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at the relevant number that you can find in our contact list printed elsewhere in this article.

Education Through Sport
This year the club extended its services by putting in place an Educational Programme that sees younger members of the club receiving grinds for the various subjects that they might be struggling with at school.
These grinds are provided by Trinity College students who use the club’s facilities throughout the year. Ten Junior Certificate students were chosen to inaugurate this scheme and in June of this year they were recipients of an award at Trinity College. Parents were invited along on the day and a tour of the College followed showing all the lecture rooms and how the students go about their daily routines.

The scheme’s intention is that those who play sport together can educate together and the Club will extend this service to all who wish to avail of it in the coming years

Progress built on solid foundations with a vision of the future
Is Clanna Gael Fontenoy the club for you? We would like to think Clanna Gael Fontenoy is a club for everyone, all age groups all standards and abilities. The GAA was founded to encompass everyone and we feel we are true to these ideals.

Although having a somewhat illustrious past when county titles were won at Senior football as well as numerous Junior and Intermediate titles in Hurling, the Club went through a relatively lean period when we didn’t get too many visits to winners’ enclosures but with the development of phase one of our Clubhouse in 1989 all that changed.

In 1989 our hurlers resided in the backwoods of Junior B hurling but with the efforts of a committed number of people and the fact that we now had a visible home, things began to look up and over the coming years a number of Junior league and championships were won and eventually in 2007 with an influx of players from a now-robust juvenile section we regained our Senior Hurling Status for the first time in 22 years. This has been the progression that was dreamt of when our Club developments began some years previous.

Football, too, has shown the same sort of progression and all current signs suggest that a return to Senior football is imminent. Ladies’ football is thriving, Camogie has been re-vitalised and everyone is proud to wear the Club colours.

This sort of progress did not happen overnight and it has been the result of a lot of patience and hard work by numerous dedicated people. These people have a vision where Clanna Gael Fontenoy is one of the Top Clubs in Ireland.

Do you want to share that vision?
If so, then come down and see us, we all look forward to meeting you.

Contact Details for various teams are as follows:
Senior Hurling: Ciaran Murphy at 087 2333720; Junior Hurling: Ronan Murphy at 087 2904942; Inter Football: Albert Hannon at 087 2587700; Camogie: Elaine McDonnell at 087 6204893; Junior Football: Pat Kane at 086 3715944; Juvenile Section: Dave Walsh at 086 2352021; Ladies’ Football: Paul Kennedy at 086 1973962; Club Development Officer: Donal McGovern at 086 8066421; Club Manager: Shay Connolly at 087 9011716

Reports on all teams and club news will be updated in the next edition. Nothing left to say only to wish our members, neighbours and friends a very happy Christmas and a wonderful and peaceful New Year. Please see notice board for all Club festivities over the Christmas period.

P.S. Is it true! I heard that the Legend is a Granda! He’s much too young for that caper. Sure it is not so long ago that this mortal was gracing the hurling and football pitches with his silken skills. If the Grandchild Seanna is any bit of her Granda then surely the future looks bright for Ladies’ GAA in the capital.