In the next of our monthly club focus articles, we are in North Tipperary as we take a visit to Ballinahinch GAA Club:
- Club Name: Ballinahinch
- Hurling: Intermediate & Junior C
- Football: None at present
- Club colours: Saffron and Blue
- Current Referees: Philip Kelly
Club officers:
- Presidents- Fr Bobby Fletcher, Fr James O Donoghue, Michael Berkery, Dermot Bourke, John Joe Bourke, Jimmy Healy, Maura Foley, John A Ryan, Myles O’Grady, Michael Fitzgerald
- Honorary Members- PJ Kelly, Peg Lynch
- Chairman- Eamon Finn
- Secretary- Barry Crosse
- Treasurer- Yvonne Kelly
Club Social Media details:
- Twitter: @BallinahinchGAA
- Facebook: Ballinahinch GAA Club
- Email: secretary@ballinahinch.tipperary.gaa.ie
- Website: Ballinahinch GAA
- Online club shop: CLICK HERE
Brief History of Club
Ballinahinch GAA Club was founded in 1886 and is located in the parishes of Ballinahinch and Killoscully in North Tipperary. The club is bordered by the parishes of Newport, Silvermines, Ballina, and Sean Treacys and have a population of about 600 people. Ballinahinch is the third smallest club in Tipperary. The history of the club “Playing with the Hill” was published by John Ryan (J) in 2005. This provides a great source of knowledge on all aspects of the history of the club.
Facilities
Up to 1980s, the club was at the gratitude of the local farmers when they were allowed used various meadows for training as they did not own their own grounds at the time. This changed in 1980 when land was purchased from Pat Bray and Shallee became the club’s permanent location. Dressing rooms were built and the grounds were officially opened in 1984. Additional rooms were added to the clubhouse from 2000 onwards. A stand was erected and following this, the playing field was levelled and landscaped to produce a level playing surface. Prior to this, there was a major advantage playing “down the hill” at the time, hence where the book on our club history got the title ‘Playing with the Hill’. More recent developments have included the installation of an electronic scoreboard and a viewing railing on the stand side of the field. This year in 2021, the club added a storage building which has allowed for the original storage area to be transformed into a players’ gym. Ballinahinch are also delighted to announce that they recently received planning permission and are currently putting plans in place for a hurling wall and astro playing area in front of the hurling wall. As part of the long term plan, a car park and walking track are also in the master plan. The club continues to futureproof its development and maintenance of the facility in Shallee.
Fundraising
The weekly club lotto is the club’s main source of income. The lotto has been in place for over 10 years and there have been numerous jackpot winners during this time period. Recently, the ceiling jackpot figure was increased to further enhance the appeal of this fund raiser. The club also run a weekly 45 drive which has been in place since the 1970s. However, since Covid times, this like many other things had to cease and it has yet to recommence. One off fundraising events in the past have included a Mr. and Mrs. Competition, Stars in your Eyes, a duck race, timber auctions and a scrap metal collection. The Tipperary County Board Club’s Draw is also a great source of income to us.
Intercounty
The club, despite its small size, has a proud tradition of having players on both hurling and football divisional and inter county teams down through the years. Whilst not naming everyone on the list, we must mention the club’s two most famous players in Michael Ryan (B) and Shane McGrath. Both players successes over their careers are well documented. Everyone associated with the club were especially proud when All-Ireland senior medals and All Star awards were brought back to their small parish.
Juvenile
The juvenile club was set up as a single identity in the 1990s. Previously they were involved in amalgamations with various clubs as Ballinahinch did not have enough players to field teams on their own. Since then, there were periods where they joined with other clubs to be able to put 15 players out on the field. Ballinahinch are currently joined with Templederry from U15 to U21. Their annual Fr Gallagher hurling tournament for the players in Ballinahinch primary school is one of the most anticipated competitions in the calendar year. Great excitement and skill for this one day event. The clubs playing numbers are up across all our age groups and this is testament to the great work being done by the juvenile officers and coaches.
Roll of Honour
1949: North Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions (Knockmeal Rangers).
1969: North Tipperary U15 (Rural) Hurling Champions.
1971: North Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions.
North Tipperary Minor Football Champions (Newport/Ballinahinch).
1980: North Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions.
County Junior Hurling Champions.
North Tipperary Junior Football Champions.
1982: North Tipperary Senior Football Champions (Mulcair Rovers).
1983: North Tipperary U12 ‘B’ Hurling Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
North Tipperary U14 ‘B’ Hurling Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1984: North Tipperary U12 ‘B’ Hurling Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
North Tipperary U14 ‘B’Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1985: North Tipperary U12 ‘B’ Hurling Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
North Tipperary U16 ‘B’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1986: North Tipperary U16 ‘B’ Hurling Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1987: North Tipperary Minor ‘B’ Hurling (Nealon Trophy) Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
North Tipperary U16 ‘B’Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1988: North Tipperary U12 ‘B’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1989: North Tipperary U16 ‘B’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1990: North Tipperary U16 ‘B’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
County U16 ‘B’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1991: North Tipperary U16 ‘A’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1992: North Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions.
North Tipperary U21 ‘B’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
North Tipperary U16 ‘B’ Hurling Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1993: North Tipperary U12 ‘B’ Hurling Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
North Tipperary U16 ‘A’ Football Champions (Ballina/Ballinahinch).
1994: North Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions.
County Junior Hurling Champions.
1995: North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Champions.
North Tipperary Minor ‘A’ Football Champions (Newport/Ballinahinch).
County Minor ‘A’ Football Champions (Newport/Ballinahinch).
1997: North Tipperary U16 ‘C’ Football Champions.
North Tipperary U16 ‘C’ Hurling Champions.
1998: North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Champions.
North Tipperary U16 ‘C’ Hurling Champions.
County U16 ‘C’ Hurling Champions.
2000: County U21 ‘C’ Hurling Champions.
North Tipperary U21 ‘C’ Football Champions.
County U21 ‘C’ Football Champions.
North Tipperary Minor ‘C’ Football Champions.
County Minor ‘C’ Football Champions.
2001: North Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions.
North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Champions.
North Tipperary U21 ‘B’ Football Champions.
County U21 ‘B’ Football Champions.
2002: North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling League Champions.
North Tipperary Junior Hurling Champions.
County Junior Hurling Champions.
North Tipperary U21 ‘B’ Hurling Champions.
North Tipperary Minor ‘B’ Football Champions.
North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Champions.
County Junior ‘B’ Football Champions.
North Tipperary Club of the Year (1st time ever)
2004: County U18 ‘C’ Football Champions
2005: County Intermediate league hurling champions
2013: North Junior C Championship hurling champions
2015: County Intermediate league hurling champions
2016: North Tipperary Intermediate hurling champions (1st time ever)
North Tipperary U21B hurling champions (joined with Templederry)
2017: North Tipperary Intermediate hurling champions
North Tipperary Club of the Year (2nd time)
2021: North U19B hurling champions (joined with Templederry)
Camogie
Newport /Ballinahinch are joined together and this club has become a vibrant club for the future. The profile and progression of the many teams is clear to see as success makes it way to the hard working player base and coaches. There are numerous teams from juvenile to adult to cater for all. The club is also extremely proud of Bill Mullaney as current Manager of Tipperary senior camogie team.
Handball
The handball alley was opened in 1991 in the village of Ballinahinch. The handball club has achieved numerous titles down through the years. Great people kept the handball alive in the parish. While the sport dips in and out of activity, the alley is of major benefit to the local national school and it is great to see that handball is coming back again post Covid.
National School Activities
The National school has a very proud tradition of nourishing the GAA activity to ensure that the pupils are introduced to the playing of our national games. The promotion of the games for boys and girls is in a very healthy shape at present with Mr. Shane McGrath as the current Principal of the school. Numerous successes have been achieved down through the years in the many blitzs and competitions. The school wishes to thank the Foley family for the continued usage of the playing field.
Scór
Scór na bPáistí was re-established in the club in 2017. Club members of primary school age entered a mix of disciplines from solo song and group ballad singing, instrumental, recitation, novelty act and Irish figure dancing. Ballinahinch have had good success getting to A and B finals across many disciplines. Covid 19 has seen a pause put on Scòr participation but we look forward to a return in post pandemic times.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to all the officers and members of Ballinahinch GAA Club who made this feature possible, In particular a word of thanks to Philip Kelly who put all the information together..
By Jonathan Cullen Wed 1st Dec
