History of Kenmare Shamrocks GAA Club
On September 25th 1888 Kenmare Athletic Club held a meeting with a view to forming a branch of the Gaelic Athletic Association. A motion was unanimously passed to effect the formation and a further motion was passed to have the newly formed club called after Daniel O Connell, The Liberator. The name of the Club was changed later to the
present-day name of Kenmare Shamrocks Hurling & Football club..
1889 saw the running of the inaugural Co. Kerry Championships in Football and Hurling. Kenmare entered teams in both and our footballers lost out in the quarter final to eventual champions Laune Rangers.
Hurling would appear to have been the dominant game locally as there are numerous accounts of the game being played in the Roughty Valley prior to the foundation of the G.A.A. In fact, there is a record of a game of Hurling played on St. Patrick’s Day 1858 in Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A. between two teams called the Kenmare Guards. The teamlists which are extant show many local names. It was no surprise, therefore, that Kenmare won the first ever Co. Senior Hurling Championship of Kerry played on May 19th 1889.. Hurling appears to have dominated the scene locally for some years and Kenmare reached another final in 1895 but lost to Kilmoyley. In the 1902 Final Kenmare overcame Tralee Celtic who reversed the result in the 1904 final. A further title came our way in 1916.
The next and last Senior Co. title was won in 1942. Further County Hurling finals were reached in 1943, ’45, ’47 and 1991. The late great Phil O'Sullivan from Glenmore in Lauragh in Tuosist parish who captained Kerry to an All Ireland Football title in 1924 played with Kenmare and won a Senior Co. Hurling medal in 1917.
In 1940 the County Intermediate Football title was won.
In the late 1970s Gaelic Football came to the fore and Intermediate Football titles, Co. Leagues and Towns Cup County competitions were annexed. In 1974 Kenmare District Team won the Co. Senior Football championship and in 1975 Mickey “Ned” O Sullivan captained Kerry to All Ireland success.
Over the years many players from Kenmare have represented Kerry in all grades of hurling and football. In 1972 & 1983 Kenmare represented Kerry in the Munster Club Football championship and on each occasion were narrowly beaten by the club championship specialists Nemo Rangers from Cork
The 1980s proved to be era of massive under age successes at football and hurling with many Co. competitions being won. Minor Hurling, U21 Football and a host of other under age hurling and football titles came our way. In 1984 and 1992 All Ireland Hurling Féile na nGael titles were won. In 1982 the Club won an All Ireland Minor Football competition. In under age hurling Kenmare have for long teamed up with the neighbouring parish Kilgarvan to field teams in County competitions.
The club colours today are red & black and these were adopted in the late 1960s; the previous colours being blue & gold. The Club’s home ground is Father Breen Park and it has two playing fields with a new synthetic training ground being developed. A new sports hall has also been completed and this should add to the promotion of hurling as indoor hurling has contributed hugely to the present day position of hurling in the greater Kenmare area. In fact Kenmare Kenmare Club pioneered the concept of indoor coaching in hurling and football in Kerry in the late 1970s.