History

“Somebody has said that no man can adequately describe Irish life who ignores the Gaelic Athletic Association, which is true in a way, for football runs women a hard race as a topic for conversation.”

Patrick Kavanagh “Gut Yer Man”

GAA in Monaghan

The formal GAA in Monaghan dates from 1887 when the first County Board was established. That early momentum was maintained as the County (represented by Inniskeen), went on to win the first-ever Ulster Senior Football Championship in 1888. Although the number of GAA Clubs had quickly grown to 32, the malign influence of the “Parnell Split” and other issues saw that number just as quickly plummet to two by 1891. Monaghan’s GAA resurgence took nearly a decade-and-a-half to come about but in 1906 a first-ever Ulster SFC Final (albeit the 1904 one) was played in Clones and a year later Monaghan had regained the Ulster SFC title (the 1906 one which had been delayed until 1907). By 1917 four more Ulster titles were added, followed by another five in the 1920s. Monaghan vied first with Antrim and then with Cavan for overall Ulster supremacy and strengthened their position by winning the first two Dr. McKenna Cup competitions in 1927 and 1928.

Thereafter Monaghan’s power at County level waned although they remained a consistent football presence. The Ulster SFC title was regained after a 41-year absence in 1979 and won again in 1985 and 1988. In many ways the Monaghan team of the 1980s contributed hugely to an Ulster renaissance, particularly via its winning of a first National League title in 1985. Hurling meanwhile was not neglected and Monaghan were All-Ireland Junior Champions in 1997. The County also played a leading role in the development of ladies football in Ulster and remains the Province’s only County to win Senior All-Ireland titles (two, in 1996 and 1997).

GAA Club affairs in Monaghan have always been vibrant and at the end of the 1970s Scotstown emerged to win three Ulster Club titles in a row, adding another in 1989. Castleblayney also won titles in 1986 and 1991. The County currently has 33 GAA Clubs, one for roughly every 2,000 people.

Beyond the games Monaghan has been a persistent presence in Scór and has, in common with other Ulster Counties, put in place an extensive and high quality infrastructure for gaelic games and associated activities. St Tiarnach’s Park Clones has effectively become the home of the Ulster Final and was significantly improved and upgraded in the early 1990s.

Monaghan: A GAA Timeline

Videos from our past and present

Monaghan 125 Team

Roll of Honours

History of Monaghan Handball