Search Results for 'Lady's Boys Club'

In 1924, the Galway Agricultural & Sports Society was formed, a group of visionary people, mostly businessmen from the town, with the aim of providing amenities for the citizens of Galway and environs. They purchased 17 acres of land from the Erasmus Smith Foundation, the owners of the Grammar School. These 22 men, together with five trustees, began to develop the ground to let to various sporting bodies which included greyhound racing, rugby, hurling and football, camogie, ladies hockey, drill displays etc. The first president of this group was CJ Kerin, 1925-1955 and he was followed by John D Whelan, 1955-1964. It was always intended to be a multi-purpose venue and was variously known as the Sportsground, the Sports Field or the Galway Greyhound Stadium.

Our Lady's Boys Club was founded in 1940 by Fr. Leonard Shiel S.J. “to help young lads, flung into work at an early age when their characters are most easily formed for good or for ill. The Club hopes to play its small part in the present day effort all over Ireland to help poor boys to be more reliable and useful members of society and a credit to their faith”.

“There is nothing as Galway as Our Lady's Boy’s Club,” was how our president Michael D Higgins described OLBC some years ago at a function in the Columban Hall. It is more than 80 years since it was founded and it is the longest-running youth club in the country. It was set up by Fr Leonard Shiel SJ at a time when there were was a lot of grinding poverty in Galway and no recreational facilities or extra-curricular activities for young people in areas like the Claddagh, Bohermore, Shantalla, and ‘The West’. The club provided these and has been a source of guidance and inspiration to thousands of young men and boys since, especially those from a working class background. From that first day of nervous membership, right through their teens, and even after they had taken up the challenges of adult life, the spirit and watchful eye of the Club is ever with them.

“There is nothing as Galway as Our Lady's Boy’s Club,” was how our president Michael D Higgins described OLBC some years ago at a function in the Columban Hall. It is more than 80 years since it was founded and it is the longest-running youth club in the country. It was set up by Fr Leonard Shiel SJ at a time when there were was a lot of grinding poverty in Galway and no recreational facilities or extra-curricular activities for young people in areas like the Claddagh, Bohermore, Shantalla, and ‘The West’. The club provided these and has been a source of guidance and inspiration to thousands of young men and boys since, especially those from a working class background. From that first day of nervous membership, right through their teens, and even after they had taken up the challenges of adult life, the spirit and watchful eye of the Club is ever with them.

Both Castlebar and Ballinrobe players will have been busy preparing all week getting their bodies ready to do battle again after making their way into the last eight of the Connacht Junior Cup.