Login
Login

Birr GAA

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Use Irish English|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox GAA club

| club gaa = Birr

| irish = Biorra

| crest =

| founded = 1909

| province = Leinster

| county = Offaly

| nickname =

| colours = {{Color box|#00A550 }} {{Color box|#FF0000}}

| grounds = St Brendan's Park

| coordinates = {{coord|53|05|29.32|N|7|54|27.76|W|display=it|region:IE_type:landmark}}

| h1 = 4

| h2 = 7

| h3 = 22

| pattern_la = _redborder

| pattern_b = _redhorizontal

| pattern_ra = _redborder

| leftarm = 00A550

| body = 00A550

| rightarm = 00A550

| shorts = FFFFFF

| socks = 00A550

| pattern_so = _redhalf2

| pattern_sh = _red_stripes_adidas

|}}

Birr GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland. The club is affiliated to the Offaly Cork Board and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling, but also fields teams in Gaelic football.

History

Located in the town of Birr, on the Offaly-Tipperary border, Birr GAA Club was established in 1909.{{cite web|url=http://www.birrgaaclub.com/BirrGAAClubHistoryPage.html|title=History|publisher=Birr GAA website|date=|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}} After just a few short years, the club had it's first success when, in 1912, they claimed the first of three Offaly SHC in four seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/offaly-and-tipperary-a-volcanic-rivalry-built-on-shifting-tectonic-plates|title=Offaly and Tipperary: A volcanic rivalry, built on shifting tectonic plates|publisher=GAA website|date=3 July 2022|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}} After a lapse of 23 years, Birr had a successful 10-year period between 1938 and 1948, during which time the club claimed six Offaly SHC titles.{{cite web|url=https://hoganstand.com/county/offaly/article/index/46036|title=Desmond Dooley|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=31 October 2004|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}} Birr won their 10th Offaly SHC in 1971.{{cite web|url=https://offaly.gaa.ie/birr-st-rynaghs-contest-molloy-environmental-senior-hurling-final/|title=Birr and St Rynagh’s to contest Molloy Environmental Senior Hurling Final|publisher=Offaly GAA website|date=2 October 2016|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}}

Birr had their most successful and dominant era in the 17-year period between 1991 and 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/home/602538/magnificent-birr-were-a-real-force-of-nature-during-their-glorious-heyday.html|title=FEATURE: Magnificent Birr were a real force of nature during their glorious heyday|publisher=Offaly Live|date=15 January 2021|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}} During that time the club won 12 Offaly SHC titles, including a record-equalling five-in-a-row between 1999 and 2003, followed by a four-in-a-row between 2005 and 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/ballyskenachs-dreams-fade-as-birr-do-five-in-a-row/27445121.html|title=Ballyskenach's dreams fade as Birr do five in a row|publisher=Irish Independent|date=11 October 2003|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/hanniffy-inspired-for-birr-in-tense-decider/26484224.html|title=Hanniffy inspired for Birr in tense decider|publisher=Irish Independent|date=13 October 2008|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}}

Seven Leinster Club SHC titles were also claimed by the club during this period.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30338917.html|title=Birr in seventh heaven after Leinster final win|publisher=Irish Examienr|date=2 December 2007|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}} Birr became the first club team to win four All-Ireland Club SHC titles, after defeats of Dunloy (1995), Sarsfields (1998), Clarinbridge (2002) and Dunloy (2003).{{cite web|url=https://hoganstand.com/county/limerick/article/index/267732|title=Lovely hurling on Paddy's Day: five club finals that'll live long in the memoryr|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=16 March 2017|accessdate=10 June 2025|first=|last=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/whelehan-majestic-as-birr-heroes-conquer-sarsfields-452179.html|title=Whelehan majestic as Birr heroes conquer Sarsfields|date=1998-03-18|publisher=Irish Independent|accessdate=2010-10-30}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2002/0317/clubhurling.html|title=Birr win third All-Ireland club title|date=17 March 2002|publisher=RTÉ Sport|access-date=29 October 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/classy-birr-too-good-for-dunloy-92018.html|title=Classy Birr too good for Dunloy|date=17 March 2003|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=19 March 2018}}

Honours

Notable players

{{see also|Category:Birr hurlers}}

  • Joe Errity: All-Ireland SHC-winner (1994, 1998).{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30079122.html|title=Errity denies retirement claim|date=2 December 2002|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=19 March 2018}}
  • Johnny Pilkington: All-Ireland SHC-winner (1994, 1998).{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/faithful-county-legend-johnny-pilkington-boldy-predicts-offaly-all-ireland-shc-glory-by-2030/a864717646.html|title=Faithful county legend Johnny Pilkington boldy predicts Offaly All-Ireland SHC glory by 2030|date=5 September 2024|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=19 March 2018}}
  • Brian Whelahan: All-Ireland SHC-winner (1994, 1998).{{cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/brian-whelahan-inducted-into-leinster-gaa-hall-fame|title=Brian Whelahan to be inducted into Leinster GAA Hall of Fame|date=25 May 2018|publisher=GAA website|access-date=19 March 2018}}

References

{{reflist}}

External link

  • [http://www.birrgaaclub.com/ Birr town GAA Club website]

{{Offaly GAA clubs}}

Category:Gaelic games clubs in County Offaly

Category:Hurling clubs in County Offaly

Category:Gaelic football clubs in County Offaly

Category:Birr, County Offaly