Westerns GFC
{{Short description|Louth-based Gaelic games club}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox GAA club
| club gaa = Westerns
| irish = Na hIartharaigh CLG
| crest =
| founded = 1951
| province = Leinster
| nickname = The Westies
| colours = Green and Gold
| county = Louth
| grounds = Páirc Na hIartharaigh, Reaghstown, Ardee
| coordinates = {{coord|53.91159|N|6.60825 |W|display=it|region:IE_type:landmark}}
| pattern_la = _whiteborder
| pattern_b =_goldhorizontal
| pattern_ra = _whiteborder
| pattern_so = _color_3_stripes_gold
| leftarm = 006844
| body = 006844
| rightarm = 006844
| shorts = FFFFFF
| socks = 006844
|}}
Westerns GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club that was founded in 1951 and fields gaelic football teams in competitions organised by Louth GAA. The club is based in the parish of Reaghstown,{{cite web|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/county/louth/article/index/227258|title=Westerns turn the sod on their new clubhouse
|work =Hogan Stand|date=7 November 2014}} close to the town of Ardee and the Louth/Monaghan border.
Westerns have reached the final of the Louth Junior Football Championship four times, in each case being unsuccessful in winning the Christy Bellew Cup.{{cite web |url= https://www.hoganstand.com/county/louth/article/index/71667|title= More final heartache|accessdate=22 March 2023 | work=Hogan Stand |date=30 November 2006 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.hoganstand.com/louth/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=67725 |title=Cups of cheer |accessdate=9 January 2023|work=Hogan Stand |date=20 November 2002}}
As of 2023, the club competes in the Junior Championship{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/gaa/louth-gaa-senior-intermediate-and-junior-club-championship-draws-42362216.html |title=Louth GAA senior, intermediate and junior club championship draws |work =The Argus |date=27 February 2023}} and Division 3B of the county football Leagues.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/gaa/louth-gaas-adult-league-and-championship-winners-for-2022-42244973.html|title=Louth GAA's adult league and championship winners for 2022 |work =The Argus |date=26 December 2022}} Anthony Durnin is the manager of the senior team.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/gaa/louth-gaa-club-management-teams-begin-to-take-shape-with-several-recent-appointments-42199450.html |title=Louth GAA club management teams begin to take shape with several recent appointments |work =The Argus |date=6 December 2022}}
Honours
- Louth Junior 2A Football League (1): 1975{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/drogheda-news/localnotes/around-the-districts-ardeecollon/40908580.html|title=Around the Districts: Ardee/Collon|work =Drogheda Independent|date=5 October 2021}}
- Louth Junior 2A Football Championship (1): 1977
- Louth Junior A Football League (1): 2001{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/other-sports/westerns-make-winning-debut-26917223.html|title=Westerns make winning debut|work =The Argus |date=7 June 2002}}
- Drogheda and Dundalk Dairies/Kevin Mullen Shield (2): 1978, 2006{{cite web |url= https://www.hoganstand.com/county/louth/article/index/167993 |title= Westerns make steady progress|accessdate=22 March 2023 | work=Hogan Stand |date= 27 November 2011}}
- Louth Junior 1 Football League (Division 3B) (1): 2019{{cite web |url= https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/gaa/436105/all-the-possible-outcomes-ahead-of-the-final-round-of-louth-gaa-club-leagues.html|title= All the possible outcomes ahead of the final round of Louth GAA club leagues
| work=Dundalk Democrat |date= 5 August 2019}}
Inter-county players
Reaghstown native Tommy Durnin made his Louth championship debut in 2015 against Westmeath{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/westmeath-louth-leinster-2103950-May2015/|title=6 new faces in Louth team for Leinster championship opener
|work =The42.ie|date=15 May 2015}} and is still a county player under manager Mickey Harte in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/gaa/louths-promotion-dream-is-ended-by-dublin-but-croke-park-clash-serves-only-to-inspire-optimism-among-wee-followers-42404694.html|title=Louth's promotion dream is ended by Dublin but Croke Park clash serves only to inspire optimism among Wee followers | work =The Argus |date=26 March 2023}} He was a member of the Westerns side that won the Division 3B Football League in 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/sport/511570/not-just-a-junior-player-meet-louth-s-man-mountain-westerns-legend-tommy-durnin.html|title=Not just 'a junior player': Meet Louth's man mountain, Westerns legend Tommy Durnin |work =Dundalk Democrat |date=24 January 2020}} Durnin transferred his club allegiance to Inniskeen Grattans of Monaghan in 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/sport/511570/not-just-a-junior-player-meet-louth-s-man-mountain-westerns-legend-tommy-durnin.html|title=Joe Carroll: Give supporters success and they'll be happy|work =Dundalk Democrat |date=12 March 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Louth GAA clubs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Westerns GFC}}