CASTLEBAR RFC

Not many people know that Castlebar RFC was represented at the founding meeting of the Connacht Branch. The Connacht Branch was founded in 1885.The following clubs were represented at that meeting Ballinasloe, Castlebar, Galway Town, Galway Grammar School, Queen College Galway and Ranelagh School Athlone. Only Castlebar, Ballinasloe, and Queens College (now NUIG) still survive.

Castlebar Rugby Club was founded by a number of keen local people who got together with some of the soldiers stationed in the barracks to field a team. The original strip was black and amber and the club was active for a few seasons. Even in those days the Club was represented at Inter-Provincial level with Paddy Flannery playing for Connacht & Gussie Wynne just failing to get Inter-Provincial honours.

In 1939 the club was revived by Michael Heverin and some friends.  At this time the club colours were changed to the present sky blue and navy blue (primarily because Michael presented the club with a set of jerseys in the colours of his old school, Castleknock College)., The club played wherever they could get a field but ones that got regular use

were Nilands (where the Industrial Estate is now) and Flannerys (where the old swimming pool was).

The club was active throughout the 40’s and 50’s but interest faded in the 60’s.

In 1970 the club did another phoenix when over 40 people attended a meeting in the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar. Among those who attended were M.Ralston, Dr. A. Taffe, A.Bourke, Charlie Garavan, Fergus Kilkelly, Padraig Lyons, Frankie Cresham, Lar Davis, F. Davey, David Flood, Michael Heverin, Ollie Whyte and Dr Declan Shields.

The first game was played in Durcan’s field in Turlough. The club colours still sky blue and navy blue as before. St Marys field was used for training sessions, but things improved when the Western Health Board allowed the club to use the Airport Field.

The early games were played in the Airport Field, once the cattle were driven off it (not particularly remembered as a great playing surface), and changing rooms were kindly supplied by the late Tony McHugh of the Welcome Inn. Various premises have been used as HQ for the club down through the years. It started in the Imperial Hotel, and later moved to Niall Keyes pub (now The Bungalow Bar).

The club won their first trophy, the Junior B League in 1972 captained by Johnny McCormack.

In 1974, the club took a big step forward and purchased 8 acres of land in Cloondeash.  The main pitch was developed, and every training session ended with a sweep along the new pitch picking stones. In 1984, the clubhouse was built, and thus started a famous night spot in Mayo. The discos ran every Friday night, and people came from all over Mayo for the enjoyable night out.

Over the years, the club has grown and the facilities have been improved. Now the club has 4 dressing rooms, 2 all-weather floodlit pitches and  an all-weather floodlit training pitch. The club has grown from just one team to 2 senior teams,  Under 18.5’s, Under 17’s, Under 15’s, Under 14’s, Under 13’s, Girls U/14’s, Girls U/16’s and a Minis Section catering for boys and girls from Under 8 up to Under 12. The club has over 200 members and is working on a detailed development plan for the future.

History of the Castlebar Ladies team

What started out as somewhat of an experiment two short years ago has seen the game of rugby firmly established for ladies in Castlebar and indeed Co. Mayo. The team was set up in September 2012 and they headed into the unknown. Little did they think it would take them just 15 months to win the Connacht League but that’s exactly what happened when team captain Caroline Staunton lifted the cup in November 2014. The panel on that historic day was made up of 29 girls and interestingly only 2 of the 29 had played rugby before the team was set up. Startling as that may be, it only highlights the fact that this team was continuing to develop and continuously welcomed new players. The women were coached were coached  by former Castlebar Rugby players Ger Prendergast, Christy Cusack and Jason Keane. Unfortunately that team have now disbanded, with some of those players having gone onto represent their province and country.

Recent History

The 1990’s were pretty quiet for the club, the only highlight of the decade coming in the 95/96 season when Castlebar reached the Connacht Junior Cup Final, they unfortunately lost in the final to Monivea but the squad, under the head coach Rory Casey and captain Michael Hastings (R.I.P), showed what talent they had.

We would have to wait over 10 years for our next cup success when in the 08/09 season, under head coach Rory Casey and captained by Ruairi Hughes, Castlebar won the Cawley cup in an exciting match against Ballina.

They wouldn’t have to wait as long for the next cup victory when the following season, under new head coach Johnny McCormack and still captain Ruairi Hughes, they sealed back to back Cawley cup wins where they beat Sligo 26-18.

Fundraising

Castlebar have various methods of fundraising for the club and are always looking for new and unique ways of raising funds. The club run an annual lotto,  Golf classic with the local Golf club and hold annual Race nights in the town sponsored by Tolsters Bar Castlebar. every 2 weeks.

Roll of Honour: 

Johnny McCormack - Connacht Seniors 1973

Sean Moran  - Connacht Seniors 1988

Sean Wootton – Connacht Seniors 2008

Tony Casey –Irish Students 1984

Shane Casey – Irish Youths 2010

Paul Gannon - former President of the Referees Association.

Shane McElwee- former President of the Referees Association.

Trevor Ardill - former President of the Referees Association.

Jimmy Staunton – former chairman of Connacht Rugby’s first ever PGB.

Seamus King – Head Coach of the Grand Slam winning Connacht inter-pros in 2011.

Barry Walsh – Ireland Rugby League International 2021

Ann Marie O’Hora – Ireland Ladies 2020.