Family ties in Aughawillan GAA

The role of the family has had a major influence on Aughawillan GAA since its formation. As with the majority of club teams throughout the country the idea of families supporting club teams is no different in Aughawillan. This influence within the club also contributes to the spirit and bond of the various teams. The contribution of families to the make up of teams in the club has been present over many years. A number of families have backboned Aughawillan teams from the underage right up to the senior grade. Several sets of siblings have worn the blue and gold through the years many with great levels of success for both the mens and ladies teams. An example of this is the 1989 senior mens Championship winning team that had 9 players from 4 families on the starting fifteen. In 1992 the first of the three in a row success, ten players or two thirds of the team were from four families. This team had four Quinn brothers playing on it- Mickey, Thomas, Seamus and Bernie. Furthermore three other sets of brothers played on this team. The Quinn, both Flanagan families, Gilheaney, Prior and several other families have been at the heart of this, many of whom have several senior championship medals between them. This trend continues on to the current crop of players in the club. It must be said also that many players who played for the club came from non-football backgrounds and contributed much also. The contribution of families to the make up of teams in the club is a common theme within ladies GAA in Aughawillan too. Many of the ladies team are sisters or cousins and the influence of family life has had a similar impact on this aspect of football in the club. Much of the success the ladies teams have had is due to a number of families contributing several players to the teams. From the current generation of players there are two brothers playing from the following families- Priors (3 families),Bohans,Quinns(2 families) and Mc Govern’s while three brothers line out from the Beirne, Flynn and Darcy families. In fact three Beirne brothers played on the team, which was narrowly beaten in the 2006 Division One league final (Enda, Gavin and Niall) The influence of families on Aughawillan GAA is a major part of its history, and it appears that the current generation of players in the club in both mens and ladies GAA are carrying this tradition into the future.

This passage was compiled by an Aughawillan club memeber