At the end of the last century, athletics were quite strong in all parishes, and among the events being featured at that time were high jumping, hurdles, and weight-throwing. Some noted exponents of these events in the locality were Dick Kent of Bawnard, who represented Cork in 1903-1904 in the inter-county competitions, William Buckley (Bronce), for high jumping and hurling and Maurice Buckley, Glenarousk, for high jumping.
Around this time, 1890, games were being organised on a regular basis and Castlelyons and Coolagown fielded teams in football tournaments held in Lisnager, Glenville, Ballyhooly, and Lisgoold.
An interesting cutting taken from a newspaper in 1888 reads as follows; "The G.A.A.- A preliminary meeting was held at Castlelyons on Sunday to form a branch of the G.A.A. The horn blowers of Coolagown, who were prosecuted for resisting the collection of the Leahy blood tax, and the following other prominent men attended; Messrs. James B.Mayne, David R Kent, Patrick Moynihan, Maurice Leary, John O'Keeffe and Denis Mahony, President Castlelyons Band, who occupied the chair. After a few remarks form those present it was arranged to hold a meeting at Castlelyons next Sunday at 2.00 p.m. to perfect all arrangement for the formation of the club".
Around the turn of the century Coolagown participated considerably in football tournaments, which were a major feature of the G.A.A. at that time. In April 1900 they played in Lismore against Ballyduff, the match being billed as an inter-county game; Coolagown (Cork) v Ballyduff (Waterford), Coolagown won 1-7 to 0-0. On Sunday March 31st. 1901 Coolagown and Skeheenarinky played at Glanworth in a game billed as Cork v Tipperary with Coolagown again winning 1-9 to 0-2.
In 1902 Coolagown entered the County Football Championships fielding 2 teams. First (senior), and seconds (junior), success however did not come their way.
Around this time also, a number of local players featured with the Cork team namely; Jim Daly, Bridesbridge, who captained the county team in 1895, J. Mawe, who played in 1898, George Smith, Ballyoran, who featured with Cork in 1899-1900, Peter Lenihan, Coolagown, and Jack Kent, Coolagown, both of whom were on the Cork team of 1905/06 defeated in the All-Ireland final by Dublin, while Jack Kent also featured on the Cork team of 1907 beaten once again by Dublin in the All-Ireland decider.
These players also featured with Fermoy senior football teams of this time and Jim Daly captained Fermoy in 1895 to win their first ever County senior title. George Smith was on the Fermoy team that won county finals in 1898-1900 while Lenihan and Kent were on the Fermoy team that won the Cork senior title when beating Rosscarbery 0-8 to 0-0. This was the 1906 final but it was not played until March of 1907.
After this period there appears to have been a lull in G.A.A. activities, with perhaps the Civil War and the 'troubles' playing their part in dividing the mentors into rival camps and therefore not being in the spirit of getting together to play G.A.A. games. However, we have mention of an Aghern/Castlelyons hurling team that played around 1920 and among those who participated were; Three Buckleys, William, Jack and Lar (Captain), Martin Riordan, Johnny Ring, Dick Quirke, Ned and Dan Cronin, Ml. Barrett, Paddy Mullins, Jackie Kent, Jackie Fitzgerald, Ned Twohill, Mick Moore, Tommy Barry, Tom Connors, Mick Hickey. Lar Buckley also played senior for Carrigtwohill around this time.
The next mention of Castlelyons comes in 1925 they had Jack Kent as their delegate to the East Cork Board and fielded in the junior hurling Championship but were defeated by Lisgoold 1-0 to 0-1 at Dungourney.
In 1928 the football club was formed and went under the name Bridevalley, and among their players at this were Jim Crowley, Chairman and Secretary, Seán O'Keeffe, Killawillian, Tommy O'Keeffe, Neddy O'Keeffe, Billy O'Keeffe (sub), Tommy Green, Bridesbridge, Mickey Green, Bridesbridge, (sub), Dick Verling and Johnny Kilty, Castlelyons, Paul Cashman, Francestown, Charley McCarthy, Coole, Johnny Maloney, Corrin, Mick McCarthy, (teacher), Coole, Batt Sullivan, Deerpark, Jimmy Sullivan, Bridesbridge, (goalie), Dick Scanlon, Ballyarra, Johnny McAuliffe, Ballyarra, Dan and Peter O'Brien, Bridesbridge, and these were joined by four from outside the area; Tricky Mahony, Kilworth, Mick Kearns, a Kerryman who worked at sinking pumps, Mick Brady, Dublin and John Hyland, Kildare.
Among the staunch supporters at this time were Paddy Arnold, Michael Ronayne, Dick Shinnick, Jimmy Fouhy, Tom and Denny Long and Tommie O'Connell. All practice was held in Shinnicks Rocks and transport was by Creamery lorry. A poem written at the time went as follows:
With Conn Flynn at the wheel,
Sure away we did steal,
From the lovely sweet banks of the Bride,
When the Whistle was sounded,
the ball it was grounded,
And quickly Bride Valley Boys Showed.
For O'Keeffe said, we'd win,
For he had faith in his men,
Proud Victory to the Banks of the Bride.
At this time football seemed to be all the go until a hurling club was founded in December 1936 and the members involved were John Spillane, Jimmy Broderick, Tom Connell, Billy Moynihan, and Jim Kenny. The hurling match was played in Bridesbridge against Bride Rovers in February 1937 and the team was; Mick Lynch, John Browne, Jimmy Kenny, Jimmy Murphy, Batt Sullivan, John Spillane, Matt Linihan, Tommy Keeffe, Billy Keeffe, William McAuliffe, Jimmy Broderick, Billy Moynihan, Billy Shea, Dan Beacher and Dave Beecher. Cactlelyons won this match but were later defeated by Carrigtwohill in the Championship.
Whilst Castlelyons teams were active during the period, success just did not come their way. In 1941 another interesting team appeared on the horizon. This was a team from Currabeha which went under the name of John Mitchels and their hurling team read as follows; Moss Murphy, John Barry, Sun Cotter, Batt Murphy, John Coughlan, E. Flynn, John Buckley, Jerry Cronin, M. O'Riordan, Paddy Carroll, Dan Hoare, Arthur Cronin, Paddy Cronin, Garrett Sheehan, Tom Carroll, Subs; William Cashman, Eddie Bucley, Jim Sheehan, Sun Caples, Jim Murphy. At this time also Coolagown figured prominently in camogie.
The first success came to the Castlelyons club in 1953 when Castlelyons won the East Cork B. Hurling Championship and the team was; Frank Murphy, Jerry Mackey, Dan Daly, Jim Kenny, Michael Sheehan, Dick White, Eddie Hurley, Tom Kent, Jim Lomasney, Jim Coughlan, Andy Scannell, Michael Riordan, Bertie Connors, Dan Shaughnessy, Tom Buckley.
Success was to come to the club again just two years later in 1955 when Castlelyons captured the East Cork A Grade hurling Championship beating neighbours St. Catherines on a 3-10 to 4-6 scoreline. The Castlelyons team read; James Murphy, Michael O'Riordan, Tom Joe O'Riordan, M. Flynn, M. O'Regan, T. Kent, Liam Cronin, P. Meade, B. O'Regan, F. J. Lomasney, P. O'Regan, J. Coughlan, Martin O'Riordan, D. Shaughnessy, T. Buckley, subs; J. Spillane, J. O'Brien, W. Gleeson, D. Twomey, M. Sheehan. This game was played at Midleton.
The sixties brought East Cork titles to the Club. The first of these was 1965 when Castlelyons defeated Sarsfields in the final played at Midleton on December 5th. The successful Castlelyons team, which won on the scoreline 6-8 to 2-3 was; D. O'Leary, F. Waters, T.J. O'Riordan, E. Meade, C. McCarthy, S. Randles, P. White, T. McNamara, P. Crowley, S. Flynn, T. McAuliffe, M. Hegarty, J. Barry, D. Hegarty, T. Murphy
1968 was the next year to see an East Cork title com to the Village when the Castlelyons football team won the Junior B Championship with a 1-3 to 1-1 victory over Youghal at Midleton. This game was played on December 8th and the Castlelyons team was; D. O'Brien, T. McAuliffe, T.J. O'Riordan, S. Randles, T. McAuliffe (Ballytrasna), D. McCarthy, J. Ronayne, M. Hegarty, F. Waters, K. Fitzgerald, J.J. Crowley, P. Crowley, P. O'Leary, T. Buckley, J. Barry (Capt.). It was the first football title for the club.
The seventies saw two adult East Cork Championships come the way of Castlelyons. The first of these was the B. Football Championship in 1974 when they overcame Cobh in the final at Riverstown on November 24th. Castlelyons won 0-10 to 0-2 and their team was; John Richards, Florence Waters, Mick McCarthy, Dermot McAuliffe, Dermot Kelly, Donal McCarthy, Michael Marray, Matt Hegarty, Rayond Murray, Sean Barry, Henry Hegarty, John Murphy, Liam Barry, J.J. Crowley, Pat Crowley.
Castlelyons minor footballers made history in 1983 when they captured their first ever East Cork minor B final when beating Glenville 3-7 to 3-5 at Rathcormac. Castlelyons lined out as follows; C. Casey, M. Buttimer, D. Buckner, K. Barry, D. Sheehan, P. O' Donoghue, D. Buttimer, S. O'Connell, T. Carroll, K. Barry, S. Gray, P. Shanahan, B. O'Regan, D. Walsh, M. Gray.
The eighties also saw two adult titles come to Castlelyons. In 1986 the B Hurling Championship was won when Castlelyons beat Cloyne 1-10 to 2-4 in the final at Carrigtwohill. Castlelyons also won the East Cork Hurling league that year again beating Cloyne in the final 4-6 to 1-5. The Castlelyons team in the Championship final was; John Barry, David Waters, Ger Sheedy, Tom Hegarty, Bertie Murphy, Mick Spillane, Tom Carroll, Henry Hegarty, Mick Flannery, Donal Sheehan, Nelius Murphy, Ned Kearney, Paddy Kearney, Paddy O'Leary, Ger O'Regan, John Murphy.
1989 was probably the most historic for the Castlelyons club for it saw the first ever County Championship come to the little village. The Cork county B football Championship was won in an epic encounter with Whitechurch at Watergrasshill with Castlelyons taking the title by the bare minimum 3-4 to 1-9. The Castlelyons team was; Adain Barry, Paul O'Sullivan, Anthony O'Regan, Ger O'Regan, Declan Spillane, William O'Riordan, Nelius Murphy, Mick Spillane, Donal Sheehan, Ger Barry, Ned Kearney, Joe Hartnett, Martin O'Riordan, Kieran McGann, Aidan Crowley.
The great advantage of modern technology is that this historic victory by Castlelyons can be re-lived over again because this final is available on video. In recent years a number of Castlelyons players represented their county at one level or another. The first of these was Tom Joe O'Riordan who played junior with the Cork hurlers of 1956. In 1969 Matt Hegarty won a National League medal with the Cork Senior hurlers. John Murphy won a Munster minor medal with the Cork minor hurling team but unfortunately were beaten in the All-Ireland final.
The most successful player from Castlelyons in the modern times must surely be Mick Spillane who won an All-Ireland junior football medal with Cork and a senior county medal with Imokilly.
The first records of hurling and football being played in Castlelyons date back to 1887 when a team from the parish took part in the County Championships although it is believed the games were played in the locality long before this period. The area produced many great players down through the years playing at Inter-County and various other levels, mainly football. The Club became extinct in the early thirties due partly to political problems. The coming of Fr. Morton (1935/47) to Castlelyons was a milestone in Gaelic activities. He had a great love of all things irish especially the game of hurling and it could be said of him that he was the man who brought hurling to Castlelyons as it is known today. He formed a Club and began teaching the game home self to many young men who wouldn't have seen a hurley until then, there being no juvenile games at the time.
Sad to recall, the Club again went out of existence in the early forties. Although no Club existed, the games, mainly hurling, continues to be played at various centres, mainly Bawnard, Murphy's field, Bridesbridge, Morrisson's field and in front of the Abbey in Castlelyons. Hurling was also played at various other cross-road points according to relationships with the local farmer. There would usually be a challenge match between Castlelyons and Bridesbridge in the Summer and then a team picked from both to play Coolagown and Bawnard. These would be the only matches most of the lads would play for the year. However, a few of the better players were playing with Fermoy and Bride Rovers.
Local pride in the parish at that time was at a very low ebb, and although many bemoaned the fact that the parish had no club, most people believed that nothing could ne organised in Castlelyons. The main meeting place at that time was the corner in Castlelyons known as Verling's corner. Here the young men would meet in the evening and when one enterprising individual decided to do a count one night, he got as far as sixty! The bridge at Bridesbridge was also a meeting place. Here pitch and toss was the big thing and if you hadn't at least six pennies in your pocket you stayed at the back of the crowd. There were three pubs in Castlelyons Village at the time as well as one at Coolagown, on eat Bridesbridge, another at O'Leary's Cross and also at Waterpark, all much smaller than they are today. They were mainly frequented by older men. Young people and women were rarely seen in pubs in those days. It was a time when people looked after just their own affairs, with practically no community involvement. The appointment of Fr. Corkery to Castlelyons as C.C. from 1947-1963 has a profound bearing on the direction the parish took during the years that followed. From the outset he endeavored to insil a sense of pride in Family, Parish and county at a time when it wasn't fashionable to be preaching such a gospel. He called a meting to form a G.A.A. Club and after many of the "doubting Thomas's" had their say from the back , a Club was formed with himself as Chairman. The first match to be played was played in a field given for the day by the James Kent R.I.P. where forty houses are now built. Kilcronat (now St. Catherines) provided the opposition and a big crowd turned up for the occasion.
Running a Club in those days entailed a great deal of work. There were very few cars, no phones and no Club-room. Some of the happenings of the time would take on an amusing slant when viewed from present circumstances. When a match was arranged for a Sunday afternoon, permission would have to be got from some farmer for a field. Goalposts would have to be erected and the field lined. Furze bushes would mark the corners except for Championship matches when flags would be used. The cow-dung would have to be cleared form the goal area! Permission to cut the grass in Summer time was always a contentious issue. On one occasion permission was refused, but "Ye may cut the thistles". Procuring goalposts was a highly skilled operation. Soundings would be taken from various members as to where grew the four tallest trees, mainly larch. This was before the chain-saw arrived and there were many more trees in the area. It would have to be established beforehand beyond any doubt that the owner would allow the trees to be cut. Otherwise the trees would have to be cut at night. The same flue applied for the cutting of ash for hurleys. Another amusing incident occurred during a match at Watergrasshill between Watergrasshill and Castlelyons on a wet evening. It was before the coming of the oil skin clothing and in order to keep himself dry this particular referee would put on several coats and as the outside one got wet and heavy, he would discard it. Shortly after the ball being thrown in to start the game, the Hill broke away and had the ball over the bar. It was then observed that the referee was searching for something in the grass, helped by a couple of players. More players joined in the search. A few more people from the sideline came in to see what was wrong and then more and more. Word finally got around that the referee has lost his pencil. This was before biros were invented and not one in the crowd had a pencil. Eventually the referee found the pencil himself in the pocket of his inside coat. The Hill players then reminded him to write down the point they had scored but he had not seen the score as the was searching for his pencil. Eventually the match got underway and was enjoyed by all.
Transport to the matches was by lorry. This would take supporters and players. During the fifties the parish became sadly divided and it became difficult to keep the Club on an even keel. However, by remaining neutral and endeavoring to foster friendships the Club eventually had a uniting effect and harmony was restored. The Club had its most successful period on the playing fields in the mid-fifties winning the B Championship in 1953, beaten by a point in the A final in 1954 and winning the A Championship in 1955. The team beat Courcey Rovers at Cork Athletic Grounds, now Pairc Uí Caoimh, in the first round of the county and qualified to meet Aghabulogue in the semi-final. This turned out to be a most controversial meeting. Aghabulogue won, but during the game word was received form the County Board that they were believed to heave several illegal players from Tipperary. Castlelyons were asked to lodge an objective and they would get the match. However, when the objection was heard, the attitude of the County Board was completely changed and the Club got a raw deal. Castlelyons proved that at least four of the Aghabullogue team were from Tipperary and were playing there, but as the Castlelyons list omitted one name, as one player was late for the start of the game and a substitute was put on as the team was going on the field, both teams were ruled out of the Championship. It was a shocking decision and relations with the County Board were strained afterwards. Castlelyons appealed the decision to Munster Council but they rules that as the address of the Secretary of the Munster Council wasn't written in Irish it couldn't be heard, even though it was copied from the G.A.A. Official Guide where it was written in English. It was a traumatic time for the Club and prominent members considered retiring from the G.A.A. for good as they felt they had been badly let down by the County Board.
In the early fifties the Club rented a field from the Leahys of Abbylands. This was a great step forward, as it meant that goalposts could be left up, grass could be cut properly, so the standard of hurling improved considerably. In the late sixties a directive was issued to all Clubs from Central Council to endeavor to purchase a pitch of their own, The Club bought the present pitch from Mrs. John Kenny of Abbeylands in 1968. It involved major earth leveling as it sloped severely. The money was borrowed from the Bank, but the County Board offered generous assistance and also promise to send down the County Senior Hurling team free of charge if a match could be arranged.
The official opening took place on June 6th 1971 and was performed by Mr. Pat Fanning, President of the GAA. There was match between Cork and Clare on the new pitch. It was witnessed by a huge crowd: it was a wonderful occasion and was great boost for the club Fund raising activities then commenced to clear the debt. Small grants were given by the GAA and Cork County Council. The major share of the funds needed were raised at local level and the debt was cleared in a short time. The Club then began planning to build dressing rooms.
At the same time the local Community council was considering building a meeting hall as they were vacating the old school to make it available to the late Mr Jim Fleming to set up a clothing factory which gave much needed employment in the area. It was a time when the parish found itself at a cross-roads. To complicate matters more, a suggestion was made by people in Fermoy to build a huge complex to cater for the parishes bordering Fermoy and the town itself. Castlelyons the proposal, but felt it would be bad for community spirit. It was decided to call a public meeting in the old school to consider the feasibility of building a hall. Only five people attended the meeting. They decided to go ahead with plans to build dressing rooms and a hall to cater for all sections of the community on the GAA grounds. It was also decided to raise the money in the bank and to use voluntary labour as much as possible. A builder was employed by day and an army of voluntary workers would come along every evening. It was an exiting time in the parish and a period of wonderful community spirit. The entire building was completed in record time but a huge debt existed in the Bank. There were no Government or Lottery Grants at that time, so the money would have to be got locally. A cattle scheme was thought up whereby cattle would be bought at the mart and given to farmers who would already have agreed to take them for six months free of charge. The cattle would then be taken back from the farmers and sold at the Mart. This involved another visit to the now alarmed Bank Manager. The cost of buying the cattle was almost as much as building. However, after a lot of persuasion the money was made available and cattle were taken our to almost a hundred farmers form Coolagown to Britway and beyond. It was a wonderful scheme as it involved all sections of the Community, Protestants and Catholic, and brought in a huge profit. The scheme was continued for three years by which time, with other fund raising activities, the debt was cleared. The Community now had a complex, which it is believed was the first of its kind because it catered for all ages. Previous to this, Parish Halls were all that existed. A lot of thought went into putting a name on the building. Finally some one thought of Community Centre and it is generally agreed that Castlelyons Community Centre was the first to be built in rural Ireland. Many people came from outside areas to see the Centre and in the years that followed, most Clubs in East and North Cork and further a field purchased their own playing fields and began building indoor facilities. About this time many people felt that ladies were not adequately catered for in the new Centre. The Committee discussed the matter and visited many areas in the City to find a suitable game that could be played by ladies and gents, young and old. Finally, Squash was decided on and two Squash Courts were built together with a Members Bar. The parish now had its own playing field, meeting rooms, main hall for games, dances, concerts, plays, etc., a shop and dressing rooms with hot and cold showers, a big change from a few years before when players togged off by the side of a fence and only shower to be had come down from the sky. The Centre was officially opened by Mr. Con Murphy, with a senior Hurling match between Cork and Limerick and a free night for everyone that helped.
Castlelyons is a place of wonderful community spirit.A lot of people have given hours and hours of dedicated work to make it a better place to live in. Many people who came to live in the area have enriched it by their coming and will be always welcome. The people who built these facilities have toiled for no reward. All they would ask is that they be used to the fullest and be always respected. People in Castlelyons draw inspiration from wonderful leaders who graces the parish down through the centuries. The suffering and sacrifices made by Fr. O'Dwyer and Fr. Ferris in their fight for the rights of the poor of the parish must be always remembered. The work of An-tAthair Peadar in the restoration of the Irish language during his stay in Castlelyons is believed to have kept it from becoming extinct, when forces were arrayed against it. The Battle of Bawnard is believed to be the spark that inspired the County to continue the struggle for freedom when 1916 seemed a failure. Castlelyons has a glorious tradition to love up. The people that went before us blazed a trail that will be difficult to follow. Let us endeavour to live up to their expectations with a constant effort at caring and sharing with one another.
1993 saw the East Cork Junior A Hurling title return to Castlelyons for the first time in 38years. Padraigh O’Brien captained a side of young hurlers against an experienced Killeagh team. The heroics of goalkeeper Aiden Barry on the day earn him the man of the match award.
The same year was also extremely important in the development of the modern team. Castlelyons under16 hurlers swept aside all opposition to win the county. That team had players like Timmy McCarthy, Paul Cotter, Andrew Meade and Trevor Hickey who are now the backbone of the modern team. Those same bunches of lads went on to be the first Castlelyons minor team to win an East Cork in 1995 and were very unlucky in the county only to meet a team of little know hurlers from Newtownshandrum who later went on to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Castlelyons made the East Cork final in 1997 and when Bride Rovers won their semi final it was an easy job to motivate the team. After a competitive match William O’Riordan raised the Jamsie Kelleher Cup aloft for the large Castlelyons support to see. Castlelyons went on to beat Ballinascarthy in the County semi final before meeting Courcey Rovers in the final. Courcey’s had beaten Castlelyons in the first round in ’93 so we knew it wasn’t going be easy if Castlelyons were to triumph. It was one of the most competitive finals ever seen and it took till the 60th minute before Peter Murphy and Timmy McCarthy scored to give Castlelyons a two point victory. The bonfires lead us home that night for celebrations that were only to be out done twelve months later.
Pa Finn, Bertie Murphy, Donal McCarthy and Cal McCarthy were the men who were responsible for the team of this era and when they returned to training in January 1998 they could feel a buzz around the squad that was going to stay until November. In Ballynoe they overcame Youghal in the first round before meeting Cloughduv. After 57 minutes of that match in Pairc Ui Rinn Castlelyons found themselves five points down when they were awarded a 21yard free. Up steps Timmy McCarthy to rifle the ball to the back of the net. When the referee blew a second time in the 60th minute the feeling of anticipation was overwhelming and Timmy fired home for the second time every body knew the had just witnessed something very special.
In the semi final Castlelyons overcame Mallow to set up a final against
old east Cork rivals Killeagh. On that day in November goals from Peter
Murphy and Padraigh O’Brien and some outstanding hurling from
Eoin Fitzgerald brought Castlelyons up to senior ranks for the first
time in their history. That famous team was, Aidan Barry , Barry O’Connell
, William O’Riordan , Andrew Meade , Paul Cotter , Barry Fitzgerald
, Sean Cotter , Paul Cashman ,Donal Sheehan , Peter Murphy , Timmy McCarthy
, Eoin Fitzgerald , Padraigh O’Brien, Michael Spillane(Capt.)
, Syl McAulliffe.
'Click' on the year, to see team photo
Junior B East Cork Champions
1968, 1989, 2005
Junior B County Champions
1989
Hurling:
Intermediate Champions
1998
Munster Champions
1998
Junior A County Champions
1997
Junior A East Cork Champions
1955, 1993, 1997
Junior B County Champions
1991
Junior B East Cork Champions
1953, 1965, 1972, 1986