History of Tourmakeady GAA Club www.tourmakeady.com
In 1949 a Tourmakeady football club was founded and was affiliated with the South Mayo Board. The founding committee included Rev. A. Fair, Rev. T. Canning, T. Rabette N.T. and Tony Timoney who kept the books. The team played such teams as Partry, Aughagower, Turlough and Ballyburke in a field in Gorteenmore beside the Church. An interesting fact is that a set of jerseys in 1949 cost £6 and 10 shillings. This club lasted for a few years, and then football in Tourmakeady went stagnant until 1965. In September 1965, the present Tourmakeady club was formed, the founding members being Sean Cronin, Sean O'Shea, Owen Dennehy and Tom Garvey. A field was rented from Martin Heaney, though much of the training was done in Churchfield. At this time efforts were made to affiliate Ballintubber and Tourmakeady under the name of the 'Saints', however this did not materialise, and Ballintubber wished Tourmakeady the best of luck in their newly formed club. The membership fee for the new Tourmakeady club was two shillings and six pence and a set of black and white jerseys were purchased. Funds were raised by running dances and concerts and through a national fund raising campaign called "Ciste na Banban". This team played its first game against Ballinrobe on 13th February 1966 and its first championship game against Achill on 1st May 1966 - Tourmakeady lost both the games. This first championship team included the following: T. Lydon, M. Lally, M. Staunton, J. O' Brien, B. Dermody, T. Prendergast, M. Power, S. Cronin, S. Sullivan, T. Garvey, O. Dennehy, P. Melia and C. Feeney
Link to Tourmakeady G.A.A Club
The team also took part in the winter league, but won very few games. Indeed as we will see championship success was not to play a major role in Tourmakeady G.A.A., but Gaelic football has got to a stage where it plays a large part in community life in Tourmakeady. In 1970 the team reached the West Mayo semi-final but was defeated. With the expansion of the local knitwear factory came a number of experienced players to the club. Among these were Kevin Melia, John Quinn, Sean Cronin and Charlie O'Donnell. These formed a major part of a Tourmakeady team who reached their first ever West Mayo championship final in the club's history in 1972. The team defeated Islandeady in the semi-final but was defeated by a strong Louisburg team in the final. However this team had showed great courage and talent and was also made up of such local players as Christy and Kevin Dermody, Pat Gibbons, Joe Brown, Vincent Hennelly and Pat Naughton.
The following year, a complete Mayo team, backboned by Tourmakeady players won the Sean de Lapp Trophy in the All-Ireland Inter-county Gaeltacht competition. Lean years followed however, semi-final after semi-final without a win. Ten years after its formation in 1975, the club still had no divisional honours. However, changes were taking place. Local under-age footballers were being catered for and this is the basis for our present day side. Tourmakeady began to prove their worth in Tournaments by winning the Kavanagh, Nally and Staunton Cups and finally in 1978 Tourmakeady after 13 yrs. of denial won the West Mayo Junior football league -- success at last! The club failed to attain championship honours that year after being defeated by Burrishoole in the West semi-final.
Link to Tourmakeady G.A.A Club
The team also took part in the winter league, but won very few games. Indeed as we will see championship success was not to play a major role in Tourmakeady G.A.A., but Gaelic football has got to a stage where it plays a large part in community life in Tourmakeady. In 1970 the team reached the West Mayo semi-final but was defeated. With the expansion of the local knitwear factory came a number of experienced players to the club. Among these were Kevin Melia, John Quinn, Sean Cronin and Charlie O'Donnell. These formed a major part of a Tourmakeady team who reached their first ever West Mayo championship final in the club's history in 1972. The team defeated Islandeady in the semi-final but was defeated by a strong Louisburg team in the final. However this team had showed great courage and talent and was also made up of such local players as Christy and Kevin Dermody, Pat Gibbons, Joe Brown, Vincent Hennelly and Pat Naughton.
The following year, a complete Mayo team, backboned by Tourmakeady players won the Sean de Lapp Trophy in the All-Ireland Inter-county Gaeltacht competition. Lean years followed however, semi-final after semi-final without a win. Ten years after its formation in 1975, the club still had no divisional honours. However, changes were taking place. Local under-age footballers were being catered for and this is the basis for our present day side. Tourmakeady began to prove their worth in Tournaments by winning the Kavanagh, Nally and Staunton Cups and finally in 1978 Tourmakeady after 13 yrs. of denial won the West Mayo Junior football league -- success at last! The club failed to attain championship honours that year after being defeated by Burrishoole in the West semi-final.
