The earliest recorded game in Johnswell is a juvenile football challenge against Castlewarren in November 1890. The Johnswell team, captained by J. Holohan, earned a draw in a very keenly contested match refereed by Mr W. Bennett. However, the earliest living memory of an organised GAA club in the Johnswell area is the formation in 1931 of the Castle Rovers club. Drawing its members from the Johnswell and Higginstown areas, Castle Rovers was predominantly a football club that trained and played its home matches on “Lynch’s field” in Sandfordscourt. Their first match was against O’Loughlins in 1931 when Johnswell Pipe & Drum Band played the teams onto the field. However, Castle Rovers ceased to exist after they exited the 1934 championship to Muckalee. It would be 17 years before the next Johnswell team was formed in 1951. Prior to its formation, players from the area played with a number of clubs in Kilkenny city. At this time there was a three-parish rule and the new club had players from Johnswell, Ballyfoyle and Reevanagh. Its players trained in a field belonging to the Bennett family in Ballasallagh and fielded a team in the North Kilkenny Junior Championship. Meetings were held in Johnswell and training took place on Sundays and on several evenings during the week. Training sessions lasted for many hours with players coming and going at different times as work and other pursuits allowed. Hurleys were homemade and varied in style and when a sliotar was needed everyone donated a few pence and the next person travelling to Kilkenny purchased one.
Back then the level of organisation in the GAA was very different to now. With so few cars in the area, transport to games was difficult to organise and players cycled or walked. On some occasions a truck was organised to carry the entire team. Players and supporters alike could never be certain that a game would actually take place until they turned up at the venue. Often the fields were unmarked and matches were frequently cancelled. The Johnswell club ran a very popular tournament in Sanfordscourt in the 1950s. Teams such as Dicksboro and Éire Óg (from the city), Dunnamaggin and Ballycallan took part. The club hosted a camogie tournament at the same time. A marquee was erected on site and the Sanfordscourt tournament was a great festive occasion for the area.
The one-parish rule was introduced around 1953 and this resulted in the Ballyfoyle and Reevanagh players moving back to their own areas: consequently Johnswell struggled for players and ceased to exist after the 1954 championship. Some members went to play with city clubs while others continued as an affiliated unit, training on a field belonging to the Agars family and playing in 7-a-side tournaments and challenge games until the Johnswell club was reformed in 1969. Playing in blue and white stripes, Johnswell played a hurling challenge against Dunmore in 1969 which is remembered vividly because of the very robust pulling and earthy language which prompted referee Revd. Bro. Michael to blow up early, hop on his bike and head for home. Thankfully, players from both sides put the match behind them and within a year lined out together for the united parish team, O’Loughlin Gaels.
Fr. William Bennett from Johnswell played for the Kilkenny minor team defeated by Waterford in the 1948 minor All Ireland final and some years later Paddy McCullagh also represented Johnswell on a Kilkenny minor team. Of course the area continues its very rich contribution to parish GAA, for example the much appreciated work of current Club Officers Martin and Margaret Hanlon, and through the strong involvement on and off the field of many more Johnswell ‘Gaels.
Special thanks to: Tommy and Edward Gormley, Tom Kinsella and Conor Denieffe (author of “The Continent Abú”).
Back then the level of organisation in the GAA was very different to now. With so few cars in the area, transport to games was difficult to organise and players cycled or walked. On some occasions a truck was organised to carry the entire team. Players and supporters alike could never be certain that a game would actually take place until they turned up at the venue. Often the fields were unmarked and matches were frequently cancelled. The Johnswell club ran a very popular tournament in Sanfordscourt in the 1950s. Teams such as Dicksboro and Éire Óg (from the city), Dunnamaggin and Ballycallan took part. The club hosted a camogie tournament at the same time. A marquee was erected on site and the Sanfordscourt tournament was a great festive occasion for the area.
The one-parish rule was introduced around 1953 and this resulted in the Ballyfoyle and Reevanagh players moving back to their own areas: consequently Johnswell struggled for players and ceased to exist after the 1954 championship. Some members went to play with city clubs while others continued as an affiliated unit, training on a field belonging to the Agars family and playing in 7-a-side tournaments and challenge games until the Johnswell club was reformed in 1969. Playing in blue and white stripes, Johnswell played a hurling challenge against Dunmore in 1969 which is remembered vividly because of the very robust pulling and earthy language which prompted referee Revd. Bro. Michael to blow up early, hop on his bike and head for home. Thankfully, players from both sides put the match behind them and within a year lined out together for the united parish team, O’Loughlin Gaels.
Fr. William Bennett from Johnswell played for the Kilkenny minor team defeated by Waterford in the 1948 minor All Ireland final and some years later Paddy McCullagh also represented Johnswell on a Kilkenny minor team. Of course the area continues its very rich contribution to parish GAA, for example the much appreciated work of current Club Officers Martin and Margaret Hanlon, and through the strong involvement on and off the field of many more Johnswell ‘Gaels.
Special thanks to: Tommy and Edward Gormley, Tom Kinsella and Conor Denieffe (author of “The Continent Abú”).
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