ST BRIGID’S celebrated 80 years in style last week as club chairman Billy Quane welcomed back all of the former presidents, chairpersons and secretaries of the club to an event that placed the glittering history at Russell Park centre stage last Thursday.
“It was fantastic to have the former committee members back with their families,” said Quane. “We unveiled an honours board featuring the names of all the former presidents, chairpersons and secretaries and it was only right that they were there to witness it.”
Playing with the club since he was seven years’ old, Quane has witnessed major landmarks in the club’s history.
“I can remember when we won our first junior championship and, moving on from that, I remember our intermediate side facing Raheny in a playoff that we won to get into the senior cycle.
“Times like those were very significant when you consider the amount of inter-county talent that has come from the club when the Dublin team was more than likely selected from the senior leagues.
“The building of the clubhouse in the mid-1980s was a huge moment for the club too. I remember thinking that we had really made it to the big time when that happened.”
As for the future, Quane says that “youth is the cornerstone” of the Dublin 15 club.
“Just looking at the success we had with the double for the U-14 lads and the girls camogie team at the same age group was absolutely fantastic. In the years gone we’ve always been at the top of the pile as far as juvenile games are concerned. I’d love that to continue.
“We have some fantastic people coming back to the club to help out as coaches and I truly believe if we focus on the youth, there will be success when it comes to the adult games,” he finished.
On the night of celebrations, there were live cooking demonstrations from Okra Green in Castleknock village who donated the food. The event was made possible by the work of Stephen Moore and Tommy Phelan.
“They have worked hard to tell the story of the club so accurately for the anniversary while the lotto committee made the evening possible.
“The history of the club was at the forefront of everything on the night and when you see all of the success we’ve had on one wall, it’s quite hard to believe the amount we’ve done in 80 years,” said Quane.
