Cahir GAA Club History
Origins
Two football teams from the parish were registered with the G.A.A. in 1887 – Cahir Faugh an Ballaghs and Poulmucha. So well organised was the club, that in October of 1887 a “Monster Tournament” attracted 5 teams and the papers reported crowds of 10,000 (maybe a bit of exaggeration) It is interesting to note that hurling was also organised and the “Cashel Sentinel” newspaper reports on a hurling game between Cahir and Cashel. Throughout the 1890’s , the club was prominent in the county football championship, regularly getting to the semi-final, but never reaching a final.
20th Century The first two decades of the 20th Century, saw further development in football, with the emergence of juvenile teams and junior teams. Indeed, the Cahir team of the period 1917-1920 contained very prominent county players, in Jimmy Mc Namara and Tommy Ryan, both of whom were on the 1920 All-Ireland Senior Football winning team. Unfortunately, this fine team broke-up in 1925 following dispute over the venue for the South final with Fethard.
Revival The football team was reorganised in 1936 and reached the South Junior final in 1938.
1940’s Due to the “Emergency”, there were many soldiers stationed in Cahir and this strengthened the football team, which was now called the “Cahir Slashers”. Hurling at this time was based in Whitelands , while the “Wild Rovers” minor and junior hurling teams competed in South Championships. The Minor Football title of 1943 was the clubs first South Title.
1950’s This was a very successful and progressive decade for the club. The present field was purchased and officially opened in 1954. On the playing fields the club won its first Juvenile County title, its first County Minor titles, its first Junior football titles and its first South Senior Football title. There was also a very successful camogie team attached to the club.
1960-1970’s Unfortunately, due to emigration the sixties and seventies saw little progress although 3 county juvenile titles were won and Cahir were the first team to win the new Intermediate Championship in 1979.
1980’s-1990’s The Juvenile club was reorganised and parish leagues in hurling and football were to form the basis for an incredible decade of success at under-age level. Cahir won 10 County Football titles and one Hurling title (the club’s first County Hurling title).
2000’s With the expansion of Cahir Town , the numbers playing at under-age level continue to grow and to meet this need the club has purchased new playing pitches.
