Amalgamating Clubs

sgthighway

Has anybody any experience of 2 GAA clubs amalgamating ?
We need to join up because of poor numbers.
Has anybody gone through it ?

Flukey

Historically many have. Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin did. There would be other examples too. Do a bit of research. You can check other amalgamations of clubs and organisations in other realms for hints and tips too. Simialr issues arise in them all.

blackbelt

St James Gaels is an example of an amalgamated club in Dublin.

Just on the Crumlin road there in the Iveagh grounds

stevemac

Rathdowney and Errill did in Laois this year. Both were senior hurling teams last year but neither were champions sinc the 50's I think. There in the semi this year, and it seems to be going ok.
There both in the same parish.

Yavvy

my club is about to close down forever ( nails not in the coffin yet but as good as)

I have 3 major causes

1. two terrible attempts at amalgamation
2. disgraceful managment (mainly abandonment of juvinile teams)
3. lack of own facilities

its a scary prospect..if it goes wrong you could be destroyinh the club

jacksie

if there is any competitiven3ss/rivalry between the clubs its a guarenteed disaster

kmart6

A lot of amalgamations are stupid. For instance in Laois theres lads able to play Senior championship with an amlgamated club but then play Junior with there own club. Then theres guys from The Heath that are contesting the 'A' and 'B' finals for an amalgamated club and then the individual club. In the U-21 championship in Laois the only club that is'nt amalgamated is O'Dempseys(well except for Portlaoise who obviously dont need to) who would be considered a small club.

In Offaly there is a fine example with this at U-21 level aswell where the club St. Michael's have a excellant selection of talented players. They basically have a full team of county players at some level, majority play Senior championship football with there seperate clubs. There made up of Rhode,Croghan and someone else. The one there first game by a scorline of 6-28 to 0-2 Im nearly sure of!!!

So to answer your Q it can be a good idea but it has to have the full support of both clubs who are willing to make it work!!!

Killian

sgthighway

sgthighway wrote:

Has anybody any experience of 2 GAA clubs amalgamating ?
We need to join up because of poor numbers.
Has anybody gone through it ?

Annacarthy Eire Og ang Golden/Kilfeacle in Co. Tipperary combined last year to form a senior hurling panel and they got all the way to the county final where toomevara beat them. the only hitch was if they had won that final they could not go on to represent tipp in the munster club championship.

id imagine if your club wanted to form a complete merger they would have to atart out in the junior ranks and could only exist as one club.

chubba1984

My football club (Clondegad) amalgamated with two neighbouring clubs 5 to 6 years ago to play Senior with Peadar Clancy's. We were Junior B at the time, the other 2 teams were Junior A and Intermediate. The amalgamation had to dispanded a few years later because individually our clubs became successful in their own competitions. We got to the Intermediate final last year and probably should have beaten Cratloe. The other 2 clubs are now Intermediate and Senior. I believe the opportunity for lads to play at a higher level improved our team considerably. Just an example of a successful amalgamation.

On another point of Tipp_Gunner's about not being allowed to enter Munster Club Championship (off-topic, I apologise) my hurling team (Ballyea) got to county Senior Hurling Final in 2003 and wouldn't have been allowed compete in Munster as we were a Senior B, not a fully fledged Senior club at the time.