D'eascair Cumann Báire Setanta as Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch - scoil lán Ghaelach i mBaile Munna. Mar ba dhual do scoil lán Ghaelach leagadh béim ar gach aon ghné den chultúr gaelach idir ceol, damhsa agus gan amhras cluichí - peil gaelach agus iomáint. Sna blianta tosaigh sin bhí líon na ndaltaí sách íseal. Sa bhliain 1978 agus gan ach duine is fiche buachaill ó Rang 2 go Rang 6 le sár-iarracht le síorchleachtadh agus le díogras do chloite bhain an scoil Corn na Laoch sa pheil amach.
Ach bhí an iomáint ag fulaingt. Ní raibh go leor ama ann chun bunscileanna na hiomána a mhúineadh i gceart. Mar sin, rinneadh coinne sa bhliain 1979 go gcloífí leis an iomáint amháin uaidh sin amach. Bhí de dea-thoradh ar seo gur shroich siad an cluiche ceannais Faoi 12 i Mí Bealtaine 1980.
Shroich siad an chraobh sa dara roinn d'Fhéile na nGael Bhaile Atha Cliath sa bhliain chéanna. Is mar sin a leagadh síos bunchloch na hiománaíochta i mBaile Munna.
It was decided immediately to establish an Irish speaking Hurling and Camogie Club in Ballymun. It was evident to the club founders that Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch didn't have sufficient numbers to sustain a juvenile club. To address this, Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch linked up with the Holy Spirit Boys School where hurling was being introduced. Sa bhliain 1979 rinne an scoil glór réim i gclós na scoile. Bhí sé ar siúl san oíche "so that the special lighting would be seen to best effect". An teidil a bhí ar an glór réim seo ná "An Táin". Bhí gach páiste ó Rang 1 go Rang 6 páirteach ann. Rinne na tuismitheoirí an-chuid oibre ar na frapaí, na soilse, na cultacha agus an smidiú. Mar sin bhí aithne maith ag gach duine ar scéal "Setanta" - laoch mór iománaíochta agus buachaill cróga láidir freisin. As seo, rugadh Cumann Báire Setanta mar ainm don chlub.
A club name was chosen and it was fittingly named after the mythological boy hurling hero - Setanta. The Dublin colours of navy and sky blue were selected as team colours, not a replica of the Dublin jersey, that was something to aspire to.
How the club colours came about: 'Sé corcra na dathanna a bhí á chaitheamh ag na daltaí nuair a thosaigh Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch. Ansin bhuaigh na 'Dubs' an Sam Maguire sa bhliain 1974. Buaigh an scoil céad áit i Slógadh na hEireann le dráma 'Heffo an Rí'. D'athraigh an scoil a chuid dathanna go dathanna airm Heffo. Sin iad na dathanna atá ag an scoil ó shin. Nuair a bhí an club ag tosnú shocraigh siad go mbeidh dathanna Baile Atha Cliath ag an gclub freisin. Feargal O Ceallaigh, an chéad rúnaí a bhí ag Cumann Báire Setanta a chum an geansaí don club - sky blue with with navy cuffs and collar and with navy narrow bands.
In 1980 a committee was put in place. Oifigigh an chéad coiste:
Proinsias Ó Conghaile - Cathaoirleach
Feargal Ó Ceallaigh - Rúnaí
Leon Ó Briain - Leas-Rúnaí
Eilis Uí Longáin - Cisteoir
Cáit Mhic Chárthaigh - Cisteoir
Leo de Craig
Pádraig Ó hEarcáin
Dónal Ó Loingsigh
Liam Ó Muirí
Fergus Breathnach
Coaching in the basic skills of hurling and camogie began immediately with 7-8 year olds. Giving hurling instructions through the medium of Irish presented no problems to the pupils of Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch while the pupils of Holy Spirit Boys School very quickly adapted to 'tarraing ar an talamh', 'téigh isteach air', 'scaoil leis', 'sliotar', 'camán', 'clogad' etc. This training continued vigorously during the football season - September to March. Two teams Under 10 and 12 were entered in the 1980/81 season. Both teams reaped the benefit of the winter coaching and were both victorious. The following season saw victories in the Under 10a and Under 11a, while the Under 14 team reached the final of the Dublin Féile na nGael Roinn 2. Not to be outdone the camogie team won the Junior C title and gave an excellent account of themselves in the Pan Celtic Games.
Perhaps the greatest achievement of those halcyon early years was winning division 4 All-Ireland of Féile na nGael in Croke Park in 1983. At this time a group of very talented 7 and 8 year olds were being carefully groomed for the Under 10a League. The big guns of north city fell in quick succession as this super side galloped to victory. This team stayed together and were unfortunate not to win a minor championship. However, these young adults together with players from the early '80s were to form the most successful team in the club's short history to date. Special mention must be made of the trojan work of Pádraig O Maoilstéigh who ensured the boy Setanta would grow to sterling manhood. Thanks to his dogged steadfastness he coaxed, cajoled and drove these young players to success after success.
Their role of honour is as follows:
1991 Winners of D League and Fletcher Shield and promotion to C League
1992 Winners of Top 4 in C League and promotion to B League
1993 Winners Junior C Championship and Miller Shield and promotion to Junior A
1994 Winners of Corn an Oireachtas sa Rinn Port Lairge
1995 Winners Top 4 Junior A and Keogh Cup and Junior B Championship and promotion to Intermediate 2. Winners of Corn an Oireachtas i Cluain Dolcain i mBaile Atha Cliath.
1996 Winners of Corn an Oireachtais - 3 in a row - i Dún na nGall.
1997 Winners of Junior A Championship.
2000 Winners of Intermediate League and promotion to Senior status.
In 1995, a further indication of Setanta's youth policy and the perceived need for proper coaching, was the club's proposal to the Dublin Juvenile Hurling Board that Under 10 hurling competitions should be discontinued and that in their stead weekly courses in basic skills be introduced and co-ordinated by qualified coaches at various venues accommodating two or three clubs. These coaching sessions would comprise of short games ensuring every child played hurling. This proposal was implemented and still exists to this day. Setanta was also instrumental in organising indoor juvenile hurling over the winter months in D.C.U. This was organised with the co-operation of Tom O'Donnell, the G.A.A. Games Administrator in D.C.U. It now caters for over 1,500 juveniles each year.
In 1995 Ballymun Kickhams decided to concentrate more on football and the hurling side of their club ceased to function. Their loss was Setanta's gain. Although the hurling players remained members of Ballymun Kickhams some played hurling with Setanta. Mattie White had just hung up his boots at the time. His experience and love for the game and his partnership with Pádraig 'Sonnie' O Maoilstéighe as mentors has been invaluable to the progression of the adult hurlers in the club. Matties' son John (Shuggie), one of the finest keepers in Dublin. Along with Pat Berigan Shuggie was nominated for a Blue Stars award in 2002. Many more Kickhams players still play Junior hurling with Setanta. In the year 2001 the junior Team won Div. C of the Junior League with full points, remaining undefeated in all their matches.
The club continues to achieve success on the playing field with the recent roll of honour as follows:
2009 Dublin Under 14 Feile Winners
2012 Dublin Under 14 Feile Winners
2012 Dublin Under 14 All Ireland Feile Winners
2012 Minor C League Winners
2013 Intermediate Championship Winners
2014 Senior B Chanpionship Runner Up
2015 Dublin Under 21 C Championship Winners
2015 Junior E Championship Winners
2015 Adult League Division 3 Winners
Over the years club hurlers who have represented the county at various ages are Rodney O Mongáin and Séamas O Maolmhuaidh (Under 12) Adrian de Craig (Under 14) Alan Breathnach (Minor & Under 21) Pat Berigan, Jason O Buachalla & Alan Breathnach (Junior Level). Pat Berigan also played for the Dublin Blue Stars in 2002.
2002 saw three Setanta Under 16s togging out for the Dublin Development Squad - Stephen Fallon, Carlo Byrne and Paul O'Shea. However, the appearance of Fiontán Mac Gib in the Dublin Senior colours over the past few years coupled with the emergence of Sean O'Rian, has provided the club and indeed the youth within the club with two players to whom they can look up.
The camogie section have also had their successes winning both the Junior C and B Championship in earlier years. Players who have played for Dublin at different age groups include Michelle Céitinn, Mairéad Ní Mhaoilstéighe, Leonie de Craig, Éilis Ní Chearnaigh and Aedín Ní Thuathail but Rebecca Doherty making the grade for the Dublin Senior team is the most significant achievement of any of the camogie players to date. To represent Dublin at senior level whilst playing in Division 6, shown what an outstanding talent she is.
In 2007 the Senior Camogie section reformed and entered into the lowest league. The team was made up of mainly past players with an age span from the teens to the fifties.
Management: The second year saw a change of management and the first piece of silverware won. Both Cáit Nic Raghnaill and Stacey Crowley were chosen by opposition managers as Dublin player of the year for their respective levels. This coupled with the promotion of Stacey Crowley and Marieam Carpenter. Over the past ten years, the team has achieved great success.The highlight being the undefeated season in 2011, where the team won the league and championship.
Their role of honour is as follows:
2009 Cup Winners
2010 League Runner Up & Championship Shield Winners
2011 League and Championship Winners
2012 League Runner Up
2013 Cup Winners
2014 League Runner Up
2015 Championship Shield Winners
2016 Championship Runner Up
Our current juvenile section now has a very strong representation from the Holy Spirit School. This was boosted in the 1990's by the efforts of one person in particular, Clontarf man and local teacher, Mick Keane, who brought his school to new and'dizzy' heights. Year after year his teams took silverware home from Croke Park in the Cumann na mBunscoil competitions. This success had a major impact on the fortunes of the Setanta juvenile section at that time. For instance in the year 2000 the club achieved the following:
U/11 Winners of Camáint Festival, Div.2 Shield
U/12 Winners of 11 a-side league
U/12 Runners-up of Leinster Festival Div 1
U/13 Winners of P.J.Troy Festival Div.2
U/14 Winners of League Div.2
U/14 Winners of Féile na nGael Div.2
U/15 Runners-up Championship Plate
In 2001 the club crest was finally completed. Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch used a version of the seven towers of Ballymun with an Easter lily superimposed upon it, a tribute to the seven signatories of 1916. The club retained the same theme but with the added feature of the boy, Setanta, in the foreground. The artist, Liam Belton, was commissioned to sketch this design in 1983. With the aid of computer technology a club member, Gary Fitzpatrick, rearranged the original design adding the words 'Cumann Báire Setanta' and the club motto 'Neart in ár nGéag' (Strength in our Limbs).
The first phase of developing hurling in Ballymun is complete. We have progressed from a juvenile club to a senior club. It has taken us twenty years to achieve this. Tribute must be paid to the following ex-committee members and mentors from the early days.
Founder members Pádraig O hEarcáin, Eilis Uí Longáin, Cáit Mhic Chárthaigh, Mairéad Baitson, Caitlín Nic an tSionnaigh, Síle Ní Dhuibhne, Myles Doyle, Johnny Phelan, Dónal Ó Loingsigh, Deaglán Ó hAinle, Basil de Craig, Liam Mac Cuirc, Eddie Rooney, Seán Mac Cárthaigh, Seán Ó Brádaigh and, last but not least, ex-Cathaoirleach, Mattie Berigan.
Present and past committee members and mentors Proinsias Ó Conghaile (Cathaoirleach), Pádraig O Maoilstéighe (Rúnaí), Olive Uí Chearnaigh (Cisteoir), Frances Mac Manus (Leas-Cisteoir), Mattie White, Billy Memery, Willie Brown, Liam O Briain, Rodney Hussain, Keith Mac Ádhaimh and Matt Kearney and to Mick Holian and Jason Ó Buachalla for their coaching and training contributions. Also Mick Keane (coach) Holy Spirit School and Deaglán Ó hAinle (coach), Niall Ó Raghailligh & Cáit Nic Raghnaill ó Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch. And on the fund-raising side - Joan Céitinn.
The juveniles of those early years are now the senior members of the club. This continuity offers the most compelling evidence that the club has had a very positive and stabilising influence on many people in the area. We have also found that participation in Cumann Báire Setanta has played a substantial role in keeping teenagers and young people in the area away from substance misuse.
Over several years the club was in negotiations with the Deptartment of Education to acquire the site at the back of the library on Ballymun Road for our clubhouse. With the help of Dublin Corporation, Noel Ahern T.D. and many, many meetings we finally achieved our aim. The ground floor has dressing-room facilities with showers, reception area, an all-purpose room, stores, toilets and lift facility. There is also a floodlit all-weather pitch. On the first floor, a function room with club bar facilities, pool room/games room for young members, kitchen, store rooms, committee room and toilets.
Radharc Ceilteach, a vibrant local cultural organisation make full use of the all-purpose room on the ground floor to promote a variety of classes and activities e.g. music, dance, drama, karate as Gaeilge.
Games:
Currently we field Under 8,9,10 coaching. Under 11,13,15,16, minor, Junior C and Senior Teams. In all 380 members are registered with the club.
In addition the following schools are affiliated to the club:
Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch, Holy Spirit National School, Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna, Virgin Mary Girls National School, St. Joseph's Senior School and Trinity Comprehensive School.
Facilities:
Pitches - 2 in total
Revenue:
Grants from B.R.Y.R., Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Bag packing in the supermarket, draws and raffles.
Top Teams: Senior Hurling Division 2 & Senior 5 Camogie
Greatest Achievements:
Winning the Dublin Intermediate Hurling League against Craobh Chiarán to achieve senior status and the double winning season of 2011 achieved by the Senior Camogie Team
Sponsorship:
Over the years our sponsors for jerseys, shorts etc. have been Des Kelly, Ballymun Credit Union, Molly Electric, Telenor, Phil Ryan, Northern Lights Security, Sunnybank Hotel, Inversoft, Jabil and Castle Rock Motors, Swords.
As an all-Irish speaking club we have appeared on T.V. sports programmes over the years. Most recently we were featured on Sport Iris with the promise of a follow-up after the club house is built. As a high profile club in Dublin we can offer the right sponsor extensive media coverage. We intend to go right to the top as our performance to date proves that we can.
