Clontarf RFC

Infobox_esl_club | clubname = Clontarf Rugby Club


fullname = "Clontarf Rugby Football Club"
emblem = Bull
colours = Red and Blue
founded = 1876
sport = Rugby union
league = AIB League - Division 1
ground = Castle Avenue
web = [http://www.Clontarfrugby.com clontarfrugby.com/]

Founded in 1876, Clontarf is one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in Ireland. Having played firstly in a field at the bottom of Vernon Avenue, then on a site currently used by Dublin Bus as a Depot., the Club moved to its present location in 1896 and celebrated 100 years at Castle Avenue in 1996.

The Bull Emblem used in the logo is that of the district - Cluain Tarbh, translates, The Field of the Bull. The Red and Blue colours are used by most sporting clubs in the Parish.

History

The minutes of early club meetings show that the members used the Boat Club premises as changing rooms and that goal posts were erected each Saturday morning and taken down after the match. The Club was also approached by a local group who wished to play Gaelic Football on Sundays and it was agreed to make the pitch available provided the footballers dismantled the goalposts after their matches.

In 1902-03 Clontarf was admitted to Senior Ranks - Leinster League - and in the following year reached the final of the Leinster Club Senior Cup but were beaten by Landsdowne one goal (5 points) to one try (3 points).

Since 1896 the grounds at Castle Avenue have been jointly occupied by the Clontarf Cricket Club and Football Club. Until 1947 both games were played on the same ground, the wicket was fenced off in the winter. In 1982 following a disastrous fire which destroyed the bar and lounge an agreement was reached between both clubs to go their separate ways, each club was provided with separate premises and the use of a common main bar and hall for each clubs season.

The official Club title is Clontarf Football Club rather than Clontarf Rugby Football Club. The explanation for this gives an insight into the rich history of the club - the club was formed before the establishment of the Irish Rugby Union. One of the clubs finest hours was the defeat of Athletic Rugby Football Club from New Zealand in 1966. It was the only defeat during their world tour. Among the teams played were Blackheath from England and Cardiff of Wales. Athletic was captained by I.N. McEwan. This win is still regarded as one of Clontarf's greatest rugby feats.

Other highlights of the Club's history include the winning of the Leinster Club Senior Cup in 1936 a feat which was to elude Clontarf teams for another 63 years until the much sought after cup was returned to Castle Avenue in April 1999. However, the intervening years were not without success as various teams representing the Club won leagues and cups in the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. But it has been the last two decades of the Millennium that have witnessed some of Clontarf's proudest moments with the winning of the Leinster Floodlight Competition in 1989, 1990,1997 and 1998, the All Ireland Floodlight Competition in 1990 and the All Ireland League Division II in 1996/97. Since attaining Division 1status in 1997, Clontarf has maintained its position as one of the top twelve Clubs in Ireland.

In the community

On a local level the club runs a " Mini" rugby team and Youth Rugby is of large importance to the Clontarf Club who have invested a lot of time and energy in this section. The club has swept the boards of Mini Rugby over recent seasons in home and international competitions.

The club has had a close association with the local St. Paul's and Mount Temple Colleges for many years. The Clontarf club also has a strong active social committee, annual swimming competition, golf outings, race nights are popular with members.

Teams

Clontarf have teams from senior level down as young as under-8. At senior level there are five teams, the firsts play in the AIL Division 1, while the rest of the senior teams play in the Leinster Metropolitan Leagues. In 2007/2008 the first team won the Leinster League cup beating St. Mary's RFC in the final. There were also a runner-up in the J1 Section A league, and runner-up in the J4 league. The J2 team won the J2 section B gaining promotion to J2 section A.

External links

http://www.clontarfrugby.com/

References