Anna Healy
Having won the 2022 Laois Intermediate Championship, our Ladies Footballers will compete in the Senior Football Championship in 2023. If you wish to get in touch with our LGFA Club, please contact Danielle at 087 2717112
History of Park/Ratheniska LGFA
Park Ratheniska Ladies Gaelic Football Club was founded in 1995. Ratheniska National School won the Cumann na mBunscol Football Final the previous October when they beat The Rock and this was the formation of an idea by Mary Walsh, who realised that there was great potential for a club in the area.
Several phone calls and conversations later, the first meeting of the club was held on 1st of April 1995 in St. Aongus’ Hall, Ratheniska. This meeting was attended by Har Ramsbottom, representing the GAA, Martina and Elizabeth Cahill, Carol Browne, Brigid Walsh and Caroline Greene along with the officers below that were appointed on the night.
First Officers of the Club:
Chairperson: Mary Walsh
Vice Chairperson: Geraldine Browne
Secretary: Betty Power
Assistant Secretary: Margaret Greene
Treasurer: Margaret Mulhare
In the clubs first year under 12, 14 and 16 teams were entered into the county championship. Mai Fingleton had a set of camogie jerseys and kindly offered them to the club. Sinéad Kelly, Liz and Martina Cahill and Betty Power took charge of training sessions.
From those early days the club has gone from strength to strength. We now have teams representing the club at every grade and in 2016 celebrated our 21st year.
Over the twenty one years the club has had many successful days on the playing field. In 2002 Park/Ratheniska were crowned Laois Junior County Champions for the first time beating Railyard. Eoin Sheils managed and trained the team at this time along with Jim Fogarty and Sheila Cushen (RIP) as trainers/selectors also.
In 2001 Laois won their first ever Senior Football All-Ireland title beating Mayo in Croke Park. This was a special day for the club as we were represented at corner back by Patricia Fogarty. Patricia later went on to win an All-Star in 2006.
The day before the Ladies All-Ireland was always a great day out for the club as we headed to Naomh Mearnóg in Dublin for the annual club seven-a-side competition. In 2005 the club won the Intermediate All-Ireland Sevens Competition beating Downpatrick in the final.
In 2005 the club also celebrated its tenth anniversary. In August of that year a club day was held when all past and present members of the club came together to participate in skills competitions, blitz’s, tea and chat.
In 2007 Park/Ratheniska were crowned Laois Intermediate County Champions. This team under the management of Pat O’Sullivan, Liam Dollard and David Mulhare took the step up to Senior in 2008 and went on to win the Senior league that year beating Portlaoise. The clubs Under 16 team were also crowned County Champions in 2007. This team were managed by Carol Browne and Caitriona Fogarty.
Thanks to an idea by Liam Dollard the club ran a 5km run to fundraise for a defibrillator machine. The machine is located in the clubhouse. Updating training courses continue each year.
2011 brought another year of great success to the club when the Under 16 team beat St.Conleths winning the A Championship. This team were trained and managed by Patricia Fogarty and Liam Dollard.
In 2013 the club was in the unique position for the first time to be able to field two adult teams at Junior and Senior level. In that year the club were crowned Junior County Champions for the second time under the stewardship of Liam Dollard and David Mulhare.
As a token of appreciation for their hardwork and dedication over many years to the club, four people have been granted honorary membership. They are Mary Walsh, Margaret Greene, Mary Fogarty and Jim Fogarty.
The Park/Ratheniska GAA Club has, and continues to be, a huge support to our Ladies club. We are extremely lucky to have such wonderful and well maintained facilities at our disposal.
In 2016 Park/Ratheniska Ladies Club celebrated its 21st birthday. A dinner dance was held in the Killeshin Hotel to mark this very special occasion. Medals were presented on the night to the victorious Park/Ratheniska Intermediate panel, League and Championship winners 2015 and to Park/Ratheniska/ Heath, Minor County Champions 2015. James Kelly. Peter O’Leary and John Buggy were the management team for the successful Intermediate team while Paul Daly, Seamus Lawlor, Danielle Keane, Martin Foran and John Buggy took charge of the Minor team.
The club has come a long way in those 21 years with teams now at every grade from under eight up to intermediate level and continues to grow. The club is indebted to the many people over the years, too many to mention, that have given a tremendous amount of time and energy to the club on and off the field.
