City Hall reception marks 150 years of St Finbarr's GAA
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Keeva McCarthy, Gillian Fitzgerald and Cliodhna Sargent.Image 2 of 10
Aoife O’Connor, Aoife Byrne and Eimear Hurley.Image 3 of 10
Caroline Martin, Valerie Keating and Ruth Lynch.Image 4 of 10
Charlie McCarthy, Susan Ryan and Jimmy Barry Murphy.Image 5 of 10
Barr’s ladies Gobnait Walsh, Phyllis O’Brien and Irene O’Leary.Image 6 of 10
Alan O’Connor, 2005 Senior Football; Lynda O’Connell, 2006 Senior Camogie; Cllr Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork; Stephanie Punch, 2025 Senior Camogie; Jimmy Barry Murphy, 1976 Senior Football; Rebecca Loughry, Director of Services, Cork City Council and Donal Murray, St Finbarr’s Club President.Image 7 of 10
Family members of the late Seamus Looney, Caroline Looney, daughter; Noelle Sweeney and Carol Downey, sisters and Sarah Looney, daughter.Image 8 of 10
Claire Barry and Tom English.Image 9 of 10
Rebecca Loughry, Director of Services, Cork City Council, with members of Highfield RFC, Eugene Carley, Bill Daly and Caroline Lyons.Image 10 of 10
Dave McGrath and Christy Myers.A civic reception was held at Cork City Hall last Thursday in honour of St Finbarr’s GAA, marking five milestones in the club’s history.
A spokesperson for Cork City Council said that the milestones were part of the “long and remarkable history of one of Ireland’s GAA clubs”.
St Finbarr’s - affectionately known as The Barr’s - is this year marking its 150th anniversary. The club was set up in 1876, eight years before the founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884.
It is officially recognised as Ireland’s oldest GAA club.
Guests were welcomed to City Hall by the uplifting music of the Cork Barrack Street Band.
The reception, which was held in the Atrium of Cork City Hall, was MC’d by formed Cork manager and broadcaster Donal O’Grady.
It was attended by a number of distinguished guests - including Club President Bill O’Connell - former and current players, club officials, and members of the wider GAA community.
Aside from the club’s anniversary, four other milestones were celebrated, ranging across the codes played at St Finbarr’s.
The 1976 Men’s Senior Football team marked the 50th anniversary of their Cork Senior Football Championship victory against St Michael’s.
The 2006 Senior Camogie team celebrated 20 years since they secured the club’s first ever Cork Senior Camogie Championship, when they beat Imokilly in the final.
The 2025 Senior Camogie team, who won both the Cork - where they beat St Catherine’s - and Munster - where they came out on top against Waterford’s De La Salle - championships were honoured alongside the 2025 Men’s Senior Football team, who beat Nemo Rangers by a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-13 last October.
The evening featured presentations to each of the four teams and a special tribute marking the 150 year journey of The Barr’s, from its earliest days through to its modern successes across football, camogie, and hurling.
Togher native and lifelong Barr’s supporter Cllr Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork, paid tribute to the players, volunteers, and supporters who he said continue to shape the club’s success.
“Tonight,” he said, “we celebrate not only these remarkable teams and their historic victories, but we also celebrate the club - the heartbeat of its community.
“St Finbarr’s GAA Club is woven into the identity of thousands of families, including my own, and its legacy of resilience, excellence, and pride continues to inspire Cork and the entire GAA world,” he said.
This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.