The History of Éire Óg Greystones

Another hurdle had then to be taken and it was a difficult one. In modern jargon - a six marker. The cash flow was in short supply. It was non-existent. Sink or swim, it was decided to approach the Royal Bank. T.U. Cashel was the supremo there. A sportsman, a keen golfer, he understood a sporting problem. When was the best time to see T.U.? On a Monday morning - not any old Monday morning. A particular Monday morning - the Monday morning after he had won the Captain's Prize in Greystones Golf Club - he was in great form and agreed to lend £40, guarantors and trustees to be acceptable to him. The hunt was on then for Guarantors and Trustees. They were found: John J. Redmond, Pater Larkin, John McKenzie and Patrick Clarke.

Fencing materials were bought in Glenealy. The pitch was duly fenced off. Jerseys were purchased with a 'G' on the left side and the club was called the Greystones Gaels. Against all odds and expectations the Gaels won that Championship beating Hollywood by a point or two in the final, which was played in Aughrim. The team in 1934 consisted of Jack Cullen, Mick Frawley, Jack Byrne, Bill Kirwan, Garrett Byrne, John Brady, E. Clarke, Jim Gunning, Bob Redmond, F. Clarke, M Quinn, S. Redmond, J. Donohoe, J. Clarke, G Gorman, H. Lawless, G. Donoghoe. Jimmy Donohoe arranged a special train for the Gaels and Greystones Pipe Band played the team on to the field.

On the way home a Greystones follower asked the guard to halt the train. "What for?" asked the guard. 'I have lost my dentures out the window". said the spectator. 'Drop down in the morning and pick them up", said the guard. On arrival in Greystones after the match the band, team and followers marched to St. Kilian's Hall for a great reception. The club continued to prosper throughout the thirties. A big cross was the departure from Greystones of Jimmy Donohoe, who, losing his railway position to a strike, took up a position in the Dublin Custom House.

In 1936 Mick Frawley played with the County Wicklow team along with a few Kilcoole players, that won the All Ireland Championship. Everyone who was interested in G.A.A. was in Croke Park that day including H. Redmond and his goat. What a day for Wicklow! Now as the thirties were running out and the war years approaching, things were not going so well. John Barry, B Ganly, M, McDonald, J. Doran and Tom Swan started to play for Greystones. In 1937, due to people emigrating to England and other places Kilcoole and Greystones joined forces to keep the G.A.A. going in North Wicklow. This team was known as the Gaels. The team went Senior and won quite a few games but no trophies. All went well until 1939 when war broke out. In 1939 and 1942 Greystones won the Schweppes Cup.

The army arrived in Bray and Greystones and with the help of some army players Kilcoole got back on their feet. So Greystones, Bray Emmets, Kilmacanogue ard Kilcoole had teams restored again. The army also had a team, and the G.A.A was going strong. In 1942 Greystones went on to win the North Wicklow Junior League and twice in the 1940s won the Schweppes Cup and received a football on each occasion.

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