O'Tooles GAA


O'Tooles GAC is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ayrfield, Dublin, Ireland, formed in 1901.

History

Early years

O'Tooles GAC was formed in 1901 at 100 Seville Place in the north inner city of Dublin from the Gaelic League branch. The Gaelic League branch held their inaugural meeting in February 1901. Francis Cahill was one of the founding members of the club and Brother J.A. O’Mahoney, who was superior of O'Connell School was elected as the first president.
On Thursday 8 October 1901, after Irish classes, the club's first hurling team was formed. The captain of the team was Edward Keegan, with Thomas Keegan elected as secretary and John Taylor as treasurer. In 1905, captained by Tim O'Neill, the club won their first competition, the Saturday Junior Hurling League.
August 1902 brought about the formation of the football team, with the clubs first major success arriving in 1910 in the form of the minor league.
In 1910, the St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band was formed with Tom Clarke elected president and playwright Seán O'Casey elected secretary.

[Easter Rising]

On the morning of Monday 24 April 1916, around 1,200 members of the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army arrived at a number of locations in Dublin. Among them were over 70 members of the O'Tooles club including two executed leaders, Tom Clarke and Seán Mac Diarmada. Others involved included Liam Ó Briain, future TD and a professor of languages. Frank Robbins, future President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and Tom Ennis who was later a Free State Army General.

Bloody Sunday">Bloody Sunday (1920)">Bloody Sunday

On 21 November 1920, Dublin and Tipperary played a football challenge match in Croke Park. As a result of a mass shooting by the British Forces 14 innocent people including one player, died. It is estimated that around 60 – 100 people were also injured. O'Tooles have a deep connection with the events of this day as they contributed 12 players to the Dublin team with 9 players starting.
Substitutes: Tom Carey, Joe Norris & Tom Fitzgerald

Football

An amalgamation of O'Tooles and another local club Emeralds brought the golden age of football to the Seville Place club. The 1916 Dublin Intermediate Football Championship which was played in 1917 due to the number of players interned after the 1916 Rising heralded the beginning of the club's most successful football teams.
From 1918 to 1931, O'Tooles won 10 Dublin Senior Football Championship titles and produced the county's first five-in-a-row club team. During this period the club also contributed the majority of players to All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning Dublin teams, including producing All-Ireland winning captains in Paddy Carey and Paddy McDonnell.
YearWinnersRunners-up
1946O’ToolesParnells
1931O’ToolesErin's Hope
1928O’ToolesO'Dwyers
1926O’ToolesGarda
1925O’ToolesKickhams
1924O’ToolesUCD
1923O’ToolesGarda
1922O’ToolesSt. Mary's
1920O’ToolesKickhams
1919O’ToolesMcCrackens
1918O’ToolesCollegians

Hurling

A Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship was won 1956 and 1961 with a Dublin Junior Hurling Championship arriving in 1982. In 1969, O’Tooles made the breakthrough and won their first Dublin Senior Hurling Championship. Further success was achieved in 1977, 1984 and 1990.
During the 1990s, O'Tooles who three county titles in a row in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and reached the Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship final in 1996.
In 2002, O’Tooles defeated north side rivals and defending champions Craobh Chiaráin after a replay on a score line of 1–13 to 2–7.
YearWinnersRunners-up
2002O’ToolesCraobh Chiaráin
1997O’ToolesSt. Vincents
1996O’ToolesKilmacud Crokes
1995O’ToolesSt. Vincents
1990O’ToolesSt. Vincents
1984O’ToolesKilmacud Crokes
1977O'ToolesFaughs
1969O'ToolesFaughs

Present day

As of 2025, they currently compete in the Division 3 league and the Intermediate championship in hurling.
In football they are in the Division 4 league and the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship.

Honours

Dublin Senior Championships

Dublin Senior Hurling Championship:
  • * Winners : 1969, 1977, 1984, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002
  • * Runners-up : 1973, 1981, 1982, 1985, 2011Dublin Senior Football Championship:
  • * Winners : 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1946
  • * Runners-up : 1927, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1938, 1964

Dublin Senior Leagues

Dublin Senior Hurling League:

Other Dublin Championship Wins

Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship:

Other Wins

Boland Cup:
  • *Winners: 1966, 1969Smithwicks Cup:
  • *Winners: 1968, 1969

Notable players

Senior inter-county footballers

; Dublin
; Kildare & Dublin
; Meath & Dublin
  • Joe Norris, All-Ireland winner with Dublin

Senior inter-county hurlers

; Dublin
; Kilkenny & Dublin

Notable members