Skryne GFC will launch a book of their Club history titled “A History of the GAA in Skryne, 1887-2010″, The Blue Kings of Tara” by David Carty on Friday 30th March 2012 in Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath.
The book consists of two hardback volumes of approximately 800 ages each detailing the history of the Club from 1887-2010. It contains a complete record of every match played by the Club in all the grades during that time. We believe this may never have been attempted before by any other club as it has proved extremely difficult to find records for every year. The early years were only very briefly recorded in the local papers and even in recent years, not every match was reported so Secretary’s Reports and Managerial Accounts had to be checked for Junior and Underage match results.
We are proud of the fact that we are the longest serving senior club in Meath and, possibly, in Ireland. Skryne have been playing Senior Football continuously since 1938, having won the Intermediate Championship in 1937.
Clubman Brian Smyth was the first Meath man to lift the Sam Maguire Cup in 1949 and the Club has been represented on all of Meath’s 7 All Ireland Winning Teams – the only club in Meath to do so. The Club has competed in close on 200 finals from Juvenile to Senior and are 2nd in the list of Keegan Cup winners (Senior Football Championships) on 13 to Navan O’Mahonys.
The Club has had household names in its ranks over the years. Men easily recognisable all over Ireland – like Paddy “hands” O’Brien, the only Meath man on the Team of the Century. Colm O’Rourke and Liam Hayes from the 80’s. John McDermott and Trevor Giles from the 90’s are names well known in GAA circles throughout Ireland.
Based at the foot of two historic hills – Tara and Skryne- (hence the book name and the Club name) the Club is steeped in tradition and caters for players in all age groups – Ladies & Gents – from Under 6 to Senior.
Dermot Carty
Launch Night Committee Chairman
