St.
Fechins GAA was first affiliated to the GAA in 1941 and used a field
on the Strand Road, later moving to the Parish field on the Sheetland
Road. A clubhouse was erected there in 1960 and was modernized with
showers in 1977. This facility served us well until the end of the
Millennium. Gaelic football however was played in the parish as far
back as 1886 under a variety of names. The present club was started
when Fr. Cullen a keen GAA player himself came to the parish as
curate in 1940 and he wanted all the players from the area playing on
one local team. The formation of St. Fechins GFC was to eventually
bring all local footballers into one parish based club.
The
Senior Championship title in 1983 was a great occasion and the Joe
Ward Cup’s first visit to the parish was well celebrated and duly
recorded. When it returned again in the Gaa Centenary Year 1984 it
was truly a great achievement for a rural club.
By
the late 90’s the population of the area was growing at a steady
pace and the introduction of hurling in 1997 added a further
dimension to the club. The increasing numbers could no longer be
catered for at Sheetland Rd so extended or alternative facilities had
to be sought. After a protracted search a 27 acre site was purchased
at Beaulieu. The enthusiasm of those involved and the support from
the parish and surrounding area allowed work to commence on the site
in Sept 1999.
The
first games were played at Pairc Naomh Feichin on the weekend of 21st
April 2001 and the Official opening ceremony was performed by the GAA
President Mr. Sean Kelly in August 2003.
The
move to our new home with its clubhouse, floodlit pitches and
astroturf facilitated an increase in player numbers in all levels and
codes, and with that the club has seen huge success in Hurling,
Football and Ladies Football at underage and adult levels.
After
a period in the lower divisions, the mens football team have enjoyed
promotions in recent years winning the Junior League in 2010, Junior
Championship in 2011, Intermediate League in 2014, Intermedate Championship 2021. 2022 saw our men back playing Senior Championship since 1995 (27 years).
Our
Ladies team have also grown in strength. In 2015, after an unlucky loss
in the Division 2 League final they rebounded to win the Junior
Championship and Minor Championship. In 2016 they dominated the leaue and were promoted to Division 1, also appearing in the Intermediate Championship Final. And in 2018 they won the Intermediate Championship earning promotion to the senior level. They also contested the senior championship final in 2021 loosing to three time winners Geraldines. 2022 saw the team off to a winning start claiming their first senior title winning the "Winter league" followed by winning the Division 1 league title in August.
Underage
football goes from strength to strength within the club, with all our
teams performing to their potential, many reaching and winning finals
as well as supplying players to county teams.
Hurling
in the club began in earnest in May 1997 when 60 eager players turned
up for training. In the following months and years numbers grew,
teams were formed, coaches were found and hurling was truly embraced
by the club. Hammerings endured at first were gradually turned to
joyous victories and slowly, isolated wins became appearances in
semi-finals and finals.
The
breakthrough at underage level came in 2009 with an inaugural win in
the U14 Championship. That team went on to register double wins at
U16 and minor level, paving the way for subsequent teams who would go
on to win further titles at all levels. The club has amassed over 15
underage titles in the past ten years. This strength at underage
hurling was underlined this year by the performance of our U14 team
winning League, Championship, Féile and All-Ireland Féile Titles.
2003
saw the club field its first team at Senior level when they faced
Wolfe Tones in the Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda. The realities of senior
hurling were not lost on such a young team. With hard work and
perseverance their skill, fitness and strength were built up and in
time, wins, semi finals and finals became commonplace.
It
would not be until 2013 that the club would lift silverware at senior
level for the first time. In fact a treble of wins was recorded. A
Táin League title in the Spring was followed by a Special
Championship, but the breakthrough came in August with a Senior
Hurling League title secured in Darver. St
Fechins won their first Senior Hurling Championship in 2015 and doubled up by winning again in 2016. It took five more years, five finals before they earned the championship title in 2021. They then went on to win back to back title lifting the cup against Knockbridge again in 2022.
Camogie was introduced at juvenile level in 2017 where we fielded U8/10/12 teams. This side of the club has gone from strength to strength which is in no small way down to the dedicated coaches. in 2022 we fielded U15 for the first time. We expect great things from these young Camoges in the future