Liam Mellows GAA Club celebrates 80th birthday

When the founding fathers of Liam Mellows Hurling Club (as it then was) first gathered in 1933, those same men could scarcely have imagined that their fledgling club would continue to grow and thrive some 80 years later, now fielding both hurling and camogie teams at all age groups.

The club’s historical heartland is the city centre and indeed, it continues to draw members from both sides of the River Corrib. To mark the 80 years celebration, Liam Mellows GAA club will be giving out complimentary history books of the club to anyone interested.

The book, published in 2007, travels through the years with tales of dramatic victories, losses and much more. Of note was the 1942 affair, a dramatic year for the club, a year in which Mellows reached the county final, a game which was to go down as one of the most controversial games in the history of Galway hurling.

The county final was played in the Sportsground against Ardrahan, a game which Mellows won on a scoreline of Mellows 8-4, Ardrahan 0-8. Ardrahan subsequently objected, stating the pitch as being 26 yards too short and having grass which was too long! A replay was ordered and played in Loughrea.

Despite excellent hurling at the start of the game, a brawl began with spectators joining in – the game was held up for five minutes with Mellows well on top at this stage. The game resumed and Mellows left the pitch deserving winners.

However the drama was not over – as the players left the pitch rioting broke out and worse was yet to come for the Mellows players who had travelled by lorry to the game and returned to the appointed meeting spot to be informed that they had run out of petrol!

A horse-and-trap was available for four of the players while the remainder had to set off on foot. The team finally reached Galway at 3.30am to grab a few hours sleep before proceeding to their various jobs in the morning.

 A subsequent county board meeting declared the championship null and void due to the rioting scenes that had ensued after the game.  For anyone interested in a copy of the book, contact Aoife on 087-6427586.

The club has gone from strength to strength since the early days of its existence. The club purchased 13 acres of land from the Army in Ballyloughane in 1980 and its heartland is now concentrated on the east side of the City.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune