Erin's Own GAC, Cargin

Erin's Own Gaelic Athletic Club, Cargin is a sports club based in Toome, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It competes in the Antrim leagues and championships of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in Gaelic football and camogie. Erin's Own provide Men's football (GAA), Ladies football (LGFA) and Camogie at all grades and age levels from Nursery to Senior leveL as well as Handball [1]

Erin's Own GAC, Cargin
Clann na hÉireann CLG, Carraigín
Founded:1923
County:Antrim
Nickname:The Emmet Band
Colours:   Green and white
Grounds:Shore Road, Toome
Coordinates:54°44′56″N 6°27′29″W / 54.749022°N 6.458030°W / 54.749022; -6.458030
Playing kits
Standard colours
Senior Club Championships
All Ireland Ulster
champions
Antrim
champions
Football: 0 0 13

History

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Erin's Own Cargin, (Clann na hÉireann, Carraigín) based in Toome, Co Antrim, in the Parish of Duneane, was founded in 1923 by a Priest from Tyrella, Ballykinlar, Co. Down called Fr Dan Magennis. The club prides itself as a key member of the communities around the Feevagh, welcoming those of all faiths, backgrounds, ethnicities and persuasions. It was one of the pioneer clubs who started the SW Antrim football and hurling leagues in the 1920s and one of the first GAA clubs founded after the partition of Ireland.

Another GAA club formed in Toome in 1926 called Lámh Dhearg, and who won the 1929 Antrim Senior Football Championship but eventually folded, its members then joining Cargin. Erin's Own were one of the first clubs in Ireland formed during the turbulent period after the partition of the country and the erection of a border between the Irish Free State and the new Northern Government. Erin's Own was a key part of ensuring the social bonds of the people in the area were kept intact. Clann na hÉireann means 'The Children of Ireland' which was a declaration that the people of Cargin would always be 'of Ireland', regardless of Partition or Government.

The Erin's Own club played the first "official" games of rounders in Ireland in June 1958 and were instrumental in its promotion. The club continues to offer a sporting and social outlet for the community ensuring healthy lifestyles and positive attitudes. [2]

Cargin have played in the Senior championship since 1953 following their Junior Championship win of that year. In the same year they took the opportunity to play on McCann Fields in Toome and since then have been a Senior club continuously. They are now a 4-code club with Football, LGFA, Camogie and Handball all represented. The club remains at the cultural heart of the Toome community.

Honours

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  • Antrim Senior Football Championship (13)
    • 1974, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Antrim Intermediate Football Championship (2)
    • 2001, 2002
  • Antrim Junior Football Championship (2)
    • 1953, 1991
  • Antrim Under-21 Football Championship (3)
    • 2006, 2008, 2010
  • Antrim U-19 Football Championship (1)
    • 2023
  • Antrim Minor Football Championship (6)
    • 1944, 1975, 1991, 2000, 2019, 2020
  • Antrim Reserve Football Championship (10)
    • 1998, 2005, 2007,2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2023
  • Antrim Senior Hurling Championship (1)
    • 1939 (Amalgamation with Tír na nÓg Randalstown & Kickhams Creggan)
  • Antrim Junior Hurling Championship (1)
    • 1938 (Amalgamation with Tír na nÓg Randalstown & Kickhams Creggan)
  • South West Antrim U-14 League (1)
    • 1999, 2002, 2019
  • South West Antrim U-16 League (3)
    • 1993, 2002, 2016
  • South West Antrim U-16 Shield (2)
    • 2004, 2005
  • All Ireland Senior Mens Rounders (4)
    • 1977, 1987, 1988, 1989
  • All Ireland Senior Ladies Rounders (8)
    • 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1989
  • South West Antrim U-14 Feile (2)
    • 2018, 2019
  • Antrim Camogie Junior Championship (1)
    • 2015
  • Antrim Minor B Camogie Championship (1)
    • 2023
  • Antrim Senior Ladies Football Junior B Championship (1)
    • 2024
  • Antrim U14a Ladies Football Championship (1)
    • 2024
  • Antrim Senior Ladies Football Division 3 (1)
    • 2024

References

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  1. ^ www.jfriel.com, John Friel -. "Erin's Own GAC, Cargin - Clann na hÉireann Carraigín". www.erinsowngac.com.
  2. ^ Egan, Sean (1 January 2002). Celts and Their Games and Pastimes. E. Mellen Press. ISBN 9780773471719 – via Google Books.
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