County Wicklow’s sporting heritage, grounded in Gaelic games and enriched by rugby, soccer, and other pursuits, reflects a community united by competition. From historic triumphs to thriving clubs and athletes, Wicklow’s story is one of dedication and achievement.
Gaelic Games: The Heart of Wicklow
Gaelic Football, hurling, and camogie, governed by Wicklow GAA, form the core of the county’s sporting identity. The senior football team won the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship in 1936 and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship ‘B’ in 1992, defeating London. Wicklow claimed the National Football League Division 4 title in 2012.
In hurling, the county secured the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship in 1967 and 1971, and the Kehoe Cup in 1989, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2023. The camogie team won the All-Ireland Junior Championship in 2011, and the ladies’ football team took the All-Ireland Intermediate title in 2023.
In club football, St Patrick’s (Wicklow Town) leads with 20 Wicklow Senior Football Championship titles, most recently in 2013. Baltinglass has 16 titles, including 2022, and won the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship in 1990. Rathnew holds 13 titles, last in 2020.
In hurling, Glenealy has 18 county titles, with their latest in 2023, while Carnew Emmets won in 2022. Blessington and Tinahely have excelled in ladies’ football, reaching All-Ireland junior club finals.
Famous footballers:
- Kevin O’Brien (Baltinglass): Widely considered Wicklow’s greatest ever footballer. He is the only Wicklow player to win a GAA All-Star (1990) and won an All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship with Baltinglass.
- Hugh Kenny (Baltinglass): A key defender in Baltinglass’s All-Ireland club success and a longtime Wicklow inter-county stalwart, later becoming a respected manager and mentor.
- Leighton Glynn (Rathnew): Star forward under Mick O’Dwyer, played International Rules for Ireland, won numerous county titles, and achieved success in both football and hurling.
- Pat O’Byrne (Aughrim): Known as “The Red Lad,” he played for Leinster, won an Intermediate club championship with Aughrim, and was capped for Ireland in Compromise Rules.
- Tommy Murphy (Baltinglass): Won 13 Senior County Championships with Baltinglass and a Leinster Club title, and was a mainstay of the county team.
- Andy Phillips (St. Patrick’s): Renowned goalkeeper, selected for Leinster, and won Railway Cup medals in 1959 and 1962. Part of the great St. Patrick’s side.
- Moses “Mosie” Coffey (Rathnew): Midfielder, selected as a Replacement All-Star, and later managed Rathnew to immense success, including a Leinster club title.
- Tommy Gill (Rathnew): A prolific scorer known for his “educated left foot,” he won ten senior championships with Rathnew and was a star for the county.
- Jim Rogers (Donard): A dominant midfielder who won four consecutive Railway Cup titles with Leinster and brought club success to Donard.
- Seanie Furlong (Kiltegan): One of Wicklow’s most consistent modern-era forwards, known for high scoring in the senior championship.
Soccer, Rugby, and Beyond
Soccer thrives through clubs like Bray Wanderers, based at the Carlisle Grounds, which competed in the League of Ireland Premier Division and won the FAI Cup in 1990 and 1999. Arklow Town FC secured the FAI Junior Cup in 2016. Outstanding soccer personalities include Alan Kelly from Bray, goalkeeper for Preston North End and Ireland, making over 500 appearances for his club, Liam Scales from Arklow, a defender who played for Celtic and Ireland, Jack Kirwan from Bray who played for Chelsea and was capped by Ireland., Seamus Dunne from Wicklow Town who represented Ireland in the 1950s, Louise Quinn from Blessington who earned over 100 caps and represented Ireland at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and Áine O’Gorman form Enniskerry, an international forward/midfielder with a long career with the Ireland women’s team.
Rugby is strong with Wicklow RFC, based at Ashtown Lane, and Greystones RFC, competing in the Leinster League. Wicklow’s outstanding rugby players of the current era include Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan. John Murphy from Bray was capped for Ireland in the 1980s, featured in the 1982 Triple Crown-winning team. Seamus Deering from Dunlavin was capped nine times for Ireland between 1935 and 1937. Leslie Griffin from Arklow played for Ireland in the 1949 Five Nations championship.
Bray’s Shoreline Sports Park supports athletics, with athletes like Fionnuala McCormack, a European cross-country champion, training locally. Wicklow Golf Club and the Druids Glen course host local tournaments, while sailing clubs in Greystones and Bray promote water sports.
Key Facilities
Pearse Park in Arklow is Wicklow’s primary GAA venue, hosting county finals and Leinster matches. Aughrim County Ground, recently upgraded, supports hurling and football The Carlisle Grounds serves soccer, with Bray Wanderers drawing strong crowds. Shoreline Sports Park offers athletics tracks and indoor facilities. Wicklow Tennis Club and Greystones Sailing Club provide modern amenities for tennis and sailing. The Wicklow Way supports cycling and running events, with Wicklow Triathlon Club active in the area.
Prominent Personalities
Wicklow has two Olympic gold medalists, Ron Delany (born in Arklow, 1500 metres, Melbourne 1956) and Katie Taylor (born in Bray, Women’s lightweight boxing, London 2012). Joshua Pim from Bray was Wimbledon Men’s Singles Champion: 1893, 1894 and Wimbledon Men’s Doubles Champion: 1890, 1893, partnering with Frank Stoker. A medical doctor, he was considered world number one in 1893–1894.
Wicklow has produced standout figures. In football, Mick O’Dwyer, a Kerry legend, coached Wicklow to the 1992 All-Ireland ‘B’ title. Kevin O’Brien starred in the 2004 Tommy Murphy Cup win.
Fionnuala McCormack, a two-time Olympian, competes for Wicklow AC. Rugby’s Reggie Corrigan, an Ireland prop, hails from Greystones. Stephen Byrne, a former Bray Wanderers manager, guided the club to its 1990s FAI Cup successes.
Honours and Years of Success
Wicklow’s football team won the 1936 All-Ireland Junior title and the 1992 All-Ireland ‘B’ Championship, with a National League Division 4 title in 2012. The hurling team secured All-Ireland Junior titles in 1967 and 1971, and Kehoe Cups in 1989, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2023. Camogie won the 2011 All-Ireland Junior title, and ladies’ football took the 2023 intermediate title. Club honours include St Patrick’s 20 football titles (latest 2013), Baltinglass’ 16 titles and 1990 Leinster club title, and Rathnew’s 13 titles (latest 2020). Glenealy’s 18 hurling titles (latest 2023) and Carnew Emmets’ 2022 title stand out. Bray Wanderers won FAI Cups in 1990 and 1999, and Arklow Town claimed the 2016 FAI Junior Cup. Blessington and Tinahely reached All-Ireland junior ladies’ football finals.
Wicklow’s sporting community continues to grow, with clubs and facilities nurturing new talent. From the energy of Pearse Park to the community spirit of the Carlisle Grounds, the county’s love for sport promises more victories ahead.
Sports in the county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Wicklow:
Ireland’s county Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland for its lush landscapes, with Glendalough’s monastic ruins and round tower set amidst serene lakes and valleys. The Wicklow Mountains National Park offers hiking trails with stunning views, while Powerscourt Estate’s manicured gardens and waterfall add natural elegance. Other attractions include the coastal paths of Bray. Wicklow is Ireland’s 17th largest county by size (,025 sq km) and 16th largest by population (155,851). Population peaked at 126,143 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 57,591 in 1926. In terms of hospitality, Wicklow is Ireland’s twelfth most visited tourist county with around 204,000 international visitors per year.
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