How about a story about a club that’s been synonymous with Gaelic games in Dublin since 1931? That’s St Vincents GAA Club for you. It all began in Marino thanks to Rev Dr William Fitzpatrick and Bro Ernest Fitzgerald.
St Vincents GAA Club moved to its current home in Marino in 1987. Before that, the club grounds were in Raheny for years. A key moment arrived in 1997. St Vincents merged with Marino Camogie Club. This formed the St Vincents Hurling, Football and Camogie Club.
St Vincents has clinched the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship three times. The most recent win was in 2014. They’re also the most successful team in the Dublin Senior Football Championship. They have won the title 29 times. The club has also secured 15 Dublin Senior 1 camogie titles. Six of those were won as Marino. St Vincents completed three consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2017.
The club uses several pitches. There are pitches at their clubhouse and Páirc Naomh Uinsionn. They also use pitches beside Ardscoil Ris. Facilities were redeveloped there in 2020 with the help of St. Vincents. The pitch at Marino Institute of Education is also used. Fairview Park and St Anne’s Park are additional locations. A 4G all-weather GAA pitch was installed in 2019.
The club grounds have an interesting history. They were largely developed on the walled garden of Lord Charlemont’s estate. He named the area Marino. The estate became the Christian Brothers’ St Mary’s Teacher training college grounds. It also became the O’Brien Institute. Parts of the garden walls still stand. They border the club grounds to the south and east in Casino Park. The club crest includes a logo of Marino Casino. Part of the Charlemont family motto is also there. It reads “Ferro Comitante”. The full motto is “Deo Duce, Ferro Comitante”. This translates to “God as my leader, my sword my companion”.
St Vincents has a long list of football honors. They won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1976, 2008, and 2014. The Leinster Senior Club Football Championship was won in 1973, 1976, 1985, 2008, 2014, 2015, and 2017. Dublin Senior Football Championship victories came in 1949, and regularly through to 2017.
The Dublin Senior Football League was won in 2015 and 2018. St Vincents also claimed the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship multiple times. They also won the Dublin Junior Football Championship.
Though renowned for football, St Vincents is also successful in hurling. They’ve won the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship 13 times. This places them second in the roll of honor behind Faughs. St Vincents competed in the 2007 and 2010 finals. However, they lost to Ballyboden St Endas both times.
St Vincents boasts many notable players. These players have represented Dublin county teams. Iconic figures such as Diarmuid Connolly, Ger Brennan, and Kevin Heffernan have played for St Vincent’s.
The club is more than just a sports venue. It’s a place where community spirit thrives. It is a place where legends are made. St Vincents GAA Club remains a pillar of Dublin’s sporting heritage.