Club History
Caragh GFC – A very brief history
Caragh Gaelic Football Club was established in 1897, however several Gaelic football teams had played in the Prosperous area as far back as the 1880s. The club came and went in these early years, as the GAA struggled to establish itself nationally. However, by the early years of the 20th century Gaelic football had re-established itself as a central part of life in the parish.
By the end of the 1910s Caragh had emerged as a true force on the football field. With Larry Stanley and Mick Buckley to the fore, they captured the Junior Football Championship of 1917 (played in 1918) and Senior Championships in 1918, 1919 and 1926. Stanley captained Kildare to All-Ireland success in 1919.
As the great players of the golden era fell away from football, success proved harder to come by. An intermediate win in 1931 was the last major success for a generation.
Another great side emerged in the 1940s, capturing a Junior Football Title in 1949 after losing out in the final the previous year. They lost out in the intermediate decider in 1950, the last adult championship final the club would feature in for over two decades.
There is no doubt that the 1960s and 1970s were difficult years for the club, but perseverance and hard work kept the flame flying. A Junior C victory in 1978 was accompanied by the club being named Club of the Year- a reflection of great work off the field as well as on.
Huge work at underage level in the club and Scoil An Linbh Iosa primary school brought great success in the 1980s- with an Under 16 “A” championship in 1989 sandwiched between two appearances in Minor “A” county finals in 1988 and 1990.
1993 saw the club win its first Junior “A” Championship in almost 50 years and this was followed by intermediate success in 1995. Competing at senior level for the first time since the 1930s, Caragh held their own, reaching a semi-final in 1997 before losing to Sarsfields.
The 2000s were a decade to be endured rather than enjoyed as the club suffered two relegations to return to the Junior ranks. 2010 saw another Junior success and the beginnings, hopefully, of a new age. Although we slipped back down to Junior, success in the 2020 final, augured well for the future.
The sight of three Caragh players lining out for Kildare in the All-Ireland Under 20 Final in 2022 reflected mighty hard work by mentors and club officials, as well as the players themselves. It gave us a glimpse of the future- full of endless possibilities. These boys learned their trade in St. Farnan’s Park on Friday nights.
All the hard work came to spectacular fruition with the glorious Intermediate campaign of 2024. Few would have given Caragh a chance at the beginning of the Intermediate Championship- with the likes of Sallins, Rathangan and Leixlip all hotly tipped. A first-round defeat to Sallins seemed to confirm that view. However, with a new coaching team led by Michael Brown, building on the great work of Paddy Madigan in the previous few years, Caragh grew into the campaign. The victory over Sallins in the quarter final was a standout. Rathangan were dispatched in the semi-final and so we found ourselves back in an Intermediate County final. Leixlip stood in our way, and again few gave Caragh a chance. The wind in Hawkfield threatened to blow us all back to Prosperous, but it was our boys who adapted better and the scenes at the end, as a village embraced its heroes, was one that will live long in the memory. Celebrations were had, and all were happy. Few thought this was a prelude to something even better. A Leinster campaign that saw us knock out the champions of Meath, Kilkenny and Wexford culminated in a glorious day in December sunshine in Parnell Park, when captain Kevin Connor lifted the Leister Intermediate Championship Cup. Caragh- champions of Leinster!
As we celebrated, thoughts also turned to the many great men and women, some now sadly gone, who worked tirelessly in throughout the year to keep the show on the road, going back year after year to open the gates, pump up the footballs, hand out the jersies, hold meetings, line pitches, sell tickets, coach juveniles and to continuously pick us all up after another disappointment- to hope once again.
Particularly important has been the massive work being done at underage level by a wonderful team of dedicated mentors, many of whom are ex-players. Any Friday night that you pass St. Farnan’s Park, the lights are on, literally hundreds of children are playing the same game that Gus Nevin, Larry Stanley, Mick Buckley, Christy Brereton, Del Weld played in years gone by. Their legacy and the legacy of all those who played or supported the GAA in Prosperous is assured as long as young boys and girls pull on the maroon and white.