History
of Dundrum
Dundrum beginnings were humbler than
most. The club's inaugural meeting was held in a gateway
in the main street of the village back in 1934!
Nor did things become easier. The
club did not survive the Hungry Thirties and though
it reformed in 1943, falling numbers forced it to
disband again in 1946.
It was the late William Glavin and
Aloysius Rooney who re-launched the club in 1951,
and with the late Danny Flynn becoming team trainer,
success soon followed. Down All-Ireland star Eamon
MeKay and Jariath Carey (also played for Ballymartin)
helped the club to the J.F.C. in 1957 and the second
Division title in 1961. Fortunes faded after this
and by the early Eighties the club had dropped to
Division IV status.
Off the field, however, things began
to happen. A new pitch off Main Street was completed
by 1985, and under the leadership of the late Jack
Kielty (Father of TV Star Patrick) Dundrum began to
broaden its horizons; success followed on the field
as the Senior team rose from Division IV to Division
II in successive years and furnished three young players,
John Kielty, Martin Carey (Finished his plying carrer
with Carryduff) and Patrick Kielty to the Down All-Ireland
Minor Panel of 1987.
