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History of Ardglass

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In 1921 a club was formed in the Parish of Ardglass and Dunsford by the then principal of St. Joseph's P.S., Edward Maginnes and a coastguard official from Cork, Bill Mahony.

The club disbanded after eight or nine years and a subsequent club. in the Dunsford end of the parish, lasted only a short time. In 1938 Fr. McKee was appointed P.P. and formed a new club which became known as Ardtole. The club received a boost in the 1940's, when a number of Southern players joined, among whom were Owen Carney, who later played for Donegal, and Gaelic games were first played there around the turn of the century. Football was John Joe Cassidy, who won All-Ireland medals with Cavan. The team was defeated in the 1946 Down Junior Final after a replay with Clonduff, but shortly after this the club folded and a new club, named Dunsford, was reformed in 1952.

In 1970 difficulties arose and a number of players and officials left to form a new club in Ardglass. This idea was first refused but later, on appeal, was granted and the present Ardglass club was formed. Two years later Dunsford disbanded and its players joined Ardglass.

The area has produced many good players most notable being Jim Milligan who won an All-Ireland Senior Medal in 1968.