History
of Ballycran
A visit to Feis an Duin in Newcastle
in 1938 by the headmaster of St. Joseph's Primary
School, Ballycran, Master McKenna, was to prove the
impetus to form a Gaelic club in the area. To further
his point Master McKenna honoured his great friend
Larry Meagher by the selection for Ballyeran club
the same Kilkenny colours as worn by that great hurler.
Since winning their first Senior
title in 1953 Ballycran have been to the fore in Down
hurling, supplying both players and administrators
to the county. They won twenty S. Senior Hurling Championship
titles, the Ulster Club Championship in 1974 and 1976
and Antrim Senior Hurling League titles in 1966 and
1977; since 1960 they have a strong camogie section.
Men like the late great Davy Bell,
whose playing career spanned a record 36 years provided
the Ballyeran Club with a character all of its own.
This character was to be put to an even greater test
off the field when the club hall was destroyed by
a bomb in 1973; yet out of such ashes has arisen a
club which is a testimony to all that is good in the
G.A.A. in Down. Ballycran is ensuring that players
and administrators will be remembered in its Club
History.
Affiliated to the Club are Ballycran
Amateur Dramatic Society, Rureagh Bowling Club, Ballycran
Ladies Club, and closely associated are the McKenna
Accordian Band.
