Titles
won by Burren
There are records of football being
played in Burren as early as 1888 but it was not until
1924 that the first official club was formed in the
parish.
This survived for little more than
a decade. The depression of the 1930's took its toll
in the form of emigration, and the club was forced
to disband. It was not until 1949 that the club reformed
again, and it was during the Fifties that an ambitious
juvenile coaching programme masterminded by the late
Sean Murdock laid the basis for Burren's future greatness.
Three County Minor titles in the
late 50's led to the first S.F.C. title in 1966; further
success at all levels followed in the Seventies, and
in the Eighties the Burren club reached a level of
achievement never before witnessed in Down history.
In this decade 6 Down S.F.C.tities,
5 Ulster S.F.C. titles and 2 All-Ireland club titles
were won. Off the field, too, Burren have been setting
records. In 1975 St. Mary's Park, (officially opened
7 years previously) became Ireland's first floodlit
G.A.A. Park. Since then a magnificent pavilion/social
centre has been opened and the popular Down All-Star
scheme is also the brainchild of the Burren club.
As recen as 2000 Burren have development a new playing
Pitch.
While many great men have served
Burren down through the years none served them better
than Scan Murdock (R.I.P.), who won the Ciba Geigy
Ulster Clubman of the Year Award in 1984.
More recently the club coach, Ray
Morgan won the B. A.N.C. Dextresol Coaching Award.
Burren men have been prominent at
all levels of the Association. Peadar Barry served
30 years as Down Secretary, Danny Murphy is currently
Secretary of the Ulster Council having previously
been Chairman of the Ulster Council, Barney Treanor
Vice-Chairman Co. Committee and Brian McEvoy, former
Down Secretary, John MeClorey (R.I.P.), Tomrny McGovern,
Paddy O'Rourke, and John Treanor have all played for
Ulster, with T. Govern and O'Rourke also touring the
U.S.A. with the G.A.A. All-Stars and of course Paddy
O'Rourke captained Down in their All-Ireland triumph
of 1991 and has been recently appointed Manager of
the Down Senior team.
