History
of Clann na Banna
Banbridge antecedents actually go
back to the early years of the century when town players
banded together with then Aghaderg neighbours under
the "Clann-na-Banna" title to become the first ever
Down Senior Football champions in 1904.
But there was never a football club
based in the town itself until 1942 when Fr. Joey
O'Hagan got together with local sportsmen like Jack
Macken and P. C. Fitzpatrick to form the new "Clann-na-Banna".
The club had a promising beginning in 1946 in producing
county players like Dr. Martin Walsh. Pack Reavy,
Johnny Donaghy. Des Lennon and Gerry MeGuinness. But
since the mid-Fifties, Banbridge has had to be content
with Junior status, its only successes in that period
being J.F.C. titles in 1958 and 1973, though they
were beaten Junior Finalists in 1989.
County players include Tom Keenan
(Captain of the first Down team to win the Ulster
M.F.C. title in 1958), his brother Michael, Eamon
Clements (1960), P. J. McCourt. Kevin Burns and Aidan
Campbell. The club also have a strong tradition of
supplying referees to the county, with Joe Campbell
the best known of these and have recently proposed
major developments which would bring them their own
pitch and indoor facilities.
