History
of Rostrevor
False starts were a feature of the
early decades of this prosperous club's existence.
The first was in 1919 when the club was initially
launched by Rev. E. McConville, Dan Rooney and Vincent
McGlew. But despite early success the fledgling club
succumbed to the trouble times and went out of existence
again in 1926. The torch was passed to the eastern
end of the parish with a team from Killowen competing
and winning the Houston Cup in the late Twenties,
and it wasn't until 1931 that the club was reformed
in the village itself. Again it proved short-lived,
disbanding for most of the war year before Jack Hanna
revived it in its present form. County Chairman George
Tinnelly, himself a Rostrevor man, had the honour
of presenting the clubs first trophy of the modern
era, the Frontier Junior League title of 1945.
The Fifties were a period of consolidation,
with Rostrevor reaching its first S.F.C. final in
1959, but the Sixties were momentous, they won first
Division status in 1967 (which they retained for over
20 years) and furnished three players, Mickey Cole,
Hilary MeGrath and Mickey Daly to the 1968 Down All-Ireland
panel.
They built on that success in the
Seventies. The championship dream finally came true
in 1976, the same year that the club purchased premises
for a social club development that has grown to be
one of the most progressive in the county.
The Eighties saw this development
continue, but the real feature of this decade was
the fruition of a juvenile development policy which
brought the club championship titles at U-12, U-14
and U-16 grades.
Hurling, camogie and handball also
flourished in St. Bronagh's and the club has made
a significant contribution to the county off the field
also. It has given Down three County Chairmen, George
Tinnelly, Sean Fearon and Tony Williamson, it has
registered numerous success in Scor, and has been
successful in the A.I.B. Club of the Year schemes.
1998 was a momentous year when the Down S.F.C. was
again won.
Floodlights
are now installed in Pettit Park and recently the
club has developed new changing facilities. Noteworthy
players to have worn the Rostrevor jersey include
Liam Austin (an All-Star in 1981), Damien Morgan Aidan
Farrell and Pete McGrath. Neil Caulfield, Martin MeGivern
and John Markey helped Down to win the 1987 All-Ireland
M.F.C. title under the managership of Pete MeGrath
who went on to mange the All-Ireland winning teams
of the Nineties.
