As one of the oldest GAA clubs in Dublin, Parnell's have enjoyed a considerable amount of success at senior level down the years. True, recent seasons have saw their flask of senior silverware run dry, but chairman, Frank Gleeson, is more than confident that the approach being now taken will lead the club back on the road to glory in years to come. The history of the Parnell's GAA club in Dublin is richer than most. Based in Donnycarney/Coolock, they have won most honours that can be won at senior level Gaelic football in Dublin and have saw numerous illustrious players pass through their ranks down the years and don the green and black jersey of the club. In 1942, Parnell's centre-forward Brendan Quinn won an All-Ireland senior championship medal with Dublin after defeating Galway in the final at Croke Park, and three years later would-be Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, won a Dublin SFC title with the Parnell's club. "The club has a good history down the years, but it was in the 1980s and early 90s that proved the golden era for Parnells," said club chairman, Frank Gleeson. "In that time we reached four senior football finals in five years and were unlucky not to win all four of them. We also reached two intermediate finals and a junior final in the 80s as well." Parnell's success had come on the back of an efficient underage system spear-headed by Jimmy O'Grady, who was ably assisted by members and local school teachers from the area. One of these teachers was a certain Kerry man by the name of Sean Kelly, who would go on to be inaugurated as President of the GAA in 2003. Under the guidance of their committed mentors, Parnell's development system produced some outstanding talents, with Greg Walsh, Padraig Robinson, Bob McKeon, Mick Bissett and James Fahy all representatives of the club on Dublin's last All-Ireland minor winning team in 1984. Greg Walsh went on to represent Dublin at senior level with club mates Jimmy Bisset, Mark O'Hanlon, Ray Holland, Glen O'Neill, Declan North and John Prendergast. "Parnell's are proud that some of the local talent brought through the underage system at the club in the past has gone on to wear the blue jersey of Dublin. It's a tradition that we want to keep up and I'm confident we can do so once the commitment of every one involved remains high," said Gleeson. It was 1997 when Parnell's recorded a key juvenile championship triumph at Under 15 level. Much of the winning team that day has supplied the players for the current senior squad and includes former Dublin minors Stephen Mills and Anthony Cromwell. Also included are Martin Whelan, Mark Fitzpatrick and Barry Byrne who won All-Ireland U21 medals with Dublin in 2003, which was the first Dublin team to win this title. However, the one player who has been the leading light in the club from the first juvenile championship victory is Stephen Cluxton. The current Dublin net-minder has distinguished himself as, arguably, the best number one in the country with five consecutive Leinster titles and three All Star awards. Along with their representation on the Dublin squad, Parnell's have always left their door open for outsiders leaving the country to work in the capital, whether it be football, hurling or club activities they are looking to get involved in. "Players who have made Parnell's their home in the past include Brian Talty (Galway), Brendan Brady (Monaghan), Donnie Fitzgibbon (Limerick) and Anthony McGarry (Mayo) to name but a few," said Gleeson. "Another was Gerry Brady, who came to Dublin to study law and ended up joining the club. He led Parnell's to back-to-back Dublin senior league and championship, and Leinster titles in the 80s." The aforementioned Brendan Brady of Monaghan has been a real success story for the club, lining-out for Dublin masters, alongside Christy Oonan (captain of the '87 championship winning team), Bernard Arkins, Glen O'Neill, Peter Tiernan, John Campbell and Brian Halpin, all of whom won three All-Ireland titles in-a-row. Remarkably, Brady is still lining-out for the Parnell's junior side today at the age of 58. Two of Parnell's newest Country players are Laois duo Colm Parkinson and Darren Rooney, both players joined the club this year and have been instrumental in Parnells charge in the league and championship. Although the above contributions have been essential for the club, the players cannot take all the credit. Off the playing field, many people have served on the Parnell's committee and have helped the club become what it is today. Patsy Kiernan in a man who has been involved in Parnell's GAA all of his life, and served as chairman a staggering four times, while also managing many teams, including the seniors on the 1990s. He is now the grounds man at Parnell Park and is known well throughout GAA circles in Dublin. A more recent Chairman Tony Fitzpatrick, has worked closely with Frank in the last 3 years to develop the club's development strategy, which is now becoming a reality for the Dublin club. Claire Kelly is another who has given a lifetime of service to the Parnell's cause, looking after the club's books for 30 years before retiring along with Kitty Brady, who managed the bar for the same period of time. At present, much of the club's concentration has been catering for underage teams at most levels in both the hurling and football codes, it's hardworking executive of Tony Fitzpatrick, Su Hannon, Brendan Conlon, Dave Feeney, James Fahy, OD Fanning, Lorraine Fogarty, Paul Rigney, Avril Cluxton and Mark Fitzpatrick work tirelessly to drive on the club's development. "Hurling is making a comeback and our aspirations of playing senior hurling are surely only a matter of time. This is again thanks to the dedication of Kerry man Jimmy O'Grady and his sidekick Cork man, Kieran Murphy" said the Parnell's chairman. "There is also a huge growth in Ladies football at underage as well with two underage teams and one senior team who have been very successful over the last number of years, with Avril Cluxton, Lily Peat and Niamh McEvoy all playing for the Dublin Ladies senior team, with Niamh captaining the team as well. Sinead Cumiskey also won an All-Ireland minor medal in 2008 with Dublin." The motives behind securing so many options for youngster wishing to play football are hurling are clear - Parnell's are looking to the future. To facilitate all the players from the above teams in years to come, the club is planning a new development at Chanel college, which will include the following new facilities: Two all weather pitches, one for adults, one for children; One full size sand-based grass pitch; A hurling, football and handball wall; A new sports hall with a championship size basketball court and training facilities; A fully equipped gym with a sports therapy centre and changing rooms; A new modern clubhouse and parking for 180 cars. "This project, if it proceeds as planned, will be of enormous benefit not just to the members of the Parnell's club but also to the residents of Coolock/Artane and surrounding areas. It is probably the most important development proposed for the area in decades," Gleeson enthused. "Parnell's wants to become one of the biggest clubs in Dublin, and our ambitions are not confined to the playing fields. The club draws its strength from the local community and we want to play an active role in promoting sport in the area so all its residents cane be proud of what can be achieved when a community put its mind to it. "In short, we want to make Parnell's the best supported community based club in the country and a role model to all other communities" he added. The new development - if it goes ahead accordingly - is clearly good news for the Parnell's club, but is also set to benefit Chanel College as well as the Coolock/Artane area. One of the key provisions of the scheme, according to Gleeson, is that the students of Chanel college will have full use of the new facilities. With a proud tradition in Dublin championship football, winning the senior county title six times, most recently in 1988 when they went on to claim the Leinster title, Parnell's believe it's time to renew the club again in preparation for more success by the present and future generations. One member who is looking forward to the development in Coolock village going ahead is one of Parnell's most famous sons. "I am really excited about the development plans for Parnell's," said an eager Stephen Cluxton. "When completed we will have one of the best equipped clubs in the country. This will be a huge bonus for teams preparing for championship and indeed all the young people of the area. I can hardly wait - let's get started!" The club are expected to learn soon whether or not they can start work on the project, and Brian Talty, for one, is hopeful for the future. "This is just the kind of development the club and the area needs. It will allow Parnell's to provide superb facilities for all residents of the area, but particularly young people and allow the club to build on recent successes and get back to where we want to be - winning championships," said the former Parnell's captain. Tweet

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