MOTTO
Glaine in ár gcroí, Neart in ár nGeag, Beart de réir ár mbriathar
Purity in our hearts, Strength in our limbs, Action according to our words
HISTORY
CLG Na Fianna is one of very few clubs nationally who embrace and cater for the full diversity of sporting codes of our Associations: Gaelic Football, Hurling, Ladies Football, Camogie, Handball and Rounders. Based in Glasnevin on Dublin’s northside, the club has grown to become one of the largest in the country, playing our games out of 15 locations spanning 55 acres. Membership is at an all-time high, our cultural and community activities remain the hub of our club, and we field over 215 teams across all codes and ages.
Founding and Early Years
CLG Na Fianna was established in April 1955 in Glasnevin, Dublin, with the vision of fostering Gaelic games and Irish culture in the local community. The name “Na Fianna” is derived from the legendary warriors of Irish mythology, symbolizing courage and unity. The club’s early members worked tirelessly to build a foundation for success, both on and off the pitch. Initially, football and hurling games were played in local fields, including Griffith Park and other nearby green spaces, and the club quickly became an integral part of the Glasnevin community. Na Fianna’s ethos of inclusivity and its emphasis on youth development helped it grow steadily during its formative years.
In 1963, the club reached an agreement with the Office of Public Works to lease grounds at Mobhí Road. Over an 18-month period, the Guinness Sports Club timber-framed clubhouse was removed from the Iveagh Grounds in Crumlin, South Dublin and reassembled by the club’s volunteers. A week prior to the official opening in 1967, it was burned down in a devastating arson attack.
Development and Expansion
The Camogie section was established in 1969, the same year we won our first Dublin Senior Football Championship, and we were the first club to grant female players full membership rights. The clubhouse was rebuilt between 1970 and 1972, incorporating a hall, members bar, dressing rooms and an indoor handball court, and it marked a key turning point as the clubhouse, handball court and pitches became a hub of activity for players and supporters alike. During this period, Na Fianna solidified its reputation as a competitive force in Dublin GAA, particularly at juvenile level. The club’s commitment to coaching and nurturing young talent bore fruit as many players advanced to represent Dublin at inter-county level. Na Fianna’s teams consistently competed in Dublin championships, gaining respect across the county and beyond.
A New Era
The Ladies Football Section was founded in 1989 and the 1990s and early 2000s are often considered a golden era for the club. The Na Fianna Nursery, established in 1991, was one of the first of its kind in the country and has won high acclaim nationally as a model of best practice in juvenile coaching and was key to a string of Juvenile, Féile, Minor and U-21 successes that were to follow across the codes.
The club also achieved significant success at senior level, including a three in a row of Dublin Senior Football Championships from 1999-2001 and Na Fianna players were prominently featured in Dublin inter-county teams, contributing to provincial and All-Ireland successes. The Senior Footballers also won a Leinster Club title in 1999 and went on to compete against Crossmaglen in the All-Ireland Club Final of 2000 in Croke Park. Also that year, the Senior Ladies Footballers reached their first county final and went on win their first county title in 2009. They won it again in 2011 and went on to reach the All-Ireland Club Final that year and again in 2014.
Modern Era
A major redevelopment of Aras Na Fianna took place from 2003 onwards with the re-designing of the old clubhouse and the addition of several all-weather training pitches, an outdoor handball alley and a hurling wall that were essential to support our growing membership base. From 2014 to 2018, Na Fianna won multiple Minor and Under 21 county titles in Football, Camogie and Hurling and across 2021 and 2022, in another historic first for Na Fianna, the club reached Senior County Finals in Camogie, Ladies football, Mens football and Hurling. Our four Senior 1 teams continue to be very competitive to the present day and in 2023, the Senior Hurlers made history and won the Senior Dublin Hurling Championship for the first time. 2024 saw the team go one better and win the Dublin and Leinster championships and on January 19th, 2025, we reached the holy grail and won our first Senior Club All Ireland title and walked the steps of the Hogan Stand to the unbridled joy of thousands.
More than a sports club
Na Fianna’s role extends well beyond the playing fields or courts, as it serves as a cultural and social centre for Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Phibsborough and the surrounding communities. The club frequently hosts events, socials, and activities that bring together generations of members and neighbours and our broader role in the community is of critical importance to us. In March 2022, we commenced our weekly All Stars session which is a Saturday session for those across our community with additional needs and it continues to grow from strength to strength. In more recent years, we started hosting armchair yoga, in partnership with DCC, and it has proven hugely popular within the area. Mobhí Road is also the location of seven local businesses which reflects our founding members commitment to supporting Irish industry and economic development.
Culture has always been at the forefront of CLG Na Fianna and will continue to be for years to come. While today we have our seisiún every Thursday where all are welcome, along with ranganna rince, ranganna Gaeilge agus Scór na nÓg, we also have a long-standing friendship with Draíocht Drama Group who regularly perform in the club and our local schools. For many, many years, Na Fianna was the venue for the Céilí Mór and we have had the honour of hosting RTE’s Céili House from the club on more than one occasion. A particular cultural highlight from our more recent history was hosting The Kilfenora Ceili Band from Co. Clare. They love their hurling but by God, they love their music too and what a few nights were had. Hon the Banner!!
Legacy – What’s next?
We are very proud of our success and contribution to our community and beyond to date, but we are also very conscious of our responsibility to drive on, improve, and leave our club and our communities in the best place possible for those that will come after us. Na Fianna is the club of Leah Caffrey, Dessie Farrell, Niall O Ceallacháin, Jonny Cooper, Eoin Murchan, Donal Burke, Hannah Tyrrell, Elyse Jamieson-Murphy, Sean Currie, Eilish O Dowd, Conor McHugh, Tomas Brady, Niamh Gleeson, Senan Connell and many, many more. But it also the club of Willie Patten, Martin Quilty, Padraigín Breathnach, Carla Downes, Fergus McNally, Shay Boland, Feena Corcoran, Therese Dowling, Tom Flaherty, Frank Daly, Karen McHugh, Edel Cassidy, Ciara May, Eoin McCabe, Dermot Moran, Ann Ryan, Alva Baxter, Leo Fay, Louise Leonard, Denise Fitzgerald and literally thousands more. Our 201 founding members could never have envisioned the club we have become, where we are one on and off the pitch, but they would expect us to continue to drive progress and strive for excellence with Glaine in ár gcroí, Neart in ár nGeag, agus Beart de réir ár mbriathar.
