Bride Rovers GAA
Club History
There is a history of Gaelic Games in our parish dating back to the 1700’s – in 1741 an “Inter County” hurling game took place in Kildinan between Cork and Tipperary selections. In the 1880’s after the GAA was founded, Rathcormac Football team and Bartlemy Hurling team were very prominent in Cork Gaelic circles under their patron Fr. Edmond Barry. Clubs and teams came and went in Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan in the first decades of the 20th century. In 1928 the two existing clubs in the parish, Bartlemy and Rathcormac united to form Bride Rovers. Success came quickly to the new club. Two East Cork Junior Hurling Championship titles were won in 1930 and 1932 and the East Cork and County Minor Hurling titles were also won in 1932.
Moving up to Intermediate grade in 1933, the club got to the County Final and were beaten by Lough Rovers. With little success at Intermediate level it was decided to regrade to Junior in 1938 when they got to the East Cork final but were beaten by Cloyne, which then included the young Christy Ring. Though Con Murphy won a Senior Hurling All Ireland medal with Cork in 1946, the 1940’s were lean years for the Rovers. In 1950 the club folded up. A club started in Bartlemy in 1951 and kept going until 1955. In 1957 an U-16 East Cork title was won. In 1959 a new club, St Bartholomew’s, was formed and reached the East Cork Junior B Final of 1960. This club folded in 1961. For the next three years players from the parish played with different clubs. In December 1964, the Bride Rovers Club was reformed and thankfully has remained in existence since. In 1966 the East Cork ‘B’ Hurling Championship was won and in the same year Seanie Barry won U-21 and Senior All Ireland medals with Cork. East Cork ‘A’ Grade titles were won in 1968 and 1969 and a second ‘B’ grade title was won in 1975. In 1977 the club bought 7 acres of land to develop a pitch and the first game was played there in 1983. The 1980’s brought 2 Junior Hurling League titles to the club and a ‘B’ grade championship but no success at ‘A’ grade championship level.
The pitch was officially opened in 1985 with a Cork v Offaly game. In 1991 the club regraded to ‘B’ grade hurling and in 1993 the ‘B’ grade hurling and football double was won. In 1997 the Junior ‘A’ hurling team got to the East Cork final for the first time since 1973 but lost to Castlelyons. In 1998 the East Cork title was won for the first time since 1969 and the club went on to win an historic County Junior Hurling title for the first time. Bride Rovers won the Cork County Intermediate Hurling Championship title for the first time in the Club’s history on 26th October 2003, defeating Iniscarra in the Final. The club has also contested 3 All Ireland 7-a-side Hurling finals in a row – winning the title in 2000. The Club History “Bride Rovers Abu” was published in 1999. In 2000 the U-12 hurlers brought the first ever Juvenile County Hurling title to the parish.
In the Scor talent competitions many East Cork titles have been won and County titles have been captured in the Novelty Act and Question Time.
Brian Murphy was on three Cork Inter-County hurling teams in 2003 U-21, Intermediate and Senior. He won Munster medals at Intermediate and Senior level and an All-Ireland medal with the Cork Intermediate team. In 2002 a splendid new clubroom was built to facilitate meetings and to provide catering for players after games and training. Also work is ongoing with a New Referees Dressing room & a New Ladies / Wheelchair accessible toilet.
Club Song..
One can well imagine how proud Billy Barry was in Powers Hotel after the game when he recited his new composition:
Bride Rovers Abu
Come, listen a while; I will tell you the story
Of heroes and hurlers well tested and tried,
Of a team from East Cork that's been covered with glory;
They come from the fair lands along by the Bride.
Right bravely they fought, all opponents defeating,
The big and the small ones, the old and the new.
So loudly we sing, with our hearts proudly beating,
The Rovers for ever, Bride Rovers Abu.
The Healy’s watched goal - and `twas safe in their keeping;
The Murphy’s and Hogan were well to the fore.
O'Leary and Shea were the scores ever heaping;
The Barry’s and Ryan’s sent in more and more.
Hanan, Daly and Leahy kept pressure unending;
Ned Hoskins, our captain, no ball could get through;
Yes; here was a team, gallant, bold and unbending,
The dauntless young Rovers - Bride Rovers abu.
Three years in succession the tale we repeated;
In Midleton town in each final we fought.
And now once again - all opponents defeated;
We've gained the prized laurels, so eagerly sought.
Great sporting tradition from sires we inherit;
Rathcormac has reared men - and Bartlemy too.
Whose feats oft the crown of the victor did merit.
Their deeds now inspire us; Bride Rovers abu.
Yes, we play the game as true sportsmen should play it;
To temper or rashness not lightly we yield.
We give knocks and take them but none can gainsay it;
We're manly, straightforward, and fair on the field.
And again the bright mantle of victory is o'er us;
We are champions once more in 1932;
So now, one and all, let us join in the chorus,
The Rovers for ever; Bride Rovers abu
