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| Stiofánaigh Béil an Atha | |||||||||
| Founded: | 1886 | ||||||||
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| County: | Mayo | ||||||||
| Colours: | Green, Red | ||||||||
| Grounds: | James Stephens Park | ||||||||
| Coordinates: | 54°06′43″N9°09′46″W / 54.111808°N 9.162780°W | ||||||||
| Playing kits | |||||||||
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| Senior Club Championships | |||||||||
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Ballina Stephenites is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballina area in County Mayo, Ireland. [1] They are the most successful club in Mayo and fourth most successful in Ireland based on trophy amount. [2]
The Ballina Stephenites Club was founded on the 28th (last Saturday) of August 1886 by James Wallace Melvin. (Pen-name Larry Doolan) who also penned the Club's rallying song-"Forward to the goal of victory" The first meeting was held in "Barney's Boreen" at the top of Convent Hill. The first President of the Club was Tom Courell with "Cappy" Fitzgerald as Secretary and Michael Connolly as Treasurer. The club is named for James Stephens (1825–1901).
Ballina Stephenites were affiliated to the Mayo County Board a short time later and played their first "official" fixture in Jones' Field in Ardnaree against Commercials Junior. The Club won 13 consecutive Senior Football Championships from 1904 - 1916 and 2 Archbishop Croke Cups in 1908 and 1909.
In 1933 James Stephens Park was opened by P. J. Ruttledge, Minister for Justice - (A Ballina man). Bord Na N'óg was founded in 1972 resulting in many juvenile successes since.
The Club hosted 2 G.A.A. Congress weeks in 1984 and 1985 and "Welcome Home Week" in 1984 - the Centenary year of the G.A.A. The Club has produced 5 G.A.A. Football All-Stars in - Kevin McStay, Jimmy Browne, Liam McHale, Ger Cafferkey and David Clarke.
In 2005 a team captained by Brian Ruane defeated Portlaoise to win the Andy Merrigan cup as All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship winners.
Rev. Fr. Gerry Courell, grandson of Tom Courell and son of Gerald, was the club patron until his passing in May 2012, maintaining a proud family association with the club.
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo county teams.
Francis "Francie" Bellew is a Gaelic footballer who played for the Armagh county team. He has won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal, five Ulster Championships and a National League title with the county. He was also awarded an All Star for his performances in 2003.
The Mayo Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition contested by the top Mayo GAA clubs.
St Brigid's GAA Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parishes of Kiltoom and Cam in County Roscommon, Ireland. They play in green and red colours and their home pitch is at Newpark, Kiltoom. The club was founded in 1944 and is the home club of former Roscommon inter-county player Gerry O'Malley. The club has won one All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, beating Ballymun Kickhams in the All-Ireland Club Final on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 2013.
Ger Brady is a Gaelic footballer who plays for Ballina Stephenites and the Mayo county team. He plays center half-forward or alternatively left half-forward or most often as a utility eagle-eyed playmaker, capable of slicing through the toughest of defences. He won an All-Ireland Senior Club Championship medal with his club in 2005. He is David's lesser-known brother, and has a cat called Maisey.
John McEntee is a former Gaelic footballer who played at senior level for the Armagh county team until 2007. He was part of the 2002 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship-winning team. McEntee also won six Ulster Senior Football Championships and a National Football League title with the county.
Kevin McStay is an Irish Gaelic football manager, commentator, analyst and former player. He has been manager of the senior Mayo county team since 2022.
James Browne is an Irish former sportsperson. He played Gaelic football for his local club Ballina Stephenites and was a member of the senior Mayo county team from 1986 until 1990. Jimmy captained Mayo in the 1989 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final and was selected on the GAA All Star team of that year.
Paddy Moclair was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played as a full-forward and as a full-back at senior level for the Mayo county team. After retiring from Gaelic football he was a leading greyhound trainer.
Liam McHale is a Gaelic football coach and former player who played in midfield with the Mayo county football team between 1985 and 1999.
Ger Cafferkey is a former Gaelic footballer who plays for Ballina Stephenites and the Mayo county team.
Swinford GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Swinford, County Mayo. They play in Mayo Intermediate Football Championship and belong to the East Division.
The 2015 Mayo Senior Football Championship was the 114th edition of the Mayo GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Mayo, Ireland. The tournament consists of 16 teams, with the winner going on to represent Mayo in the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.
The 2017 Mayo Senior Football Championship was the 116th edition of the Mayo GAA's premier Gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Mayo, Ireland. Sixteen teams competed with the winner representing Mayo in the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship. The championship started with a group stage and progressed to a knock out stage. The winners received the Paddy Moclair Cup.
The 2019 Mayo Senior Football Championship was the 118th edition of the Mayo GAA's premier gaelic football tournament for senior clubs in County Mayo, Ireland. Sixteen teams competed with the winners going on to represent Mayo in the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship. The championship started with a group stage and progressed to a knock out stage. The winners received the Paddy Moclair Cup.
David Brady is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for the Mayo county team in midfield in the 1990s and 2000s. As of 2020, he works as a journalist.
The Mayo county football team (;) represents Mayo in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Mayo GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Connacht Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.
Kieran Denvir was a Gaelic footballer and hurler from Northern Ireland. He was a member of the Down senior football team from the early 1950s until 1960. At club level he played with numerous teams, including Kilclief, University College Dublin, Ballina Stephenites, and Greencastle.
Michael G. Mulderrig was an Irish Gaelic footballer. He played for club side Ballina Stephenites and also lined out at inter-county level with the Mayo senior football team.
