St. Thomas’ GAA Club, Galway
St. Thomas’ GAA club comprises of two parishes, Kilchreest and Peterswell, and is located at the foot of the Slieve Aughty mountains, between the towns of Gort and Loughrea in South Galway.
St. Thomas’ GAA Club, Galway
St. Thomas’ GAA club comprises of two parishes, Kilchreest and Peterswell, and is located at the foot of the Slieve Aughty mountains, between the towns of Gort and Loughrea in South Galway.
Our Story
In 1968 the parishes of Kilchreest and Peterswell, who were both playing Junior hurling at the time, amalgamated to form St. Thomas’. Peterswell were a top senior team in the county in the early 1900’s and won 7 Senior championships and 2 Junior championships during that period. Due to emigration after the war years, the number of hurlers in the parish dwindled and this is evident in the lack of success of the parish team. The club won the South Junior Championship in 1954 but the next fourteen years were lean ones with no team success coming its way. Many members of those successful teams wore the Galway jersey with distinction.
Our Story
In 1968 the parishes of Kilchreest and Peterswell, who were both playing Junior hurling at the time, amalgamated to form St. Thomas’. Peterswell were a top senior team in the county in the early 1900’s and won 7 Senior championships and 2 Junior championships during that period. Due to emigration after the war years, the number of hurlers in the parish dwindled and this is evident in the lack of success of the parish team. The club won the South Junior Championship in 1954 but the next fourteen years were lean ones with no team success coming its way. Many members of those successful teams wore the Galway jersey with distinction.
Michael Glennon of Kilchreest, was among a deputation of seven men, led by Michael Cusack, who met in Loughrea with a view to forming the GAA on the 15th August 1884. Kilchreest had won South Board Junior Finals in 1928, 1951, 1955 and 1960 but it was recorded in the minutes of a South Board meeting held in February 1966 that ‘while Kilchreest were a strong force for the past 15 years, they can no longer field a team and will join with Peterswell in Junior.’
The local patrons of the GAA within the parishes recognised the warning signs, that GAA within their environs was evolving and that to stay relevant required a big step forward in trust and respect for each other. A few forward-thinking men took that giant step forward and extended the hand of friendship to each other to form St. Thomas’ GAA club. The club was formed at a meeting held in Peterswell in early 1968. Officers elected for the first year were: Chairman; Fr. Matt O’Connor, Vice-Chairman; Sean Fahy, Secretary; Andy Lynskey, Ass. Secretary; Bernie Forde, Treasurer, Paddy Burke.
Michael Glennon of Kilchreest, was among a deputation of seven men, led by Michael Cusack, who met in Loughrea with a view to forming the GAA on the 15th August 1884. Kilchreest had won South Board Junior Finals in 1928, 1951, 1955 and 1960 but it was recorded in the minutes of a South Board meeting held in February 1966 that ‘while Kilchreest were a strong force for the past 15 years, they can no longer field a team and will join with Peterswell in Junior.’
The local patrons of the GAA within the parishes recognised the warning signs, that GAA within their environs was evolving and that to stay relevant required a big step forward in trust and respect for each other. A few forward-thinking men took that giant step forward and extended the hand of friendship to each other to form St. Thomas’ GAA club. The club was formed at a meeting held in Peterswell in early 1968. Officers elected for the first year were: Chairman; Fr. Matt O’Connor, Vice-Chairman; Sean Fahy, Secretary; Andy Lynskey, Ass. Secretary; Bernie Forde, Treasurer, Paddy Burke.
The first year in competitive hurling was a successful one. The under 14 team brought the club its first success by winning the county title. The under 16 county title was won in 1970 and the South Board minor title was won in 1972. The club then had a group of young committed players and the amalgamation was running smoothly and proving to be a success.
The junior team won the South Board Championship in 1972 but lost to Meelick/Eyrecourt in the County Semi Final. However, in 1974 Thomas’ progressed further by winning the County Junior Title after a classic confrontation with Castlegar in Ballindereen. Cyril Farrell was trainer and coach to that team.
In 1978 another milestone was reached when the club was promoted to senior ranks after reaching the county intermediate final. Having achieved senior status, the St Thomas’ club decided that a clubhouse and playing pitch were required. Land was bought in 1977 and the clubhouse building project was undertaken voluntarily. The hall opened on the 20th of January 1978.
The first year in competitive hurling was a successful one. The under 14 team brought the club its first success by winning the county title. The under 16 county title was won in 1970 and the South Board minor title was won in 1972. The club then had a group of young committed players and the amalgamation was running smoothly and proving to be a success.
The junior team won the South Board Championship in 1972 but lost to Meelick/Eyrecourt in the County Semi Final. However, in 1974 Thomas’ progressed further by winning the County Junior Title after a classic confrontation with Castlegar in Ballindereen. Cyril Farrell was trainer and coach to that team.
In 1978 another milestone was reached when the club was promoted to senior ranks after reaching the county intermediate final. Having achieved senior status, the St Thomas’ club decided that a clubhouse and playing pitch were required. Land was bought in 1977 and the clubhouse building project was undertaken voluntarily. The hall opened on the 20th of January 1978.
Work commenced on the pitch development in August 1979 and the grounds were officially opened by the President of the GAA Mr. Paddy Buggy on Sunday 5 th June 1983. The past decade has seen further development in the provision of facilities with the new hall and additional dressing rooms being officially opened by Uachtarán na hÉireann Mary McAleese, in May 2006, and also the purchase of additional land to provide a much needed second playing field.
Since 2002 a group of young, talented, dedicated hurlers have emerged with championships secured in both Minor and U21 in later years. These players now form the backbone of the Senior Championship team who have won eight Senior Championship titles, in 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and two All-Ireland Club Hurling Championships in 2013 and 2024. The success of the club is testament to the hundreds of officers, players, volunteers, members and supporters since the foundation of the club.
Recent developments include the installation of the walking track and lights in 2020 which has been a huge asset to our members, and the installation of floodlights on the new pitch in August 2022. In 2024 and 2025, the club has bought a robotic mower to cut the two pitches, added a second ballwall, installed an astro training area in the ballwall area, completed additional drainage works on both pitches and installed new ballstop nets on the old pitch. Next, the club is planning on installing spectator fencing by the walking track, laying tarmacadam on the walking track, and building a covered viewing area for wheelchair users and seating for a small number of spectators.
We would like to thank everyone who supports our fundraising activities each year because without you it would be impossible to successfully run the club, look after our players and maintain our fantastic facility.
Work commenced on the pitch development in August 1979 and the grounds were officially opened by the President of the GAA Mr. Paddy Buggy on Sunday 5 th June 1983. The past decade has seen further development in the provision of facilities with the new hall and additional dressing rooms being officially opened by Uachtarán na hÉireann Mary McAleese, in May 2006, and also the purchase of additional land to provide a much needed second playing field.
Since 2002 a group of young, talented, dedicated hurlers have emerged with championships secured in both Minor and U21 in later years. These players now form the backbone of the Senior Championship team who have won seven Senior Championship titles in the last decade in 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and an All-Ireland Club Championship in 2013. The success of the club is testament to the hundreds of officers, players, volunteers, members and supporters since the foundation of the club.
Recent developments include the installation of the walking track and lights in 2020 which has been a huge asset to our members, and the installation of floodlights on the new pitch in August 2022 which is the main purpose of this fundraising event.
We would like to thank everyone who supports our fundraising activities each year because without you it would be impossible to successfully run the club, look after our players and maintain our fantastic facility.