The History Of the Ballymun Kickhams

In 1969 the Ballymun Gaels and C.J. Kickhams Clubs merged to form
Ballymun Kickhams. For the following ten years the new club toiled away at
Intermediate level, but early on there were signs of better things to come
with growing success at Juvenile levels. Things did get a whole lot better,
culminating in the winning of the 1977 Minor Football Championship.
Immediately following this success, Gerry McCaul was appointed
player/manager. Using the Minor success as a building block, Gerry began a
youth movement which was to be the foundation of the club's success for
the coming decade. In 1978 Senior status was achieved when Ballymun
beat Fingal Ravens in the Intermediate league final, and this was just the
start.

The year 1979 saw the club adding the Intermediate Championship and
immediately beginning to make an impression at Senior level. Promotion to
Division One was achieved in successive years, and in 1981 Ballymun
made it to their first Senior Championship Final with a team average age of
just 21. Defeat by St. Vincents was only seen as a stepping stone, and in
1982 Senior Championship success was achieved by beating neighbors
Erin's Isle in the final. League titles in 1983 and 1984 followed, and in 1985 it
was championship success again, this time beating Clontarf in thefinal.
Success continued and two further league titles were added in 1987 and
1988.

With all this success came recognition and several members of these
teams went on to represent their county with great distinction. Anto McCaul,
Barney Rock, Gerry Hargan and John Kearns all won All-Ireland medals for
Dublin in 1983.

Other members of the club to represent their county were Declan Sheehan,
Dermot Deasy (All Ireland medal winner 1995)Tom Carr, Adrian Walshe,
Paddy Christie, Ian Robertson, Davey Byrne and Darren Ducie.

Kickhams have also had distinction in management with Ballymun men, Val
Andrews and Gerry McCaul nationally recognised as two of the better county
managers in recent years. Success has also been achieved off the field.

In 1997 Kickhams opened new facilities which included a fine pavilion and
grounds. Phase two, under the watchful eye of the aforementioned Val
Andrews saw the development of a fully floodlight artificial pitch.

This project was completed March 2003 and with Ireland's compromise

rules team, several county teams and Dublin Inter-County teams using the

facility, it is highly regarded and considered one of the finest playing and

training facilities in Europe if not the world.