Building A Stronger Community
Through Sports

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.
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. 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 the final. Success continued and two further league titles were added in 1987 and 1988. Barney Rock’s (in)Famous Goal Included in RTE’s Top Sport Moments
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.
Success could be perceived as being just around the corner again with the advent of the rejuvenated juvenile section. The Saturday morning nursery and the profiles of the entire juvenile section has been totally overhauled and Ballymun’s name has become synonymous with the word victory again. Our under 21 footballers would be considered amongst the favourites to contest for the championship, and with more talents coming through, it is very reminiscent of the late 70’s and early 80’s all over again. This combined with the plans to overhaul the clubhouse and grounds to a more modern facility, it certainly is exciting times in Ballymun Kickhams.