Naomh Olaf GAA Club - About Us

Naomh Olaf GAA club was founded in 1981 and promotes Gaelic games in the Dundrum, Churchtown and Sandyford areas. The club has 35 teams this year with a thriving juvenile section fielding 30 teams and adult teams in both ladies and men’s football in addition to our two hurling teams. Our modern club house is located in Stillorgan Business Park and there is a friendly atmosphere at Naomh Olaf and new members are welcome both socially and on the field of play. Current Dublin stars Declan O’Dwyer (Senior Hurling, National League Winner), Colin Doyle (U21 Football) and David Byrne (Minor Football – Leinster Championship Winner), Eoin Kinsella (played Junior Dublin last season) are examples of the talent coming through in the club and these players are an inspiration to our juvenile players. On the juvenile side, Niamh Donnelly (U15 Ladies Football) has been selected for the Dublin Ladies U16 Championship panel for 2012. This is a great achievement for Niamh and an honour for our club particularly since that she is still U15. Niamh is a key player for the Naomh Olaf U15 Ladies team that also includes Kate Murray who played for Dublin in the 2011 U14 All-Ireland final. 

 The Naomh Olaf Clubhouse is conveniently located beside

the pitches in Phairc Ui Bhriain

Club 30 Year History Book

A new book titled “Treasured Memories” was launched by the GAA president at the Naomh Olaf Clubhouse in December 2012. The hardback contains hundreds of colour photographs, mostly of teams and key club events over the club’s thirty year history.  The book costs just €20 and be purchased from Eileen Hickey at 086 8534313 or from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,or from Brendan McGlynn at 2956139. Copies may also be obtained  by post from Eileen Hickey .  Book Launch  

The Beginning

In the late sixties and early seventies the area between Dundrum and Sandyford was developed and in 1977 a new parish was formed and named after the largest new housing estate, Balally. One of the residents in Balally, Mick Brown an able hurler who had given outstanding service to the Naomh Fionbarra Club in Cabra, recognised the need for a G.A.A. Club to cater for the growing young population. In July 1981 he called a meeting to which he invited ten people and so a new unit of the association was born.  One of the schools in Balally had already been appropriately named St. Olafs because of its location in Balally which in old reference books is called Baile Mhic Amhlaoibh ( the town of the son of Olaf ). This Olaf is identified as Sitric Mac Amhlaoibh, Norse King of Dublin who founded Christ Church Cathedral  in the 11th century. Claret and blue were chosen as the official colours.

First AGM

The first A.G.M. was held in Queen of Angels School Hall on the 26th of November 1981. Thirty two people attended and the following committee was elected. President Rev. Brother Philbert, Chairman Mick Brown, Vice Chairman Bill O` Brien Secretary Frank Gaynor, Treasurer Flan McCarthy, Registrar Matt Bermingham, P.R.O. Finbar Brogan. Committee Brendan McGlynn, John Brady, Frank Harty, Delores Buggy and Kevin O`Malley. Others deeply involved in the Club during the formative years were Ven Naughton, Jack Horgan, Pat McGuire, Mick Waters, Liam Kavanagh and Sean MacGriolla Fhearga.

In its first season in competition 1981/82 the Club entered four football teams and two hurling teams all of them between the ages of 10 and 14 years of age. Playing facilities were provided by Dublin County Council at Wedgewood and the use of additional playing fields were generously afforded to the Club by St. Benildus College. Prefabs at St.Olafs Primary School were used as dressing rooms.

The formation of the Club was widely welcomed throughout the area. Teachers in both schools in Balally Parish coached and encouraged the children to play Gaelic Games. The Club presented jerseys to the school teams and an excellent relationship developed between the schools and the Club. Over the years many of the primary teachers have done trojan work for our games but none have done more than Gerry Murphy, Tom and Mick Brennan, Finbar O`Driscoll, Barry Kenna, and Seamus O`Neill.

New Clubhouse

The opening of the new Clubhouse, by Mr Jack Boothman President of the GAA, on the 24th of April 93 was a major milestone in the Clubs development. Situated adjacent to the playing fields at Wedgewood it is spacious and well designed, having four dressing rooms equipped with showers, as well as a large sports hall, and attractive lounge Bar. The sportshall is home to Meteors Ladies Basketball Team and hosts basketball matches at the highest level. In 2002 the club added to its building complex by adding an extension to the bar area. The club now has a function room which is capable of holding over 130 people. The extension also incorporates a fully fitted restaurant kitchen which is capable of catering large functions.

Pairc Ui Bhriain

Late in 2003 the club held a very special ceremony to rename the playing fields at Wedgewood "Pairc Ui Bhriain". They were named after Barry O'Brien who died tragically one year previously. Barry captained the Dublin U21 hurlers the summer before he died and was also a very important player on the club's adult hurling team at midfield. Barry did a lot for the club in his short life and the club felt that naming the playing fields after him was the least that that could have been done to honour a remarkable young man.