Introduction

The summer of 1995 was a memorable one in the capital. Temperatures soared to record highs as supporters of the Dublin footballers enjoyed a unforgettable advance to All-Ireland glory. Buoyed by the success of the boys in blue, a group of enthusiastic Ladies formed Clontarf GAA's first Ladies football team. Under the stewardship of Willie Lillis and Noel Hickey, the Ladies honed their skills that summer and by the spring of '96 they had entered the arena of competitive action. Thereafter followed a decade of rising success, 4 county final appearances, several league and cup competition successes and a steady march to the summit of senior status. That Holy Grail of Senior status still awaits the ambitious Ladies of Clontarf, they came tantalisingly close in late July 2006 when they narrowly failed to capture the Intermediate County Championship.

It wasn't just the adults that were treading new ground in '95. At the same time Kevin Devine launched a girls juvenile section. Now 13 years on and girls football continues to be the fastest growing section of Clontarf GAA. Along with Kevin Devine, many others dedicated themselves to the promotion of underage girls football in those early years - Annette Billings, Sue Lillis, Chris McGinn, and Deirdre Dignam to name but a few. Today Clontarf fields a magnificent seven juvenile girls teams from U8 to Intermediate.

In November 2008 our Ladies section achieved the ultimate accolade when they were awarded the Dublin Ladies GAA Club of the Year. Who more appropriate than Sue Lillis to accept the Club of the Year award on behalf of the Clontarf. On the same night two of our finest mentors Anne O'Mahony and Frankie Byrne were recognised for their part in the management team of the All Ireland Ladies Minor winning team 2008.

Clontarf Ladies are a vibrant and fast growing section of the club. Going forward it is hoped that Clontarf will be a formidable ladies and girls club in the future participation of Dublin Ladies Football.

Clontarf Mentors at the Dublin Ladies Awards Night in November 2008