Kilbarron-Shannon Rovers The First 20 Years – 1898-1918

A new publication offers a fascinating insight into the first 20 years of Shannon Rovers GAA Club.

Viewed through the guise and detailed records kept by the Club’s first Secretary and President Peter Carroll, it is written by Frank Moran, Grand-Nephew of Peter Carroll.

Peter Carroll was born in Brookfield, Coolbawn, in 1875, the second youngest of ten siblings. His father was Patrick Carroll, a native of Lisquilabeen, Coolbawn. His mother was Mary Fennell a native of Cloughjordan.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was formally founded on the 1st of November 1884 in Hayes’ Hotel Thurles; however, from historic stories and accounts, our national games were first played and enjoyed through years that long predated this well renowned meeting.

It wasn't the start of hurling in the parish of Coolbawn, Kilbarron and Terryglass either; there are records of games going back to circa 1825 when one of the first hurling games was played in the parish.

The late Canon Slattery told of a game of hurling played on ice on Luska Bay in 1825 between two teams, one from Kilbarron, and the other from Ogonnelloe at the opposite side of the lake in Co. Clare. The game was organised by the Hobbins family of Annagh. The local Clubs crossed the Shannon many times to play clubs in Clare and Galway.

Kilbarron were not alone in promoting hurling in the parish, Terryglass, under the guidance of William Parkinson, Chairman, and Secretary Dan Tierney.

In 1886, Tipperary played its first county match in Dublin against Galway and won. The team included Jim Brooder of Brocka, who walked from Brocka to Cloughjordan to catch the train to Dublin. John Carroll of Brookfield was also picked as he was in his teens. His parents refused to let him travel. Jim Brooder later travelled with the Tipperary team in 1888 to New York. He did not return with the Tipperary team and was never heard of again.

Shannon Rovers G.A.A. Club was founded in March 1898 by a number of local men and there are records to prove it. A meeting was held on March 6th, 1898, by a number Kilbarron men, leading to the formation of Shannon Rovers GAA Club.

The following officers were elected: President - John Lynch, Carney Commons; Vice President - Martin Tierney, Ballyscanlan; Captain - Stephen Starr, Kilbiller; Treasurer and Honorary Secretary - Peter Carroll, Brookfield.

Members were elected with sixteen contributing one shilling each and one giving six pence.

We know the G.A.A. was founded in Hayes Hotel, Thurles. Where was the Shannon Rovers Club founded? Maybe in Donoghues Pub or Treacy's Pub in Kilbarron. The club was named Shannon Rovers, but according to Peter Carroll’s ' notes, they didn’t play hurling under that name in the club’s early existence. The club was often referred to as Kilbarron. It is believed the first time Shannon Rovers appeared on a fixture was circa 1937.

Peter Carroll of Brookfield was treasurer and honorary secretary of the Club from 1898 to 1906 and kept meticulous and detailed notes of club membership subscriptions, fixtures and expenditure, written on a 6 inch by 3-inch notebook. On one list of names on June 16th, 1901, he wrote "from a lady friend, one shilling"

During his time involved with the G.A.A, there were no individual boards, and this led to friction between North and South Tipperary at a County Convention in 1889. A request was read from Peter Carroll, Kilbarron, asking that a Board be allowed in North Tipperary to run off matches there and then to have the winners meet the South for County honours and medals.

The request was granted in 1899, but it took two years before the new Board began to function. The first meeting was held on June 30th, 1901, chaired by Ned Keeshan, Roscrea. Michael Cusack, the first President of the GAA wrote, "Glad to see Ormond become again a flowering Spot on the breast of the Emerald Isle".

The news of the newly formed GAA board in North Tipperary was met with keen interest, and a new competition named the North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship was formed. The draw took place on the first of September 1901, with seven teams entering. Kilbarron v Nenagh, Newport v Carney, Lahourna v Roscrea, Lorrha a bye. Due to a number of withdrawals and additions, a new draw on 6th October saw Kilbarron v Ballingarry, Lahourna v Carney and Nenagh v Roscrea. Kilbarron beat Ballingarry but lost to Roscrea in the semi-final. Lahourna defeated Roscrea in the final on April 20th, 1902.

In May 1906, Peter Carroll’s notes ended, along with his involvement with Kilbarron Hurling Club and the North GAA Board. Why did this happen? No one of my generation can answer that. Maybe there is a report somewhere that has the answer. Was it because two of his older brothers had joined the Royal Irish Constabulary, the R.I.C.? There were many fine hurlers in our county who were never picked to play for Tipperary because they had relatives in the R.I.C.

On a visit to the archives of the Nenagh Guardian recently to check the 1901 edition for information on the foundation of the North Tipperary Hurling Board, of which Peter Carroll was secretary, and the 1906 editions to check if there might be a report on why so much went wrong with Kilbarron Hurling Club, as they fielded no teams from the years of 1907 to 1917, there are no answers provides and if anyone could shed light on it, Frank would be more than grateful to be contacted to add this piece of the jigsaw.

Peter Carroll may have left the GAA stage but remained active in local affairs. As a public representative for many years, was well known and respected throughout the North Tipperary area. For many years he represented the Lower Ormond countryside on the North Tipperary County Council, the Board of Health, the Agricultural and the Vocational Education committees.

Frank Moran recalls on visits to Brookfield with his father as a young lad in the 1940's, hurling was never the main conversation, it was mostly local affairs. What happened to Peters original notebook? Is it still in the old homestead? It is a historical document and it would be nice to have it as part of the Clubs archives.

Peter Carroll died in 1954 aged 79 years and is buried in Kilbarron Old Graveyard.

Frank Moran has published a number of copies of his new book about Peter Carroll’s work with Shannon Rovers, along with an accurate account of Peter’s notes and notebook from his time working on behalf of both Shannon Rovers GAA and the North Tipperary GAA Board which will be available to purchase in the coming weeks.