Club Limerick Dublin – Report to County Convention December 2025

Gerry O’Sullivan (Vice-Chair):
While silverware eluded our hurlers in 2025, it was the turn of the senior football team managed by Jimmy Lee, with Pa Ranahan, Evan Talty and Micheál Cahill to claim the honours, providing many memorable moments, especially winning the Allianz League Division 4. It was particularly pleasant for supporters in Dublin to see, for the first time in the GAA’s history, our senior football team play on three occasions in Croke Park, winning twice and getting pipped by two points by Kildare in the Tailteann Cup final. Many thanks to Iain Corbett for his years of service with the county.
Despite the loss to Dublin, the senior hurling team gave us many great moments in 2025, and it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge the great contribution and intercounty career of Declan Hannon, an honoured guest at CLD functions during the recent past.
Club Limerick Dublin Chair, Paul Stapleton (Oola), once described CLD activities as revolving around “collections and connections”. On the former, it was a wonderful year with the Annual Golf Classic (Tom Cotter), the Fundraising Lunch (organising chair Stephen O’Byrnes) and the promotion of membership of the Club Limerick Development Draw (under co-ordinator Tom Sexton – Mungret), pulling in a combined record total of €50,000. CLD’s separate sub-committee – Club Limerick Global – also generated a further €63,000.
We wish to extend our appreciation to all the players, management and backroom teams involved with all Limerick teams in 2025. As supporters, it is our great privilege to watch and enjoy all our teams competing with such pride in the green and white jersey.
The “connections” weren’t neglected either in our Anniversary year, 2025.
30 Bliain ag Fás
Club Limerick Dublin marked its 30th anniversary in style with an event-filled programme that celebrated three decades of support for Gaelic games in the county and a community presence in Dublin. There has been a Limerick Association in the capital since 1923. Following an intermittent existence, it was reformed in 1953, evolving into the Limerick GAA Supporters Club in 1995 before adopting the moniker – Club Limerick Dublin (CLD) – in more recent times.
Throughout those years, many great people kept the organisation of a Limerick presence in the city alive and well. None more so than Maureen Walsh (née Quaid) of Adare, who became the first female Chair of the Association in 1975. Maureen passed away in June 2025, just six days away from her 91st birthday. She may have left Limerick, but Limerick never left her, and up to her final days her love for the green and white was undimmed. An ever-present at CLD events, she rarely missed a match.
Club Limerick Dublin Chair Paul Stapleton, “Maureen was a pure lady and a great Limerick woman. Her involvement with Limerick organisations in Dublin spanned seven decades, and she made a huge contribution throughout. She was always a pleasure to meet and always positive about Limerick – a true supporter. She was our Matriarch and will be greatly missed.
Another from that era to pass to his eternal reward in 2025 was a former Limerick Association Secretary, 2009 Limerick Person of the Year (Dublin), and CLD member, Jimmy Kelleher of Pallasgreen. A great Limerick supporter, Denis Collins, a CLD member from Croom, also passed during the year.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.
But it’s wonderful to be able to report that several of Maureen’s and Jimmy’s comrades – Michael Fitzgerald (Athea), Breda Lane (Abbeyfeale), Mary Liston (Castlemahon), Jim McGonigle (Caherconlish) and Breda Neville (Croagh) – continue to fly the flag. A wonderful record of service.
Limerick’s appearance in the 1994 All-Ireland Senior Hurling final was the spark that stirred Eamonn Rea (Chairman – Effin), John Keating (Secretary – Ardpatrick), Harry Keane (Treasurer- Kilmallock), Ollie Mann (Ballysteen), Tom Buckley (Bruff), Nelius O’Connell from Abbeyfeale and others to build a new organisation in 1995, and the Club has never looked back.
The anniversary year helped shape events in 2025, which were captured in our regular eZine produced by Gerry O’Sullivan (Kilbehenny), David Reale (Limerick city) and Eamonn O’Sullivan (Kilbehenny). They included the following:

AGM – 24 March 2025:
It was entirely fitting that at the 2025 AGM, John Keating was elected by acclamation as the first Honorary President of the Club. The Special Guest at the AGM was Ger O’Connell from Pallasgreen, who was the kit-man for the Limerick senior hurling team from 2007 to 2024, a period of unprecedented success.

Annual Mass – 11 April 2025:
The annual Mass in remembrance of past members and friends was, as always, a special evening celebrated by CLD member Fr. Paddy Kelly CSsR (Limerick city) at The Goat, Goatstown, Dublin. Many thanks to Fr. Paddy for his ongoing help and to Gerry Quinn (Shanagolden) for the musical support. The generosity of Charlie Chawke, Johnny Quilty and the staff at The Goat was, as always, present in abundance. An additional item this year was the presentation of his medal of office to the newly elected CLD President John Keating.

Áras Uachtaráin Visit – 30 April 2025:
Members of CLD were out in force for an historic visit to Áras an Uachtaráin to mark the anniversary. It was arranged by Paul Stapleton and Ollie Mann with the important assistance of CLD member Tim O’Connor (Killeedy), who served as Secretary General to President Mary McAleese from 2007 to 2010. Other members present who have rendered professional service to the Áras in different capacities included Ollie Mann, Murt Rainsford and Tom Lynch. CLD was greatly honoured that Sabina, wife of the President, was present to welcome the group, and she paid tribute to the organisation for the work it has done over several decades for Limerick people in Dublin and on Shannonside.

Golf Classic – 8 May 2025:
The 29th Annual Golf Classic, with support from Westside Press, Tallaght, was blessed with superb weather as once again Director of Golf Tom Cotter led a splendid event that generated over €11,000 for the support of Gaelic games in Limerick. The winning team was Yellow House 1 – Dermot Foley, Vinny Cleary and Jim McAuliffe. We return to Edmondstown Golf Club again for our 2026 Golf Classic, which is scheduled for Thursday, 21 May.

Fundraising Lunch – 2 October 2025:
A capacity attendance packed out the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Ranelagh for a very successful fundraising lunch in October. The corporate and individual support was superb, and together with a very successful auction and raffle, the event netted €25,000, which will go towards supporting Gaelic games of all codes in Limerick. Stephen O’Byrnes (Kildimo) was ably assisted by Paul Stapleton, Ciara Hanley, Maresa Cagney, Killian McCarthy, Barry Duggan, Joe Leddin, Conor Sexton, as well as members of the Executive Committee. Treasurer Pat Nash presented a cheque for €25,000 to the County Board Treasurer, Seán Burke. Further transfers will also be made.

CLD wishes to gratefully acknowledge the presence of Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport; Limerick Mayor, John Moran; senior hurling manager, John Kiely; Elaina Fitzgerald Kane of the Woodlands Hotel, Adare; and legendary hurling full-back Dan Morrissey. The panel discussion was moderated by Castleconnell native Donal O’Donovan, Business Editor of the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent.

Gala Dinner – Club Limerick London 19 November 2025:
A number of CLD members attended the Gala Dinner in the Pan Pacific Hotel, London – Paul Stapleton, Tom Cotter, Ciarán Hayes, Vinnie Callinan, Jim Cussen, Eoin Stapleton and Richard Stapleton.

Appreciation:
A word of thanks to all the “Limerick houses” in Dublin who hosted us for our various gatherings and events this year, including Tom Cotter (The Yellow House), Charlie Chawke (The Goat, Searsons & The Oval), the Moran family (Moran Red Cow Inn), Gerry O’Malley (The Halfway House), Eamon O’Malley (Fagans) and Willie Devitt (The Two Sisters).
Finally, we wish to acknowledge the continued support we get from Sean Scanlan Chair of Club Limerick, Mike O’Riordan and Ivan O’Donnell in the County Board Office, Séamas McNamara (Chairman), Seán Burke (Treasurer) and Eamon Phelan (PRO).

Club Limerick Dublin Committee 2025:
Chairperson: Paul Stapleton, Vice Chairperson: Gerry O Sullivan
Secretary: Ollie Mann, Assistant Secretary: Peig Looney
Treasurer: Pat Nash, Assistant Treasurer: Michael Fitzgerald
PRO: David Reale, Golf Co-ordinator: Tom Cotter
Development Draw Co-ordinator: Tom Sexton
Committee: John Keating, Stephen O’Byrnes, Paddy O’Brien, Gerry Quinn, Killian McCarthy, John O’Kelly, Brian McInerney, John Guinan.