Chicago Wolfe Tones GFC
 | ||
| Founded: | 1957 | |
| County: | North American | |
| Division | Central Division Board | |
| Nickname: | The Tones, The Blue Machine | |
| Club Colours: | Blue & White | |
| Grounds: | Gaelic Park, Chicago | |
| ||
The Wolfe Tones Gaelic Football Club was founded in 1957 and first took the field in the summer of 1958.[1] While not the oldest Gaelic Football club in Chicago, the Wolfe Tones is one of the most successful clubs in North America with 21 senior Chicago titles and 13 North American Championships and competing in 17 NCAB finals.[2][3]
Wolfe Tones History
The Tones won their first American League Title in 1978. Nicknamed "The Blue Machine," they drew players from all counties which was an advantage and in the seventies and eighties were mostly home-based with strong social ties because everyone worked and socialised together.
In the mid-1980s, the club added a Junior team, while the Juniors have not had the same level of success as the Senior team, it has still added to the level of support that the club enjoys and allows many younger Irish-Americans to participate in the rich culture of the GAA. In the late 1990s and early 2000s Mike Mulligan, then of the Chicago Sun Times, wrote that the Wolfe Tones were "a Chicago-based Gaelic football powerhouse."[4]
In past years, the Wolfe Tones main rivals have been the McBrides GFC and the St. Brendan's GFC[5][6][7] and, more recently, the Parnell's GFC.
Due to the economic downturn and changes in US Immigration law, GAA clubs in North America have come upon hard times. Despite this, the Wolfe Tones still have been able to field competitive teams.[8]
Wolfe Tones Players
The Wolfe Tones have always fielded competitive teams and have drawn from some of the most famous and skilled Gaelic Football players from nearly every county in Ireland, going so far as to play in the GAA Golf Tournament.[9][10] They have also played several challenge games in Ireland[11][12]
Here are just a few of the county players that have played for the Tones through the years;
| County Players | County | Province |
|---|---|---|
| Jack O'Shea | Kerry | Munster |
| Val Daly | Galway | Connacht |
| Graham Geraghty | Meath | Leinster |
| Sean Cavanagh | Tyrone | Ulster |
| Jonathan Clerkin | Louth | Leinster |
| John Conlon | Monaghan | Ulster |
| Nigel Dineen | Roscommon | Connacht |
| Karl Ennis | Kildare | Leinster |
| Rory Mone | Monaghan | Ulster |
| Conor Mullane | Limerick | Munster |
| Odhran O'Dwyer | Clare | Munster |
| Darren Clarke | Louth | Leinster |
| Peter McGinnity | Louth | Leinster |
| JP Rooney | Louth | Leinster |
| James McCartan | Down | Ulster |
| Brian Burns | Down | Ulster |
| Cathal Murray | Down | Ulster |
| Gary Mason | Down | Ulster |
| Greg McCartan | Down | Ulster |
| Paddy McKeever | Armagh | Ulster |
| Paul Brewster | Fermanagh | Ulster |
| Brian Connor | Offaly | Leinster |
| Richie Connor | Offaly | Leinster |
| Matt Connor | Offaly | Leinster |
| Jonathan Conroy | Roscommon | Connacht |
| Colm Coyle | Meath | Leinster |
| David Mitchell | Westmeath | Leinster |
| George Hannigan | Tipperary | Munster |
| Paul Doyle | Carlow | Leinster |
| Willie Brennan | Laois | Leinster |
| Kevin O'Brien | Wicklow | Leinster |
| Paddy Bradley | Derry | Ulster |
| Tommy Ryan | Donegal | Ulster |
| Shane Durkin | Sligo | Connacht |
| Liam Reilly | Cavan | Ulster |
| Marty Lynch | Kildare | Leinster |
| Kevin Concannon | Cork | Munster |
| Fergus Daly | Wicklow | Leinster |
| Shane Cullen | Wexford | Leinster |
| David Brady | Mayo | Connacht |
| Liam Brady | Mayo | Connacht |
| Jack Sheedy | Dublin | Leinster |
| Frankie Griffin | Clare | Munster |
| David Keenan | Roscommon | Leinster |
| Dermot Malone | Monaghan | Ulster |
| John Conlin | Monaghan | Ulster |
| Owen Lennon | Monaghan | Ulster |
2012 Chicago Finals Champions
The 2012 Wolfe Tones won their divisional title in Chicago, but lost to the Ulster GFC of San Francisco in their Semi-Final Match at the NACB Finals in Philadelphia.
Senior Title Years
Through the years, the Wolfe Tones have enjoyed successes through the years in the North American County Board, having won titles for both their division and in the county.[14] Here is the list of the Senior Titles of the North American GAA the club has won through the years.[15]
| Chicago Finals | North American Finals |
|---|---|
| 1962 | -- |
| 1963 | -- |
| 1965 | -- |
| 1969 | -- |
| 1978 | 1978 |
| 1979 | -- |
| 1980 | 1980 |
| 1982 | 1982 |
| 1984 | -- |
| 1985 | 1985 |
| 1988 | 1988 |
| 1991 | 1991 |
| 1992 | -- |
| 1993 | -- |
| 1995 | 1995 |
| 1996 | 1996 |
| 1997 | 1997 |
| 1999 | 1999 |
| 2001 | 2001 |
| 2002 | 2002 |
| 2003 | -- |
| 2006 | 2006 |
| 2012 | -- |
References
- ↑ McInerny, Michelle. "Chicago Wolfe Tones". Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- 1 2 "North American GAA Senior Football Winners". eSports Manager. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ Dale, Steve (17 March 1989). "Let The Gaelic Games-and Fun-begin". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ Mulligan, Mike (September 6, 1999). "Oak Forest's Gaelic games a success". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "Derry say no to change for Galway showdown". Irish Independent. August 24, 2001. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ Kelly, Eamon (2011-02-16). "NCAB Roundup: Wolfe Tones footballers overpower rival St. Brendan's". Irish Echo.
- ↑ "One for the Future". Lynn Group Media. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "Chicago Gaelic News / Aug. 2008". Irish American News. August 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ Challenge, FBD (August 20, 2008). "GAA golfers get a break". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ FBD, Challenge (September 3, 2008). "Wolfe Tones complete final line-up". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "US invaders hope to fly flag Matchplay pairs set for deferred final". Irish Independent. September 9, 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ Kelly, Liam (September 16, 2008). "Dub All-Ireland joy for Cahill's St Brigid's". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "Offaly midfielder Connor heads Stateside". Irish Examiner. April 27, 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "Club Links". Lynn Group Media. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ↑ "Chicago's Wolfe Mone". Lynn Group Media. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ Mulligan, Mike (September 3, 1999). "Gaelic test an Irish fest". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "Authentic Irish". Chicago Sun Times. March 12, 2000. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ HORAN, Liam (July 22, 1999). "Cregan ready to stay on as Limerick leader". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 September 2012.