INTRODUCING BALLYMUN KICKHAMS:

In 1969 the Ballymun Gaels and C.J. Kickhams Clubs merged to form Ballymun Kickhams. For the following ten years the new club toiled away at Intermediate level, but early on there were signs of better things to come with growing success at Juvenile levels. Things did get a whole lot better, culminating in the winning of the 1977 Minor Football Championship. Immediately following this success, Gerry McCaul was appointed player/manager. Using the Minor success as a building block, Gerry began a youth movement which was to be the foundation of the club's success for the coming decade. In 1978 Senior status was achieved when Ballymun beat Fingal Ravens in the Intermediate league final, and this was just the start.

The year 1979 saw the club adding the Intermediate Championship and immediately beginning to make an impression at Senior level. Promotion to Division One was achieved in successive years, and in 1981 Ballymun made it to their first Senior Championship Final with a team average age of just 21. Defeat by St. Vincents was only seen as a stepping stone, and in 1982 Senior Championship success was achieved by beating neighbors Erin's Isle in the final. League titles in 1983 and 1984 followed, and in 1985 it was championship success again, this time beating Clontarf in the final. Success continued and two further league titles were added in 1987 and 1988.

With all this success came recognition and several members of these teams went on to represent their county with great distinction. Anto McCaul, Barney Rock, Gerry Hargan and John Kearns all won All-Ireland medals for Dublin in 1983. Other members of the club to represent their county were Declan Sheehan, Dermot Deasy (All Ireland medal winner 1995)Tom Carr and Adrian Walshe.

After a couple of down years, Ballymun regained their rightful place in Division One last year, and with players like Ian Robertson, Paddy Christie, David Byrne and Darren Ducie and management from Anto McCaul, another youth movement is well and truly underway.