St Kiernan's Gaelic Football club now based at Mill Hill Rugby Club, Champions Way, London NW4, was started in September 1984 by a group of local Irish people eager to keep the game of their home country alive.
The club was based in St Anthonys parish, Edgware and the team originally trained in Blundell Park and then in 1988 moved to Montrose playing fields, Burnt Oak after agreeing with London Borough of Barnet, that St Kiernans GFC would top soil the pitch at a cost borne solely by the clubs members of £27000 which was repaid in full within 3 years, quite a considerable sum to raise.
It started with one team of under 12s (approximately 20 children) and then added under 10's and under 14's in the following years. They now have in excess of 150 players representing St Kiernan's in 9 teams, under 8s, 10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s and two teams at senior level.
The junior teams compete in the London championship against 10 other clubs,during the season that runs from April until September.
The senior's compete against 30 London based teams. St Kiernan's fought their way in to 13 championship finals in a row and finally in 1990 achieved success and became London champions.
St Kiernans are one of the most successful junior gaelic football clubs in London. They have won The Great Britain Championship on three occasions, the last being 2004/2005 under 16s and several of their players represented London in the Intercontinental youth games Boston, USA in 2006 and then again in Chicago 2007 winning the tournament on both occasions.
Last year they were successful at winning the under 12s London Championship and under 18s (minors) championship and league titles, the first time this has ever been achieved by any club in Great Britain.
Past players who have gone on to great success in the game include Brian Morgan and Barry O'Shea, who both went on to win an All Ireland medal at Croke Park.
The name St Kiernan's comes from the priest serving in the parish at the time the club was founded and the club crest of 2 magpies is to indicate joy and good luck for all it's members.
The aim of the club has always been to provide sport and opportunities to young people in the summer months. The club is eager to recruit new players of all ages, and cannot stress strongly enough that this game is open to all, girls and boys alike.
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