Fr Murphy’s GAA 65+ years of history
Father Murphy’s Hurling and Football club was formed at a meeting held on 12th November 1958 at the Robert Peel Public House in Kilburn, North West London. The first AGM was held one week later, where the committee was elected.
The very first Father Murphy’s GAA club photo in 1959.
The original idea of forming the club was to have a Wexford men’s Hurling and Football team in London for the exiles heading over to work and live. It wasn’t long before the club were making their mark on the London Hurling scene winning the junior league and championship in 1959, the intermediate league and championship in 1960 and a senior league at their first attempt in 1961. The club continued to be competitive in both codes throughout the decades winning many leagues and championships
In 1988 the Ladies football team was formed. Ten years later the camogie team was formed. In 1999 Fr. Murphy’s became the first and team in London, to field senior teams in championship in hurling, football, ladies football and camogie.
The new millennium proved to be an exciting period in the club’s history with the hurlers capturing their first senior hurling championship in 2000. They would go on to capture 3 more titles and rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in senior club championship hurling in Sixmilebridge, Dunloy and Newtownshandrum giving the latter an almighty scare in Ruislip in 2003. The hurlers also captured an All-Ireland 7’s title in Kilmacud and won numerous leagues and cups as well as All-Britain championship final. The footballers made a senior football semi-final but unfortunately the football team no longer exists as the pressure of managing a dual club abroad took its toll.
The ladies football and camogie teams, not to be outdone, achieved a remarkable senior championship double-double in 2007 & 2008 and would go on to claim to a few more senior championships in both codes. The ladies football and camogie teams have remained competitive and frequently contest championship semi-finals, finals and cup finals.
A hurling championship triumph came in the 2016 county championship final, securing victory by a single point after being six points down with 8 minutes remaining.
Fr. Murphy’s are still true to their Wexford routes as all teams still proudly wear the purple and gold (including the reformed underage club). The club has a healthy Wexford contingent representing it, along with players from all over Ireland and London.
Throughout its long history of over 65 years Fr. Murphy’s have been represented by nearly every club in Wexford.