Louth Senior Champions 2019 for the 23rd Time in our club's history marking THREE in a Row!!! Captain for 2019 Emmet Carolan proudly lifts the Joe Ward.

From its humble beginnings in a Thatched Pub at Newtown
 
The Blues
The Newtown Blues Gaelic Football Club, a name synonymous with G.A.A. games, had humble beginnings in a thatched pub at Newtown, just outside Drogheda on 12th July, 1887.
 
Perhaps it is a tribute, in these changing times, the club is still going strong. The club itself, based as it is on the eastern side of the town, garners its main support from the immediate area, yet the club’s reputation and standing within the community goes beyond the confines of Newtown and Newfoundwell Road where it has its clubhouse and headquarters.
As the Blues reach their 125th anniversary we cast our eye over the intervening years from that time when a group of men met in Morgan’s pub and founded what they decided to call The Newtown Droghedas. Factory workers and farmer came together for what turned out to be a historic event. There were Mick Ledwidge, a Newotwn Farmer; Tom Doyle and John King of Hand Street, both Boyne Mill tenters and Paddy Dowdall from Bredin Street, A Great Northern Railway signalman and fluent Irish speaker.
The team played two games under the name The Newtown Droghedas and their playing pitch was at Ledwidges field, Newtown. Their first match, on May 22nd 1887 was against the Oliver Plunketts. At about the same time, the club affiliated to the Louth Co. Board- in fact, they chose July 12th as their affiliation date.
The team played its first game under the name, Newtown Blues GFC in the Bryanstown Gold Cross Tournament against Young Irelands. Four matches were played on that same day and a crowd of 10,000 people was recorded. Their affiliation came too late for them to play in the championship in the first year but their first set of medals was won in 1887 when they beat the P.J. McGills in the final of the Sandpit tournament.
The Blues played in the championship in 1888 and beat Knockbridge 1-4 to nil, but lost to the John Dillons of Dundalk in the second round. The first annual meeting took place at their sports field on July 14th and tghe following were elected: President- Mick Ledwidge; Treasurer- Tom Byrne; Secretary- John Rooney; Captain- James Mooney; Vice Captain- Paddy Byren. Committee: Tom Doyle, P. McVeigh, Paddt Dowdall, Peter Allen and John King.
They ambitiously decided to start their own tournament and advertised this fact in the columns of the Drogheda Independent, but they also had bad moments, losing in both finals of the donacarney Tournament and the Davitts Tournament amid a storm of controversy.
The 1889 was an outstanding one for the Blues. They won the championship with the team of Jack Rooney (goals), James Mooney(capt), Eugene Clifford, James ‘Rebel’ Kelly, Patrick byrne, F. Farrell, Bernard Woods, Joe ‘Churner’ Carroll, James McCann, John ‘Bull’ Hughes, Peter Allen, Frank Carroll, Nick Tiernan, Paddy Rooney, Joe ‘Jig’ Connor, Pat Finnegan, Thomas’Dily’ Heeney, Jack Lowth, Nicholas McGahon, Peter Hickey, M. Healy and Robert Allen.
On their way to the final, the Bkues beat Stabannon, Young Irelands, John Dillons of Dundalk, the Emmets and finally the famous Dreadnoughts of Clogherhead by 1-2 to 0-3. The referee was Patrick Fulham, Donore. As Louth champions, they represented the county and beat Dublin in the first round at Bryanstown but they lost to Laois in the Leinster final played at Inchicore.
In 1890, the Blues beat Annagassan but lost to the P.J.McGills in the second round of the championship. Events outside football pitch did not leave the team unscathed for in that year, the Blues went out existence as a result fo the split in the G.A.A. Charles Stewart Parnell, a patron of the association, was the centre of the scandal, causing deep divisions with the G.A.A. ranks. Sides were taken and whole clubs disappeared as the controversy raged.
The Newtown boys came back in 1905 but lost the Junior Championship Final in the replay to Dundalk Rangers 1-6 to 0-4. That game was played on January 28th 1906. They were knocked out of the championship by the Stars in 1907 and the club then went out of existence in 1909 for reasons that were not recorded.
Three men dominated the G.A.A. scene around that period. Paddy Duffy, whose name is etched deep in the memories of the G.A.A. supporters around the country, came into the organistation through the Newtown Blues. He was the Blues’ representative on the Louth County Board and was the longest reigninig County secretary in the history of the game, occupying the position until the end of the 1950’s.
In this period too, Thomas Morgan (from the thatched pub in Newtown) was one of the club’s outstanding players. In the words of the chroniclers of the Blues history, he was “a brilliant footballer during Louth’s golden era”. The name of Tommy Matthews also stands out as one of the Blues’ outstanding clubmen until his death in 1970.
When the Blues reformed their ranks in 1924, they came back as a juvenile team and won the Larks tournament. The founder members were Kem Woods and Bill Leonard and their U16 team comprised Mattie Leonard (capt), Joe Corcoran, Joe and James Darcy (twin brothers), Jim ‘Spink’ Campbell, Paddy ‘Ebb’ Moonan, Bob McDonnell, Peter McCarthy, Paddy McCann, Tommy Winters, Charlie Curran, Jimmy Hogg, Mick McAuley, Peter Johnson, Tom McDonnell, Mick Judge, Ginty Campbell and Paddy Reilly. Their win in the Larks was against Boyne Emmets (captain Jem Moonan, who in later years became captain of the Blues team).
The success of that period inspired the Blues to re-form yet again so they enetered their second division team in 1925. The committee men included Paddy and Benny Hanratty, Charlie McDonnell and Paddy ‘Birdie’ Martin.
Their players included Paddy Hanratty, Peter Reilly, Frank Condra, Sam Healy, Chum Morgan, Mick Bell, Mattie Leonard, Sam McConnon, S. Murray, Bob McDonnell,Matt McClone, Mick Hodgins, Paddy McCann, Pa Moonan, Charlie McDonnell, Jim McDonnell, Joe Balfe, Frank Duffy, Jim Reilly, Joe Donnelly, M.Floyd, M.Flood.
 
The Hair Oil Team
It is comforting to note that while there may have been some hardship around during that period, there were touches of humour, too. Those particular teams were known as “The Hair Oil Team”. This was because hair oil had just come on the market and anybody who wore it was recognised as being somewhat dandified!!
We are told that it was the Drogheda Independent which gave them the name. Their strip was blue and white vertical stripes and they brought their jerseys from a man called Owenie the Basket, a travelling person from Monaghan. The Newtown Blues reached the final of the Second Division Championship in 1927, losing to the Caln naGaels in January 1928 1-3 to 1-2. The Blues went to junior in 1928 and won the McArdle Cup, the only time the club was to win this trophy. They never won the junior championship but decided to go to the senior ranks in 1931 and reached the final, losing to Wolfe Tones on October 4th by 1-4 to 0-4. It was also the Tones that the Blues lost the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup 2-6 to 1-6.
There was consolation for the Blues when they annexed the O’Hanlon Cup, beating Boyne Rangers in the final.
In 1932, the Blues won the senior championship at Dundalk, beating St. Brides 4-3 to 2-4. Their line –up included Matt Carolan, Gerry Keogh, Micj Bell (capt.) Mattie Leonard, Jim Culligan, Tom ‘Nobby’ Leech, Frank Finglas, Peadar Woods, James Rafferty, Bob McDonnell, Pat ‘Chuckles’ Byrne, James ‘Imp’ Coyle, Jem Moonan, ‘Nellie’ Hanratty, Eddie ‘Nuddy’ Kane. In that year, the Blues won the O’Hanlon Cup, beating the Clans.
1933 was one of the outstanding years for the club. The Blues took the championship beating Clans 3-3 to 1-7 in the final. In the O’donnell Cup final, the Blues beat Glyde Rangers Dundalk 1-4 to 1-2 and beat Glyde again in the final of the O’Hanlon Cup, 1-5 to 1-3 at Tallanstown.
The O’Hanlon Cup winning team included: Bob McDonnell, ‘Skinner’McDonnell, Peader Woods, Frank Finglas, Jim Rafferty, Tom ‘Nobby’ Leech, Paddy Byrne, Jim Culligan, Gerry Keogh, Larry Hanratty, Jem Moonan (capt.), John Leonard, ‘Nellie’ Hanratty, ‘Imp’ Coyle, Tom ‘Skinner’ Caffery.
1934 and 1935 were not good years for the Blues but in 1936, they won the championship beating Wolfe Tones in a local derby 3-7 to 2-6. Five thousand people attended on that day and the winning team was Christy Finnegan, T.Leech, T. Tiernan, P.Woods, J. Rafferty, J.Culligan, J.McDonnell, G.Keogh(capt.), L.Hanratty, Mick ‘Yank’ Rafferty, T.Caffrey, J. Moonan, J.Leonard, J.Hanratty,  ‘Imp’ Coyle.
In 1939, the Blues reached the final of the championship but were beated by Cooley Kickhams 3-13 to 1-3. Playing fo thte Blues in that match were P.Smith, C.Verdon, J. Hanratty, P.Woods, P.Whearty, J.Rafferty, Jack Rafferty, Jas. Rafferty, O. Woods, G.Dunne, J.J. Branigan, T.Curran and J. Culligan.
The Blues played senior in 1940, their last year in that category.
They lost 6-5 to 1-1 in the championship against Young Irelands and their team in that game was M.Rafferty, C.Verdon, J. Rafferty, G.Matthews, P. Rafferty, J. Culligan, John Caffery, H. Carroll, Christy Reynolds, O. Mullen, Gerry Keogh, T. Rafferty, T. Murphy, J.Leonard and J. Coyle.
 
The club was on its way back to the juniors in 1941. In that championship they lost 2-2 to 1-2 to the Gaels at Dundalk. The Blues team included Jim Culligan, Peadar Woods, Tom Murphy, George Matthews, Oliver Mullen, Terry Doolan, Matt McDonnell, Jackser Grogan, Jack Coddington, Peter Bellew, Pat McPhilips, Jim’Imp’ Coyle, Mick Carr, Peter McGuffin, Tom Mooney, Owenie Culligan and Mick Meonard.
The Blues went out of football the following year and came back in 1948 as a minor and juvenile team. They had taken the place of the Owen Roes which had withdrawn from the league. Regrettably, the Under -18’s “took a hammering” but the Under-16’s managed to show their paces. The younger team included Pascal Connor, Pat and Peter Judge, Mick Culligan, Sean Scanlon, Jim Watters, Paddy Branigan, Jim Norris, Ben Breen, Harry Pentony, Paddy Cluskey, Tom Moore, Tony Bannon, Seamus Malone, Frank  Kerr.
In 1949 the Louth County Board welcomed the Blues back to the junior football but they lasted only three years in that category. They were beaten in 1949 by Kilkerley Emmets, Young Irelands in 1950 and Dowdallshill in 1951. The Blues players in that period included Noel Phelan, John Connor, George Matthews, Tom Clarke, Jim Watters, Peter, Pat, Jack and Mick Judge, Larry Kelly, Paddy McGuinness, ‘Tat’ Connolly, Mick Leonard, Tommy Holden, Jack Kilroy, Mick Carr, Tom Moore, Jim Reilly, Paddy Collier, Jim Reay, Oliver Culligan, Nick Cooney, Jim Rock, Paddy McVeigh, Bob McGuffin, Eddie Morris, Tony Wynne, Jack Coddington, Jack and Phil Kierans.
The juveniles and miors continued to show improvement through the years and in 1951 they finally made a breakthrough when they won the O’Reilly Cup (18) and the White Horse Cup (16). In the Under-16 match the Blues beat the Larks 3-5 to 2-2. The Under-16 team included Oliver Judge, Oliver Bohill, Oliver Devlin, Oliver  Byrne, Jim Judge, Paddy Moore, Joe Devlin, Frank Gibney, Tom Murphy, Jim Lambe, Frank Watters, Frank Fagan, Des Kerr, Jim and Johnny Bowden.
The Under-18 team beat the Tones by 1-6 to 1-4, the Blues team comprising Peter Judge, Tony Davis, Dessie Quinn, Jim Rock, Julius Nore, Oliver Judge, Tom More, Oliver Bohill, Frank Matthews, Oliver Flood, Joe Sheils, Jim Judge, Oliver Byrne, Jim Watters, Liam Walsh, Ivan Nore and Frank Byrne.
From that time onwards the Blues has never been off the winning side in the juvenile and minot football. In 1954 they contested the semi-final of the minor championship and lost to Ardee 1-7 to 2-2. Their team included Jim Judge, Kevin McCarthy, John ‘Bunny’ Kelly, Oliver Bohill, Des Kerr, Oliver Johnston, Joe Sheils, Joe Carr, Oliver Judge, Johnny McQuillian, Oliver Taaffe, Frank Fagan, Paddy Geraghty, Seamus Brannigan and Oliver Devlin.
The Blues were back in junior football in 1955 and reached the final of the championship and the Macardle Cup. In the juniors they lost to the Unknowns 2-5 to 2-3, and in the Macardle Cup list 2-5 to 0-6 to Roche Emmets. The Newtown Blues committee in that period included chairman, J.J. Matthews; vice –chairman, Peter Judge; treasurer, Mick Judge; secretary, John McCormack; committee, Peter Judge sen.;Mick Carr and Dessie Quinn.
In the following years the Blues losts to Darver Volunteers in the championship in what was regarded as the game of the year. The score was 0-7 to 0-3. That was the first time the club had ever won a minor title. In the following year, 1957, a famous one for Louth, Blues won the Dunleer Tournament, beating the Geraldines 3-5 to 1-2. They lost to their old rivals, Roche Emmets, in the championship. They won the minor championship again by beating Ardee 2-2 to 1-3.
For the first time in the club’s history the Blues annexed the junior championship in 1958. They also won the minor championship. The Blues lost the final of the Lourdes tournament to Roche Emmets. The junior cup winning team included Matt Murphy, Peter McKenna, Peter Judgem John McCormack, Paddy Reillym Oliver Judge, Frank Murphy, Frank Fagan, Jim Judge, Liam Leech, Eamonn Burgess, Frank Campbell, Kieran Judgem Jacko Smith, Paddy McDonnell and Seamus Hallinan.
The Blues went senior the following year and although they played well, they lost in the championship to two of the weakest teams, Darver Volunteers and Dowdallshill.
In 1961 the Newtown Blues won the senior championship. The club’s annual general meeting was held in the old St. Patrick’s School, Scarlet Street (now demolished) and elected the following committee: Hon. President, Fr. M. Dorman, Tommy Matthews, John McCormack and George McGuffin; chairman, J.J. Matthews; vice-chairman, Mick Carr; secretary, Peter Judge; assistant secretary Frank Fagan sen.;treasurer, Mick Judge. Committee: Jimmy Mulroy, Jim Walsh, Johnny Leonard, P.J. Fox. Senior selectors: Mick and Jack Judge, Jim Walsh. The Blues continued on its winning way, takin the senior championship by beating Naomh Mhuire 1-12 to 1-9.  In fact, the team won the championship for hte following three years.
In 1962 they beat Mattock Rangers in the championship 2-4 to 1-3; they won the O’Donnell Cup beating Roche Emmets; and won the Old Gaels Cup against Mattock Rangers; Dowdallshill and Newry tournaments.
1963 saw the Blues winning the senior championship against Rocher Emmets, 1-8 to 1-7. They won the O’Donnell Cup over Roche Emmets and the Old Gaels Cup over St. Patricks. They beat the Clans in 1964 in a replay in the senior championship final 3-8 to 0-4. By carrying off that feat the Blues created a record- no other team has ever won four championships in a row. (is this still standing??)
 
The Blues beat the O’Raghallaigh’s in the O’Donnell Cup. The 1964 team which created the championship record included Matt Murphy, Peter McKenna, Oliver Judgem Paddy Leech, Val Murphy, Gerry Reilly, Ja Clarke, Gerry Clifford, Frnak Fagan, Eamonn Burgess. ‘Blackie’ Judge, Liam Leech, Noel Harmon, Jimmy Mulroy, Kieran and Paul Judge.
In 1965 the Blues were given somewhat of a shock by being beaten in the final of the championship by the O’Raghallaigh’s 1-9 to 0-5 but won the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup over the Clans as a consolation prize.
In 1966 the Blues won the championship again by beating Cooley 2-12 to 2-04. They won the Old Gaels Cup over Ardee and Cooley beat the Blues in the final of the O’Donnell Cup. In 1967 the Blues won the championship over Cooley 1-9 to 2-5 and at the end of the year beat the pick of Louth.
The senior championship was taken by the Blues in 1969, they beat Geraldines 1-4 to 2-5 and they won the O’Donnell Cup over Mattock Rangers.
1970 was a good year for the club. They won the championship by beating St. Mary’s 3-8 to 1-11 and won the minor championship over the same opposition. The club’s junior team won the Ranafast Cup over Hunterstown, and also won the Old Gaels Cup over St. Brides and were runners-up in the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup.
In 1971 as Louth champions, the Blues went to represent Louth in the Leinster Club Championship and they beat the champions Longford, Westmeath and Wexford but lost the final to Offaly’s Gracefield 1-6 to 1-5 in a ‘thriller’ and were runners –up in the minor championship in Ardee.
The senior team included Matt Murphy, Tony Byrne, Jimmy Mulroy, Patsy Thorton, Davy Byrne, Danny Nugent, Mal Judge, Aidan Connor, Jackie Hanratty, Michael Taaffe, Liam Leech, Don Carberry, Kieran Judge, Paul Judge, Mick Leech, Tom Matthews. Four members of the team were to create history- Jimmy Mulroy, Matt Murohy, Liam Leech and Jim Judge; each won nine senior championship medals.
The Blues had no adult contest win in 1975 but won the minor championship, the Under-16 Championship and Under-14 Championship. In 1976 the Blues again won the Under-16’s beating ÉIRE Óg 1-11 to 0-12, and were runners-up to Cooley in the O’Donnell Cup. In 1977 they were runners-up to Cooley in the championship 2-12 to 2-6, but won the O’Donnell Cup and the Under-14 Championship. In 1978 the Blues took the Under-14 and Under-21 Championships. 1979 saw them winning the Under 21s.
In 1980 the blues won the senior championship beating Cooley 2-12 to 1-6 and beat Kilkerley in the O’Donnell Cup 2-11 to 1-5. The team made its historic visit to the United States in the following year.
On its 100th birthday, an appeal was made at the club’s 1986 A.G.M for a special effort to be made to regain the senior championship for the centenary year. To instill more spirit and heart into the tea, former stalwart Frank Fagan was called on. His appointment as team manager brought instant success, for on the 14thSeptember the Blues were crowned champions of Louth for the 15th time.
The final was played at Dromiskin and though it will not be remembered as a classic, it never the less had its bright moments. With only 60 seconds of playing time gone the Blues were two goals up and a run-away victory looked on. But the Kilkerley men showing great courage and heart fought back and at one stage looked like winning the match.
In the end the craft and fitness of the Well boys won the day 3-5 to 2-7. Team: P. Mollheas, R. Faulkner, D. Nugent, J. O’Rourke, B.Judge, D.Callaghan(capt.), D.Costello,D.Judge,E.Judge, M.Carr, R.Culhane, J.Doherty, J. Kernan, J.Hanratty,P.Judge, M.Judge replaced D.Costello; F.,J.Judge replaced D.Judge.
On October 19th at wintery-like Pairc Mhuire, Ardee, The Blues captain, Des Callaghan added the O’Donnell Cup to the colledction. After a robust encounter blues defeated old rivals Clan Na Gael 0-10 to 1-4.
Giving their best display of the season Blues once again defeated Clans 0-14 to 1-4 in the A.C.C final and so became the first team in history to win the hat-trick of titles since the restructuring of football in the county in 1978.
The Blues add some Ladies
In 1999 the Newtown Blues Ladies Football Club was set up and took their first junior title in 2004 and again 2010. They also won the Intermediate C’ship in 2011 and has gone from strength to strength as the ladies get ready to compete in the senior championship for 2012 and will be the first Drogheda team in the senior division. The club is also represented in the  U10, U12, U14, U16 & Junior competitions. The club have 5 players on the Louth Ladies senior panel- Elaine Flood, Maura Lynch, Vikki Mc Ginn, Lisa Kelly & Lisa Finglas and 4 players on the Minor panel- Aine Mc Cormack, Samantha Newman, Emma Barry & Lisa Barry. For 2012 the club will also start up ‘The Gaelic4Mothers & Others’ initiative  as a way to introduce mothers and other women to playing Ladies Gaelic Football in a fun non-competitive way, if you’re interested in getting involved training is each Sat. morning 11am in the Blues field.