Our History

The History of Éire Óg London: A Home for Gaelic Games in North London

North London has always boasted a vibrant Irish community, particularly across Camden and Islington. However, when Holloway Gaels GFC ceased to exist, it left a significant “football-shaped void” in the local area.

From Finsbury Park to Official Registration

The journey began with a weekly “kick-about” in Finsbury Park, organized by a group of former underage players under the direction of Luke Callinan, a London-born Irishman with deep Clare roots. Realising the immense potential for a structured club, they sought the expertise of Gary Dunne (London Irish Centre), Conor McGinn, and Paddy Corbett (an experienced GAA administrator from Mayo).

Driven by ambition and weekly training sessions, this vision became a reality in February 2011, when Éire Óg CLG officially registered with the London GAA County Board.

What’s in a Name? “Young Ireland”

Our name was chosen with deep intentionality. As our initial Club Chairman Conor McGinn explains:

“Éire Óg, meaning ‘Young Ireland’, was originally the name for the group who instigated a cultural revival and national consciousness in Ireland. Rooted in that tradition, we wanted our club to be a home for the ‘Young Irish’ of today—whether they are recent emigrants or second-generation Irish Londoners looking to express their identity through our national games.”

This philosophy is captured in our motto “Is fiú agus is féidir” – it is worth doing and it can be done.

Finding a Permanent Home: The Move to Haringey

In 2014, Éire Óg made history by partnering with Holloway Gaels Ladies Football Club and Finsbury Park Rugby Club to secure a long-term home for all three organizations.

After consulting with Haringey Council, we identified Downhills Park as the ideal location. Despite the changing rooms being boarded up and the area unused, our members saw the potential.

  • July 2014: Gaelic football and rugby posts were officially installed.
  • June 2015: Following a massive renovation effort by club members and local contractors, we held our official opening.
  • May 2025: Internal clubhouse refurbishment work commences. 
  • Early 2026: Our clubhouse is scheduled for re-opening in early 2026 following an exciting internal refurbishment.

Today, these facilities serve as the foundation of our mission: to promote Gaelic football in North London schools, the local community, and the borough of Haringey.

Our vision is to promote Gaelic football in the local community, schools and borough.