How It All Started
After many years of talking between some of Irelands ’ finest immigrants, a meeting was held in Ri Ra Irish Pub in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina. To put it frankly, this was not a GAA stronghold in North America . In attendance at this historic meeting in May 1999 were:
1. Marty Conway , formerly of Atlanta Clan na Gael, now residing in Strabane – County Tyrone
2. Neil Mulroney now living in Indianapolis
3. Ronan Cleary formally from Clane – County Kildare
4. Kevin Devin formally of Craughwell – County Galway
At this meeting, it was unanimously decided the Charlotte club-with no official name yet-would make the journey to Atlanta to take them on in the historic clash between the two Southeast rivals. This game was played in great spirit at the Oglethorpe Celtic Festival in Atlanta with many players togging out this day for the first time ever. The overwhelming mentality from that game forward was that the winner would go forward to the NACB finals to represent the region.
Charlotte Team Members that day included: Mike Trenor, Gareth Ryan, Kevin Devin, Todd Ryan, Noel Power, Mike Coconut, Bill Carroll, Neil Mulroney, Ronan Cleary, Barry Given, Shane Carney, James Moore, John Tierney, and Kevin Hayes.
Both Ronan Cleary and Kevin Devin are still heavily involved in the development and progress of Charlotte James Connolly’s Gaelic Football Club sporting two men’s teams (A & B), and one ladies team totaling over 80+ club members and growing.
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