A
comprehensive history of
the club
“A 100
Years of Gaelic
Games in The
Village”
was
painstakingly undertaken by
a small committee
spearheaded by the
main compiler, Christy
Leahy, as a
club centenary project,
early in 1987.
The publication team
included William Cody,
Club chairman, his
son Eamon Cody, Jim
McCarthy, Matt Kelly
and club P.R.O.,
Val Malone, along
with the able
assistance of Kilkenny
People G.A.A. correspondent, Peter Holohan.
The club was founded in 1887 as James Stephens Hurling Club, and took part in the 1888 county championship. As one a multiplicity of clubs in the city James Stephens or the Village (Named for the area of Patrick St. in Kilkenny City) had little success in it's early years.
The first village team for which we have a record is the teams which played Mong in a 1910 Tournament. 17 A side.
| Doyle | ||||||
| Maher | Bourke | Kelly | ||||
| Hanlon | Coyne | Morrissey | ||||
| J Fox | T.Fox | Keefe | Miles | |||
| Tyrell | Hennessy | Costolloe | ||||
| Larkin | Cody | Mullins |
The Village colours of Red and Green were adopted as a result of the purchase of a set of jerseys from Erin's Own at a price of 30 shillings.
Shortly thereafter the club made it's first breakthrough by winning the 1924 Junior title.
The 1924 junior championship was won on April 25 1925 after a replay.
| James Stephens | 4-1 | Thomastown | 4-1 |
| James Stephens | 5-5 | Thomastown | 5-5 |
A description of the 1924 Junior Campaign
The 1929 junior championship was won on July 13 1930 after the original fixture on May 25 1930 was abandoned.
| James Stephens | 3-0 | Dunkitt | 5-1 | Abandoned |
| James Stephens | 4-5 | Dunkitt | 0-1 |
|
|
Mick Tyrell | |||
| Frank Lacey | Patsy Nugent | Joe Delaney | ||
| John Delaney | Willie Walsh | John Shortall | ||
| Jack 'Sock' Dunne | Mick Conway | |||
| Jimmy Morrissey | Mick Carroll | Tommy Meade | ||
| John Dwyer | Dermot Hughes | J. Leahy | ||
| Sub: William Pembroke |
The 1935 senior championship was won on December 8, 1935.
| James Stephens | 3-5 | Carrickshock | 2-5 |
Details of the 1935 championship win
LANDMARK DATES
IN CLUB HISTORY
1973 Club
purchased it’s headquarters at Larchfield
from
Kilkenny Corporation for
£2,337.00. The site
covers
approx 4.5 acres.
1975 The club purchased twp
pre-fabs from the
local
De la Salle boys
school. The two
wooden structures
were
dismantled and re-erected
on the club
grounds
thanks to the
voluntary efforts of
the
club’s
eager committee at
that time. A
further
pre-fab
was added in
1976.
1977 The club became the
first G.A.A, club
in the
county
to open a
members bar and
social centre.
1979 The committee decided
to contract out
the building
of
the a new Function Hall,
kitchen and
committee
room to club
vice-chairman, Mr. Billy
Brennan.
1981/’82 The
present dressingrooms, shower
room and public
toilet
complex was built.
1983 The present Bar, social
centre, squash court
and
Youth
hall building was
constructed under the
supervision of
club stalward, Niall
Morrissey.