History of the St. Brendan’s G.F.C.

On a snowy Sunday in December 1949, at the Harp and Shamrock Club, an idea of a Gaelic football club and naming it for their parish was envisioned, St. Brendan‘s. The club was named suitably because the hardy sprit of the original Brendan-the-Navigator has always been evident in the field performance of the St. Brendan’s team. 

On a muggy Sunday afternoon in early June 1950 when the fledgling St. Brendan’s first fifteen ran out in it’s green and gold colors on the grassy pitch at Washington Park a legend was born in Chicago. That year the Brendan’s won the Chicago Championship, but because the divisions were still forming the Chicago team joined together with the Western division and went on to win the North American Finals.

In the 1956 Chicago Championship the St. Brendan’s defeated St. Pats and formed a significant part of the overall Chicago team. They defeated Toronto in the American League final that year. The rule changed in 1958 and thereafter teams winning the City Championship had to play n the American League Playoff under their own banner. In 1959, the St. Brendan’s defeated the Wolfe Tones in a thrilling game for the Chicago Football Championship. In the mid-50’s early 60’s Shewbridge Stadium became Chicago premier G.A.A. venue. Rockne Stadium became the central venue after that, and Rockne too witnessed a many Brendan’s triumph in the league and Championship in the mid-60’s and early-70’s. It was in 1972 that the St. Brendan’s won their first ever Senior North American League title. In 1975, the St. Brendan’s celebrated their 25th Anniversary by winning both the League and Championship. 

The early 80’s were very successful and productive years for the St. Brendan’s. With the great rivalry continuing with the Wolfe Tones and the north side team John McBride’s.  In 1981, on a very wet day in Marquette Park, the Brendan’s triumphed over arch rivals Wolfe Tones and went on to represent Chicago in the North American League. In 1982, they surrendered their North American and Chicago Championships in a final that was played on a Saturday night and was one of the very first G.A.A. games played under floodlights. If there was a disappointment in 82’ it was but a distant memory in 83’. The Brendan’s were back in the Chicago final against the Wolfe Tones and went on to win yet another Chicago title. They defeated Galway Boston in the North American League final that year, winning by a nail biting one point. In 1985, the St. Brendan’s Junior team was formed. The Juniors carried on the proud and winning tradition of the Brendan’s, they won six Chicago league and championships in a row and for a period of tow years never lost a game, a record that is ever unlikely to be passed. The Brendan’s Seniors had to wait until 1986 to regain their Chicago title, defeating the Wolfe Tones and John McBride’s.

The decade of the 1990s began on a high note for the St. Brendan’s as they traveled to Florida and won the Seven-a-Side tournament. The Juniors won the Chicago title and competed in the North American finals held in Chicago.  They got through to the final on Sunday, but were unfortunate to be beaten by one point in the final seconds of the game. In 1991, the Juniors again won the Chicago title and celebrated in both the infamous Molly Malone’s and Kivlehan’s. Again, making it to the North American finals in Boston, but were defeated by San Fran.  However, they still managed to have good time and escape the attention of the Braintree police department, who managed to but a damper of the GAA festivities that weekend.  91’ was also the year the Brendan’s held a Christmas reunion in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, with the Mitchells. 

In 1992, the Juniors retained their Chicago title for the sixth time under the leadership of one Mr. Joe Begley. The 92’ Junior “Dream Team” traveled to Philly to be defeated in the pouring rain and traveling on to a local establishment to relive the weekend, ride a few bikes and collect a mounted deer’s head, which rumor has it is still living in a member’s house to this day. In 1993, the St. Brendan’s held yet another Christmas reunion. This time Killarney and the Dr. Crokes were the hosts. It will be remembered as the night everyone in the back door of Tatler Jack’s long after closing, an all night sing-song took place and a certain Cork man probably still has the scar on his head from falling asleep on the bar. 

In 1994, the Seniors recaptured their Chicago title, by defeating the Padraig Pearses and memorable celebrations were held in the Blarney Stone.  Unfortunately, they were defeated in the North American Playoffs, which were held in Chicago. 1996 finally brought some joy to the St. Brendan’s, with the Juniors winning the Chicago League and traveling again to Boston. After three very tough games in bad conditions, the Juniors were able to hoist the North American Cup and celebrations were kicked off after in Boston’s “Little Pub”, as well as karaoking the days away in the Blarney Stone and Fiddlers.

After a four-year drought, 1998 brought another Senior Chicago League Cup to the Brendan’s and celebrations were raucous as the roof of the Fiddlers was nearly brought down.  1999 finished off the decade for the Brendan’s on a high note as the Juniors won yet another North American Cup, this time in front of at home crowd in Chicago.  The 1990s were a diverse decade of ups and downs on the pitch, with many great players donning the green-and-gold jersey. 

The start of the millennium brought significant and momentous memories to the St. Brendan’s club. A diverse, hardworking board and management was elected, leading them on their 50th anniversary was Mike Murphy, chairman, as he did on the clubs 25th. Both teams, along with nearly 50 supporters traveled on to the North American League Playoffs in Boston. The Juniors made it to the final on Sunday, but unfortunately were beaten in a disheartening game. The Senior team however, had more luck.  In the final they defeated Boston Cork. Words alone can’t describe the feeling that was brought to the St. Brendan’s club that day, a win that was bitter sweet was even sweeter with the club celebrating it’s 50th anniversary. 

2001, the Junior team won the Chicago League title, and then traveled onto to San Francisco for the Playoffs. They played a terrific weekend of football, but were unluckily beaten in the final on Sunday.  

In 2004, the St. Brendan’s won the Chicago League titles for both junior & senior. We then traveled to  beautiful Denver, and  succeeded in winning a historic double, Junior & Senior North American Titles. It was a remarkable event and the celebrations continued on well into the week!

2005 was an unusual year for the Brendan’s with having no senior competition in Chicago. Our players remained strong and trained until the Playoffs in Philadelphia, where they faced Boston McAnespie's & San Francisco‘s Ulster. After winning an excellent semi-final, they were unluckily beaten in the final.

Throughout 2006, the St. Brendan’s ran a few clubs outing. The first was the Cubs rooftop it was very well attended event & a lot of fun, but don’t ask any of us who won! Next was our annual golf outing, in June that was a successful outing,, even though most of the golfers were footballers, not golfers! Our GAA season kicked off with the junior league. The seniors were a little different in a best of 3 competition. It was a good summer of football, but we were unlucky with both teams. The juniors made it to the Chicago final & were unfortunately beaten by the Parnells.  The senior game was a nail bitter, but again unfortunately were beat by their rivals the Tones. We ended our year with the annual dinner dance. It was a very well attended dinner dance with two All-Ireland Kerry players, Kieran Donaghy & Aidan O’Mahony in attendance. We also ran our grand raffle that night, which was also a great success, with all the tickets sold. 

It is a thrill to see how many players over the years have played with the St. Brendan’s at one point in time and went on to win All-Ireland fame. We have also been host to many prominent Gaels over the past years at our dinner dances.  Our club continues to grow larger and stronger each year in existence. And each year we seem to broaden our horizons more & more!