A brief history from a few years ago...
Birr Town was formed in 1969 and played their first game of that year on St Patrick's day against Portumna. The game ended 3-3, our present center half Frank O'Connell is the only surviour from that game. Frank was also the first chairman of Birr Town, a position he took over again three seasons ago. The first secretary was Frank Doyle and joint treasurers were Jack Feehan and Michael Culkeen.
Birr Town embarked on a series of friendly games over the next 18 months. When Jim Delaney came to town he saw the potential in the team and dually entered them in the Leinster Junior League in 1971 in Division 2. In 1972-73 season the Town won division 2 of the league been unbeaten in all 26 games. Frank O Connell and Gerry Bell are the present link from that team. Other stars Patsy and Michael Pardy, Dinny Wynne, Jimmy Screeny, Tony Flyne, "Chick" Cleary, Dermot Devery, Gary Eastwood, Tom Woods, Fran Feighery, Phil McDermott, Pat Carroll, Tony Grainger.
On the formation of the Leinster Junior League Premier Divsion, Birr Town were one of the invited teams to join the Division and was consistently one of the top teams until 1988 when they dropped back to Division 1 to blood some young players from which we are now benfititting.
In 1977-78 Birr Town won the subsidiary cup beating Marian Grotto in the final 3-0. The stars of that team were Tucker Pardy. Brian Kenny, Martin Callaghan, Phil Stapleton, Billy Murphy, P. J. Hoctor and P.J Bell.
In 1982-83 Birr Town reached the final of the Whitely Cup but lost 3-1 to Canlevilla. The stars of that team were Barry Haves, Mike Dolan, Jim Winter, Seamus Carroll, Mick Daly, Benny Hayes, Declan Ryan, Sean Ryan, Eamonn Pardy, Brian and Morgan Colohan, Pat Molloy. Honors have been few and far between but we fticl very proud of the fact that in 21 years we have never failed to field a team.
In 1983 Birr Town were founder members of Offaly Schoolboys League and have teams from under 10 up to under 16 age groups, we hope to have these young lads coming through in 1he next few years. Officials who have done great work behind the scenes and deserve special mention are Willie Egan, Jim Delaney, Noel Ely, the late OoyleConneUy, Seamus Breen and present secretary, manager, and coach John Corbov. who has been in charge for 15 seasons.
Our sponsors who have helped us in bad times as well as the good a very special word of thanks, to Mr. Stephen Grant of Grant's Hydrograte Boilers, Ian Hasfam of Haslam's Supervalu, Ely's Electrical and also to Mr. Arthur Joyce, Mr. Paddy Hogan, Loughnane Oil, Tony Kellv, Rav Haines, Co. Arms Hotel and Dooley's Hotel.
Our hope for the next 21 years is to win more trophies, 10 play good attractive football as our club motto is "not to do extraordinary things but to do simple thingse, traordinarily well."