Club History
1940s
1942: Club formed by T. Rooney, B. Slevin, H. Begley, H. Thornton, G. Ryan and C. Callon at Monkstown Park School as a way of keeping fit for rugby during the closed season.
First Captain - Mike Duffy. Initial membership was only eight!
1944: Brendan Hennessey joined and later became coach to Ronnie Delany and Honorary Life President of Bord Luthchleas na hEireann (BLE).
The club moved to Serpentine Avenue and Luke Duffy became our first title winner when he won the Leinster 1/2 mile.
1945: Membership doubled to 30.
1946: Con Sheehan won our first international vest. Mr. G.V. Ryan passed on.
1947: We hosted and beat our first overseas visitors, the Racing Club de Paris whose team included a European champion. Attempt at formation of ladies’ section unsuccessful.
1948: At AAU Senior Championships we won seven of 15 titles. Three of our athletes represented Ireland in the London Olympics - Dan Coyle (Hammer), Cormac O'Cléirigh and Reggie Myles (4 x 400m relay). Jack Gregory represented Great Britain in the 100m and 200m, and won a silver medal in the 4 x 100m relay. In September Mr. Louis Vandendries arrived. He was to become one of our greatest organizers and managed Irish teams at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics, and the 1954 and 1962 European Championships.
1949: Long serving medical officer Dr. John Fleetwood came aboard.
1942: Club formed by T. Rooney, B. Slevin, H. Begley, H. Thornton, G. Ryan and C. Callon at Monkstown Park School as a way of keeping fit for rugby during the closed season.
First Captain - Mike Duffy. Initial membership was only eight!
1944: Brendan Hennessey joined and later became coach to Ronnie Delany and Honorary Life President of Bord Luthchleas na hEireann (BLE).
The club moved to Serpentine Avenue and Luke Duffy became our first title winner when he won the Leinster 1/2 mile.
1945: Membership doubled to 30.
1946: Con Sheehan won our first international vest. Mr. G.V. Ryan passed on.
1947: We hosted and beat our first overseas visitors, the Racing Club de Paris whose team included a European champion. Attempt at formation of ladies’ section unsuccessful.
1948: At AAU Senior Championships we won seven of 15 titles. Three of our athletes represented Ireland in the London Olympics - Dan Coyle (Hammer), Cormac O'Cléirigh and Reggie Myles (4 x 400m relay). Jack Gregory represented Great Britain in the 100m and 200m, and won a silver medal in the 4 x 100m relay. In September Mr. Louis Vandendries arrived. He was to become one of our greatest organizers and managed Irish teams at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics, and the 1954 and 1962 European Championships.
1949: Long serving medical officer Dr. John Fleetwood came aboard.
1959
1950s
1950: Current red and white singlet made its first appearance. Membership now at 70.
1951: Mr. Theo Ryan elected President - his first committee position. Theo joined the club in 1947. He organized a meet at Lansdowne Road with Germany and over 2000 spectators attended.
Ladies’ section disbanded as "unworkable".
1952: Ron Delany joined and won the All Ireland and AAU Youth’s 880 yards. Joe Delany also had a good year, retaining his AAU and All Ireland Long Jump title, with a best of 22ft 10 ¾ inches.
1953: Crusaders International held at College Park. Start of our domination of Grade "C" championship for Verney Shield - held continuously until 1964.
1954: Inaugural meeting for G.V. Ryan held it at College Park and we won the trophy.
1955: Retained G.V. Ryan Trophy. Inaugural 5 mile road race held. First winner of Crusaders medal Tony O'Donoghue, who finished 24th. Jim Mc Donnell inaugural winner of Cormac O'Cléirigh trophy (highest point scorer in graded meeting).
1956: Ron Delany brought home the club's only Olympic gold medal from Melbourne in the 1500m, with a new Olympic record of 3:41.20.
Maeve Kyle became Ireland’s first female Olympic track and field athlete (100m and 200m). The Irish athlete had to raise £200 to cover the cost of the trip to Melbourne, where a 28-year-old Kyle came up against Betty Cuthbert, who went on to become the undoubted star of the Games by walking away with three gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Maeve Kyle went on to represent Ireland in two more Olympic Games, Rome in 60' and Tokyo in 64'. There was an attempt to have AAU form a 32-county association.
1957: Clean sweep of high jump medals at AAU championship - J.P Eliot, Br. Kelly, and K. Borneman. All 3 pennants were also won by the club and K.Borneman won the title for most points.
1958: Ron Delany finished 3rd to Herb Elliott in a world record for the mile, 3:54.5. Our first cross country medal won by finishing second to Donore in AAU Youth Championships.
1959: First CC scalp by beating Donore in a 6-mile race in Phoenix Park. D. McCleane and M. Doyle tied for 1st.
A 4x 110 yards record was set in a time of 43.8 seconds.
1950: Current red and white singlet made its first appearance. Membership now at 70.
1951: Mr. Theo Ryan elected President - his first committee position. Theo joined the club in 1947. He organized a meet at Lansdowne Road with Germany and over 2000 spectators attended.
Ladies’ section disbanded as "unworkable".
1952: Ron Delany joined and won the All Ireland and AAU Youth’s 880 yards. Joe Delany also had a good year, retaining his AAU and All Ireland Long Jump title, with a best of 22ft 10 ¾ inches.
1953: Crusaders International held at College Park. Start of our domination of Grade "C" championship for Verney Shield - held continuously until 1964.
1954: Inaugural meeting for G.V. Ryan held it at College Park and we won the trophy.
1955: Retained G.V. Ryan Trophy. Inaugural 5 mile road race held. First winner of Crusaders medal Tony O'Donoghue, who finished 24th. Jim Mc Donnell inaugural winner of Cormac O'Cléirigh trophy (highest point scorer in graded meeting).
1956: Ron Delany brought home the club's only Olympic gold medal from Melbourne in the 1500m, with a new Olympic record of 3:41.20.
Maeve Kyle became Ireland’s first female Olympic track and field athlete (100m and 200m). The Irish athlete had to raise £200 to cover the cost of the trip to Melbourne, where a 28-year-old Kyle came up against Betty Cuthbert, who went on to become the undoubted star of the Games by walking away with three gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Maeve Kyle went on to represent Ireland in two more Olympic Games, Rome in 60' and Tokyo in 64'. There was an attempt to have AAU form a 32-county association.
1957: Clean sweep of high jump medals at AAU championship - J.P Eliot, Br. Kelly, and K. Borneman. All 3 pennants were also won by the club and K.Borneman won the title for most points.
1958: Ron Delany finished 3rd to Herb Elliott in a world record for the mile, 3:54.5. Our first cross country medal won by finishing second to Donore in AAU Youth Championships.
1959: First CC scalp by beating Donore in a 6-mile race in Phoenix Park. D. McCleane and M. Doyle tied for 1st.
A 4x 110 yards record was set in a time of 43.8 seconds.
1961
1960s
1960: Club won 18 medal places in AAU Championship T & F. Death in London of Paddy O’Dwyer.
At the Rome Olympics, Crusaders member Louis Vandendries was the team manager (also manager for 1954 and 1962 European Championships). Ron Delany and Maeve Kyle were selected for the Olympic team. Derek McCleane was unlucky not to be selected.
1961: Balbriggan to Dublin 20 mile race won by M Doyle. D White captained an Irish team to the Maccabi games in Israel. Irish 4 x 400 relay record set by R. Delany, L. Ryder, D. McCleane and J Linnane in 3:18.2, beating our own record. M Doyle obtained the Club's only marathon championship gold. Inaugural Paddy O'Dwyer saw a tie between M. Doyle and B. Fitzpatrick with Philip Doyle the inaugural handicap winner.
1962: Ladies section re-constituted. 41 members joined and H. Sinnott and P. Hogan became the first secretary and captain respectively.
Our first competitive encounter was courtesy of Maeve Kyle at Ballymena. We obtained our first individual C.C. gold thanks to Brian Fitzpatrick winning the novice championship.
1963: Took our first C.C. mile title which Victor Maniak won on a brief sojourn from Poland - he also helped us to another G.V. Ryan victory. Ladies section in full stride and cleaned up in many top events.
1964: Derek McLean (800m) and Meave Kyle (400m) represent Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics. Louis Vandendries is the Olympic team manager.
Paud Lavelle becomes first member to obtain an international cross country vest.
1965: Finally secured Senior AAU cross country title. Four ladies’ clubs are now in existence and the first Track & Field championship was held. Jackie Spence became our first ever Ladies champion and we added a further four titles. First time Christmas Relays held.
1966: Inaugural Women's All Ireland T. & E Championships and Louis Vandendries Trophy.
1967: Formation of BLE following dissolution of AAU and NACA. Members of the club had for years worked behind the scenes to resolve the split. Paddy McGovern became a member of the original executive. Won 5 places at inaugural BLE trials - P. Conway threw a shot 17ft further than the nearest rival. 25th Anniversary party held at South County Hotel on 21st April.
1968: New club tracksuit launched. Move to find new premises.
1969: General decline in athletics in Ireland caused our membership to drop to its lowest since 1958. Sunday training with Denis Phelan commenced.
1960: Club won 18 medal places in AAU Championship T & F. Death in London of Paddy O’Dwyer.
At the Rome Olympics, Crusaders member Louis Vandendries was the team manager (also manager for 1954 and 1962 European Championships). Ron Delany and Maeve Kyle were selected for the Olympic team. Derek McCleane was unlucky not to be selected.
1961: Balbriggan to Dublin 20 mile race won by M Doyle. D White captained an Irish team to the Maccabi games in Israel. Irish 4 x 400 relay record set by R. Delany, L. Ryder, D. McCleane and J Linnane in 3:18.2, beating our own record. M Doyle obtained the Club's only marathon championship gold. Inaugural Paddy O'Dwyer saw a tie between M. Doyle and B. Fitzpatrick with Philip Doyle the inaugural handicap winner.
1962: Ladies section re-constituted. 41 members joined and H. Sinnott and P. Hogan became the first secretary and captain respectively.
Our first competitive encounter was courtesy of Maeve Kyle at Ballymena. We obtained our first individual C.C. gold thanks to Brian Fitzpatrick winning the novice championship.
1963: Took our first C.C. mile title which Victor Maniak won on a brief sojourn from Poland - he also helped us to another G.V. Ryan victory. Ladies section in full stride and cleaned up in many top events.
1964: Derek McLean (800m) and Meave Kyle (400m) represent Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics. Louis Vandendries is the Olympic team manager.
Paud Lavelle becomes first member to obtain an international cross country vest.
1965: Finally secured Senior AAU cross country title. Four ladies’ clubs are now in existence and the first Track & Field championship was held. Jackie Spence became our first ever Ladies champion and we added a further four titles. First time Christmas Relays held.
1966: Inaugural Women's All Ireland T. & E Championships and Louis Vandendries Trophy.
1967: Formation of BLE following dissolution of AAU and NACA. Members of the club had for years worked behind the scenes to resolve the split. Paddy McGovern became a member of the original executive. Won 5 places at inaugural BLE trials - P. Conway threw a shot 17ft further than the nearest rival. 25th Anniversary party held at South County Hotel on 21st April.
1968: New club tracksuit launched. Move to find new premises.
1969: General decline in athletics in Ireland caused our membership to drop to its lowest since 1958. Sunday training with Denis Phelan commenced.
1970s
1970: We collected 18 medals at the National Championships - more than any other club. Louis Jordan broke Bob Tisdall's Irish Decathlon record.
1971: Total membership now 273. International against Spain saw Vinnie Becker, Phil Conway and Chris Farrell represent Ireland. Committee of parents formed to look after juveniles. We won 14 gold medals at National Juveniles. Two members elected to national office: Jim Moran as president and Paddy McGovern as treasurer.
1972: Philip Conway gained selection for the Munich Olympics with a shot put of over 60ft (the first Irishman to exceed this distance). Mary Purcell also qualified for the Olympics in the 800m and 1500m.
The club's 30th Anniversary saw presentations to our two hardest and most dedicated members - Brendan Hennessey and Louis Vandendries.
1973: Crusaders Road Race extended to include ladies. We won first BLE 4 x 100m relay - Jackie Spence, Lucy Moore, Sheila Flatman and Aideen Morrison. Aideen Morrison's 400m time of 54.1 set a national record for the second time that year. The year was marred by the death of Brendan Hennessey whose memory and ideals have stood the test of time.
1974: Caroline O’Shea joins. New National League formed, which ladies won and men finished 5th due to poor track performances. Phil Conway presented with the first Brendan Hennessey “Crusader of the Year” trophy. The first Hammerama organised. Gay Hogan shattered the Irish shot record with a put of 41 11 8 ½ inches.
1975: The inaugural Brendan Hennessey team trophies were won by the ladies of Donore and Guinness: We were the outstanding club in the Inter Club (graded meets).
1976: Christine Malone was selected for the Irish cross country team while Caroline O'Shea was picked for the Irish school's team. Caroline also established a national junior record for 400m with a time of 55.0 seconds. Richard Gibson and Colin Ball competed with bravery at Junior AAAs. Mary Purcell again gained Olympic selection and ran the 1500m, and was selected for the World Cross Country Championships.
1977: It was agreed to award points in the G.V. Ryan and Louis Vandendries Competitions in accordance with IAAF rulings. Crusaders won National ‘B’ Road Race with the team consisting of Kieran O’Dwyer, John Bolger, Brian Tansey, Tony Smyth, Richard O’Mahoney and Joe Roe.
1978: Caroline O'Shea broke her own national junior record in a time of 53.9 seconds.
Mary Purcell ran 4.17 for 1500m and Mary Appleby set a 400m record of 59.5 seconds. New track-suits, singles and shorts came into being.
Tom Phelan received praise from the press for his marvellous 100m win in Omega and Tissot Competition. Crusaders won both these trophies.
Mary Purcell and Mary Appleby (400m hurdles) went to the European Championships.
1979: Marita Walton became the first Irish woman receive a scholarship to the U.S.A. Mary Purcell was 6th in the World Cross Country Championships and was 3rd in the European Indoor 1500m. Crusaders travelled to Lisbon and had a successful trip, even if we didn't win!! In Belfast we finished 2nd to Annadale in a triangular meeting with NIAAA. Our first intermediate boy’s gold medal for many years was won by Philip Montford with 6.47 in the long jump.
1970: We collected 18 medals at the National Championships - more than any other club. Louis Jordan broke Bob Tisdall's Irish Decathlon record.
1971: Total membership now 273. International against Spain saw Vinnie Becker, Phil Conway and Chris Farrell represent Ireland. Committee of parents formed to look after juveniles. We won 14 gold medals at National Juveniles. Two members elected to national office: Jim Moran as president and Paddy McGovern as treasurer.
1972: Philip Conway gained selection for the Munich Olympics with a shot put of over 60ft (the first Irishman to exceed this distance). Mary Purcell also qualified for the Olympics in the 800m and 1500m.
The club's 30th Anniversary saw presentations to our two hardest and most dedicated members - Brendan Hennessey and Louis Vandendries.
1973: Crusaders Road Race extended to include ladies. We won first BLE 4 x 100m relay - Jackie Spence, Lucy Moore, Sheila Flatman and Aideen Morrison. Aideen Morrison's 400m time of 54.1 set a national record for the second time that year. The year was marred by the death of Brendan Hennessey whose memory and ideals have stood the test of time.
1974: Caroline O’Shea joins. New National League formed, which ladies won and men finished 5th due to poor track performances. Phil Conway presented with the first Brendan Hennessey “Crusader of the Year” trophy. The first Hammerama organised. Gay Hogan shattered the Irish shot record with a put of 41 11 8 ½ inches.
1975: The inaugural Brendan Hennessey team trophies were won by the ladies of Donore and Guinness: We were the outstanding club in the Inter Club (graded meets).
1976: Christine Malone was selected for the Irish cross country team while Caroline O'Shea was picked for the Irish school's team. Caroline also established a national junior record for 400m with a time of 55.0 seconds. Richard Gibson and Colin Ball competed with bravery at Junior AAAs. Mary Purcell again gained Olympic selection and ran the 1500m, and was selected for the World Cross Country Championships.
1977: It was agreed to award points in the G.V. Ryan and Louis Vandendries Competitions in accordance with IAAF rulings. Crusaders won National ‘B’ Road Race with the team consisting of Kieran O’Dwyer, John Bolger, Brian Tansey, Tony Smyth, Richard O’Mahoney and Joe Roe.
1978: Caroline O'Shea broke her own national junior record in a time of 53.9 seconds.
Mary Purcell ran 4.17 for 1500m and Mary Appleby set a 400m record of 59.5 seconds. New track-suits, singles and shorts came into being.
Tom Phelan received praise from the press for his marvellous 100m win in Omega and Tissot Competition. Crusaders won both these trophies.
Mary Purcell and Mary Appleby (400m hurdles) went to the European Championships.
1979: Marita Walton became the first Irish woman receive a scholarship to the U.S.A. Mary Purcell was 6th in the World Cross Country Championships and was 3rd in the European Indoor 1500m. Crusaders travelled to Lisbon and had a successful trip, even if we didn't win!! In Belfast we finished 2nd to Annadale in a triangular meeting with NIAAA. Our first intermediate boy’s gold medal for many years was won by Philip Montford with 6.47 in the long jump.
1980s
1980: Mary Appleby was a brilliant 4th in the world and she set an Irish 400m hurdles record. Our junior men, and our ladies sent successful teams to Paris. Bill Whiston, a driving force behind our men's section emigrated to the U.S.A. Mary Butler became the 2nd Irish woman to complete an official marathon. Mary Purcell again gained selection for the Moscow Olympics (like Meave Kyle she too competed in three Olympics ) and ran the 800m
1981: Michele Walsh joined Crusaders. A coaching committee was set up to look at improving our facilities and helping put Crusaders back as a driving force. On an unhappy note - our ladies failed to make the Tissot final for the first time.
1982: The G.V. Ryan and Louis Vandendries was cut back from Saturday/Sunday to just one day, Sunday. It had originally been held on Friday night/Saturday. We celebrated our 40th Anniversary with a dinner in the Montrose Hotel - 89 people attended. Aideen Morrison set five PBS in the 800m and got to travel to Taiwan at the end of the season. Mary Purcell 1st in the National Marathon. Tom Fennell passed on.
1983: Ladies section celebrated 21 years and a surprise 80th birthday was held for Louis Vandendries. Ladies also regained the AIB League trophy. Patrick McGovern is President of Bord Luthcleas na HEireann (B.L.E.) until 1986.
1984: Eddie Hanratty and Mary Friel were picked for the Irish team in the World Cross Country Championship in the USA. Caroline O’Shea became the first Irish woman to reach an Olympic track final in the 800m in Los Angeles. She had the goodwill and support of the whole Irish nation and kept many people glued to their TV sets. Conor McCullough and Patricia Walsh also travelled to the U.S.A. for the Olympics and performed admirably in the hammer and discus respectively. The club's traditional road race was replaced by an open race to raise funds. The Turkey Trot was born!
1985: Following the sad death of Eoin Finlay in early 1984, his parents donated a sum to Crusaders which has been used each year beginning with this year to provide a prize in a club sealed handicap road race. The men were relegated for the first time to the 'B' division of the National League. Merger talks were floated for the first time.
1986: An EGM was called early in the year to consider a possible merger with South Dublin and Dundrum. This proposal caused much hard feeling in the cold and was eventually defeated. Dundrum and South Dublin went ahead with the merger. Carl O'Connell qualified for the European Games in Stuttgart. This was also the year when the G. Ryan/ L. Vandendries Trophies were almost abandoned due to torrential rain. Crusaders men were promoted back to the A division of the National League.
1987: Louis Vandendries, who at 84 years of age was current treasurer, died peacefully on May 31st. loss is still felt. Our ladies qualified for the league final - Louis would have been impressed! The first Bloomsday race was held starting on Sandymount Strand and was a great success.
1988: Michele Carroll travelled to the World Championships in Rome as part of the 4 x 400 relay team. In the Seoul Olympics, Carlos O’Connell competed in the decathlon, Conor McCullough competed in the hammer and Al Guy was appointed as an International Technical Official by the IOC.
1989: We bowed to the soccer fever sweeping country this year and transferred the G. V. Ryan, Vandendries from Sunday to Saturday. Unfortunately, this didn't help Jack Charlton's lads win the competition that mattered. This was one the best organised competitions ever and results and subsequent good press coverage were due to Michael Byrne and Jim Mulherin.
1980: Mary Appleby was a brilliant 4th in the world and she set an Irish 400m hurdles record. Our junior men, and our ladies sent successful teams to Paris. Bill Whiston, a driving force behind our men's section emigrated to the U.S.A. Mary Butler became the 2nd Irish woman to complete an official marathon. Mary Purcell again gained selection for the Moscow Olympics (like Meave Kyle she too competed in three Olympics ) and ran the 800m
1981: Michele Walsh joined Crusaders. A coaching committee was set up to look at improving our facilities and helping put Crusaders back as a driving force. On an unhappy note - our ladies failed to make the Tissot final for the first time.
1982: The G.V. Ryan and Louis Vandendries was cut back from Saturday/Sunday to just one day, Sunday. It had originally been held on Friday night/Saturday. We celebrated our 40th Anniversary with a dinner in the Montrose Hotel - 89 people attended. Aideen Morrison set five PBS in the 800m and got to travel to Taiwan at the end of the season. Mary Purcell 1st in the National Marathon. Tom Fennell passed on.
1983: Ladies section celebrated 21 years and a surprise 80th birthday was held for Louis Vandendries. Ladies also regained the AIB League trophy. Patrick McGovern is President of Bord Luthcleas na HEireann (B.L.E.) until 1986.
1984: Eddie Hanratty and Mary Friel were picked for the Irish team in the World Cross Country Championship in the USA. Caroline O’Shea became the first Irish woman to reach an Olympic track final in the 800m in Los Angeles. She had the goodwill and support of the whole Irish nation and kept many people glued to their TV sets. Conor McCullough and Patricia Walsh also travelled to the U.S.A. for the Olympics and performed admirably in the hammer and discus respectively. The club's traditional road race was replaced by an open race to raise funds. The Turkey Trot was born!
1985: Following the sad death of Eoin Finlay in early 1984, his parents donated a sum to Crusaders which has been used each year beginning with this year to provide a prize in a club sealed handicap road race. The men were relegated for the first time to the 'B' division of the National League. Merger talks were floated for the first time.
1986: An EGM was called early in the year to consider a possible merger with South Dublin and Dundrum. This proposal caused much hard feeling in the cold and was eventually defeated. Dundrum and South Dublin went ahead with the merger. Carl O'Connell qualified for the European Games in Stuttgart. This was also the year when the G. Ryan/ L. Vandendries Trophies were almost abandoned due to torrential rain. Crusaders men were promoted back to the A division of the National League.
1987: Louis Vandendries, who at 84 years of age was current treasurer, died peacefully on May 31st. loss is still felt. Our ladies qualified for the league final - Louis would have been impressed! The first Bloomsday race was held starting on Sandymount Strand and was a great success.
1988: Michele Carroll travelled to the World Championships in Rome as part of the 4 x 400 relay team. In the Seoul Olympics, Carlos O’Connell competed in the decathlon, Conor McCullough competed in the hammer and Al Guy was appointed as an International Technical Official by the IOC.
1989: We bowed to the soccer fever sweeping country this year and transferred the G. V. Ryan, Vandendries from Sunday to Saturday. Unfortunately, this didn't help Jack Charlton's lads win the competition that mattered. This was one the best organised competitions ever and results and subsequent good press coverage were due to Michael Byrne and Jim Mulherin.
1989
1990s
1990: Gary O'Sullivan won silver in National Senior and Juniors pole vault and then travelled to Sittard on the junior international team. The men's team pulled very strongly to finish 5th in the Nation League - augurs well for the future. Carlos O'Connell continued his forward march by finally breaking the long standing Irish long jump record.
1991: We were represented at World Indoor Championships in an official capacity by Peter Hanlon (photo-finish). Michele Carroll set a record when she won her 22th & 23rd national titles.
1992: Paul Quirke represented at the Barcelona Olympics in the Shot Put.
Crusaders AC – National Track & Field League Winners – 1997
1990: Gary O'Sullivan won silver in National Senior and Juniors pole vault and then travelled to Sittard on the junior international team. The men's team pulled very strongly to finish 5th in the Nation League - augurs well for the future. Carlos O'Connell continued his forward march by finally breaking the long standing Irish long jump record.
1991: We were represented at World Indoor Championships in an official capacity by Peter Hanlon (photo-finish). Michele Carroll set a record when she won her 22th & 23rd national titles.
1992: Paul Quirke represented at the Barcelona Olympics in the Shot Put.
Crusaders AC – National Track & Field League Winners – 1997
2000s
2000: Peter Coghlan represented Ireland at the Sydney Olympics in the 110m hurdles.
2007: Orla Drumm represents Ireland at the World University Games (was with UCC AC at the time)
2008: Thomas Chamney competed at the Beijing Olympics in the 800m, and former Crusaders athlete, Slaven Dizdarevic, competed for Slovakia in the decathlon.
2000: Peter Coghlan represented Ireland at the Sydney Olympics in the 110m hurdles.
2007: Orla Drumm represents Ireland at the World University Games (was with UCC AC at the time)
2008: Thomas Chamney competed at the Beijing Olympics in the 800m, and former Crusaders athlete, Slaven Dizdarevic, competed for Slovakia in the decathlon.
2010s
2012: Orla Drumm competed at the European Athletics Championships (was with UCC AC at the time).
2015: Caroline Crowley wins team bronze at the European Cross Country Championships in Hyeres, France.
2015: First running of the Crusaders Docklands 5km Race, the club's annual road race.
2018: The lease for the new clubhouse is signed.
2019: Work on the new clubhouse at Irishtown Stadium begins.
2012: Orla Drumm competed at the European Athletics Championships (was with UCC AC at the time).
2015: Caroline Crowley wins team bronze at the European Cross Country Championships in Hyeres, France.
2015: First running of the Crusaders Docklands 5km Race, the club's annual road race.
2018: The lease for the new clubhouse is signed.
2019: Work on the new clubhouse at Irishtown Stadium begins.
2012
2017
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2018
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2020s
2020: The club moves to online training sessions, virtual time trials and races, and weekly online table quizzes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
2022: Niamh Allen runs in the Celtic Senior Cross Country International in Belfast and is first of the Irish home.
The clubhouse is finished and officially opened.
2020: The club moves to online training sessions, virtual time trials and races, and weekly online table quizzes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
2022: Niamh Allen runs in the Celtic Senior Cross Country International in Belfast and is first of the Irish home.
The clubhouse is finished and officially opened.
2021
Field of Dreams – Irishtown Stadium
History
Founded in 1942, Crusaders were a club without a home, destined it seemed, to be forever renting various premises including Pembroke Rugby club and Merrion cricket club.
In Ringsend, where the present stadium is located, there was a soccer pitch (where Shelbourne FC played in its early years) with a cinder running track around it. Indeed, Athletic Meets took place there in the 1950s. However, when the 90s came both the track and the changing facilities had fallen into disrepair.
History
Founded in 1942, Crusaders were a club without a home, destined it seemed, to be forever renting various premises including Pembroke Rugby club and Merrion cricket club.
In Ringsend, where the present stadium is located, there was a soccer pitch (where Shelbourne FC played in its early years) with a cinder running track around it. Indeed, Athletic Meets took place there in the 1950s. However, when the 90s came both the track and the changing facilities had fallen into disrepair.
Catalyst - Crusaders and Noel Carroll
John O’ Connor has been part of crusaders for more than 40 years. His children are now part of the Junior Cru and John has re started his coaching role. Noel was one of Irelands best middle-distance athletes. He was also during the 1980s and 1990s a spokesman for Dublin City Council (DCC) and crucially used the local Ringsend Park to train and indeed coach some of Irelands best known athletes at the time. When Noel moved to the Chamber of Commerce, he approached Crusaders and asked whether the Club would consider locating in Irishtown as Noel anticipated that it might be possible to redevelop the site.
John O’Connor, along with local soccer clubs, formed a company called RISE (Ringsend Irishtown Sporting Enterprise). RISE engaged a company to carry out a feasibility study of the site. This led to a successful application for a Sports Capital Grant of £ 500,000 (€ 635,000) to Crusaders on the basis that DCC agreed to provide run and maintain the redevelopment when built. Further funding was provided to DCC and the Docklands Development Authority for the project.
Construction began and was completed in 2004. Due to Crusaders major involvement in the initiation and advice on the project, Crusaders were given the status of caretaker club and are anchor tenants.
John O’ Connor has been part of crusaders for more than 40 years. His children are now part of the Junior Cru and John has re started his coaching role. Noel was one of Irelands best middle-distance athletes. He was also during the 1980s and 1990s a spokesman for Dublin City Council (DCC) and crucially used the local Ringsend Park to train and indeed coach some of Irelands best known athletes at the time. When Noel moved to the Chamber of Commerce, he approached Crusaders and asked whether the Club would consider locating in Irishtown as Noel anticipated that it might be possible to redevelop the site.
John O’Connor, along with local soccer clubs, formed a company called RISE (Ringsend Irishtown Sporting Enterprise). RISE engaged a company to carry out a feasibility study of the site. This led to a successful application for a Sports Capital Grant of £ 500,000 (€ 635,000) to Crusaders on the basis that DCC agreed to provide run and maintain the redevelopment when built. Further funding was provided to DCC and the Docklands Development Authority for the project.
Construction began and was completed in 2004. Due to Crusaders major involvement in the initiation and advice on the project, Crusaders were given the status of caretaker club and are anchor tenants.
The Impact
The impact on Crusaders has been truly astonishing. Prior to 2004 we had approximately 100 members and no juvenile section. And so, like the Field of Dreams, it has been built and boy did they come. Today our membership stands at 616 with 235 Juveniles and 381 adults….an astonishing 600% increase.
And this is not simply confined to athletics. On most week day evenings, the car park is full to bursting and the bike stands overflowing. The place bustles with the track full, the five a side pitches oversubscribed and the gym packed.
For Crusaders though we have truly been transformed. As we now face a bright future, it is important to acknowledge that the work done by members of the club on getting the stadium built is a crucial part of our 80-year-old history.
The impact on Crusaders has been truly astonishing. Prior to 2004 we had approximately 100 members and no juvenile section. And so, like the Field of Dreams, it has been built and boy did they come. Today our membership stands at 616 with 235 Juveniles and 381 adults….an astonishing 600% increase.
And this is not simply confined to athletics. On most week day evenings, the car park is full to bursting and the bike stands overflowing. The place bustles with the track full, the five a side pitches oversubscribed and the gym packed.
For Crusaders though we have truly been transformed. As we now face a bright future, it is important to acknowledge that the work done by members of the club on getting the stadium built is a crucial part of our 80-year-old history.
The Greatest
Our club history is inextricably linked to Irelands greatest ever athlete Ronnie Delany. It was marvellous to see him at our recent clubhouse opening in July, and to see young and old lining up to greet him and grab a photo some 66 years since he won Olympic Gold in Melbourne 1956.
So, lets recount what happened in 1956, with the help of Dave Guiney’s article from the 50th Crusader History booklet.
June 1956, some months prior to the Olympics which were held in November, Ronnie beat Gunnar Neilson, Denmark in a mile race running a time of 3.59 and became the youngest man to run a sub 4 minute. That was the type of form that marked him out as a world class athlete. Ronnie was selected to compete at the Olympics.
There he was drawn in the second heat of the 1500m and qualified for the Final by running effortlessly for third place in a time of 3.47.7
The Final, in what was the greatest field of 1,500 the world had known up to then, consisted of Lincoln and John Landy (Australia), Halberg and Scott (New Zealand), Wood, Boyd and Hewson (UK), Nielson (Denmark), Richtzenhain (Germany), Tabori (Hungary), Jungwirth (Czechoslovakia) and of course Ronnie.
And so, to the race. 400m was reached in a time of 58.4 seconds with Halberg in the lead with Ronnie way back in 2nd last place. With 2 laps to go Lincoln was in front and running strongly and at the end of the field was John Landy (regarded as the pre-race favourite) with Ronnie just two places ahead of him.
As the runners approached the last lap the tension built as the field bunched together as everyone waited for a decisive move. The tension even got to the officials as they forgot to ring the last lap bell. Hewson and Lincoln were in the lead, Landy now in the middle of the bunch and Ronnie back at the end in 10th.
Out of the curve Lincoln lost momentum with UK’s Hewson now moving into the lead. Ronnie and John Landy had also moved up the field. Hewson’s team mate Boyd moved into 2nd place. Then John Landy looked like he was going for broke, but at that moment Ronnie took off. With 200m to go Ronnie was in 4th place. As they came into the final bend, Ronnie moved into second behind Hewson. The Englishman tried to keep the lead but Ronnie surged past him and arms outstretched in triumph burst through the finishing tape for a historic win. Ronnie had not only beaten some of the world’s finest runners in one of the most exciting races of that Olympics he had also set a new Olympic record of 3.41.2.
What a win, what an athlete and what a Crusader!
Our club history is inextricably linked to Irelands greatest ever athlete Ronnie Delany. It was marvellous to see him at our recent clubhouse opening in July, and to see young and old lining up to greet him and grab a photo some 66 years since he won Olympic Gold in Melbourne 1956.
So, lets recount what happened in 1956, with the help of Dave Guiney’s article from the 50th Crusader History booklet.
June 1956, some months prior to the Olympics which were held in November, Ronnie beat Gunnar Neilson, Denmark in a mile race running a time of 3.59 and became the youngest man to run a sub 4 minute. That was the type of form that marked him out as a world class athlete. Ronnie was selected to compete at the Olympics.
There he was drawn in the second heat of the 1500m and qualified for the Final by running effortlessly for third place in a time of 3.47.7
The Final, in what was the greatest field of 1,500 the world had known up to then, consisted of Lincoln and John Landy (Australia), Halberg and Scott (New Zealand), Wood, Boyd and Hewson (UK), Nielson (Denmark), Richtzenhain (Germany), Tabori (Hungary), Jungwirth (Czechoslovakia) and of course Ronnie.
And so, to the race. 400m was reached in a time of 58.4 seconds with Halberg in the lead with Ronnie way back in 2nd last place. With 2 laps to go Lincoln was in front and running strongly and at the end of the field was John Landy (regarded as the pre-race favourite) with Ronnie just two places ahead of him.
As the runners approached the last lap the tension built as the field bunched together as everyone waited for a decisive move. The tension even got to the officials as they forgot to ring the last lap bell. Hewson and Lincoln were in the lead, Landy now in the middle of the bunch and Ronnie back at the end in 10th.
Out of the curve Lincoln lost momentum with UK’s Hewson now moving into the lead. Ronnie and John Landy had also moved up the field. Hewson’s team mate Boyd moved into 2nd place. Then John Landy looked like he was going for broke, but at that moment Ronnie took off. With 200m to go Ronnie was in 4th place. As they came into the final bend, Ronnie moved into second behind Hewson. The Englishman tried to keep the lead but Ronnie surged past him and arms outstretched in triumph burst through the finishing tape for a historic win. Ronnie had not only beaten some of the world’s finest runners in one of the most exciting races of that Olympics he had also set a new Olympic record of 3.41.2.
What a win, what an athlete and what a Crusader!
News Articles
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Brendan Kelly on the right circa 1952 - 1957
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Irish Times Article from 2000 -
Crusaders' permanent home
Sat, Dec 16, 2000, 00:00
Athletics: Crusaders athletic club yesterday announced that they would no longer be living the nomadic lifestyle with a move to Irishtown Stadium in Ringsend Park finally affording them a permanent home, reports Johnny Watterson.
It will bring the club and track back to the halcyon days of Irish athletics. Club member Ronnie Delany, the 1956 Olympic champion, set an Irish record for the 800 metres in Irishtown stadium in 1952. Irishtown was also the original site for the National Athletics Stadium before Billy Morton declared interest in building at Santry.
The proposed refurbishment of the track was latterly the brainchild of the late Noel Carroll, who was former spokesman for Dublin Corporation, CEO of Dublin Chamber of Commerce and an Olympic athlete. Now with the support of Eoin Ryan TD and Ruairi Quinn TD the redevelopment of the track and ancillary facilities, which includes five-a-side soccer pitches and Irishtown Stadium soccer pitch, is definitely going ahead.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/crusaders-permanent-home-1.1121545
Downloads
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50th Anniversary Booklet -
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60th Anniversary Booklet -
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1958 Sports Booklet -
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80th Anniversary Booklet-
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Gallery
