| Fr. Rocks Cookstown |
| Ladies Gaelic Football Club |
| INTRODUCTION / HISTORY |
| LOCATION Cookstown occupies a uniquely central position in the North of Ireland. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty, situated between the contrasting scenery of Lough Neagh and the rugged beauty of the Sperrin Mountains. Cookstown Disctrict has a population of almost 32,000 and covers an area of 235 square miles, much of which is used for farming. Agriculture is important to the local economy. There are three livestock markets held weekly in Cookstown. It is also noted for its bacon factory, cheese factory and it also has an agricultural and food technology college based at Loughry on the edge of the town. Fishing is another important industry in the area, due to the Cookstowns close proximity to Lough Neagh. Ardboe is known for its Trout, Eels, Pollan and Perch and fishing is an important source of employment for many of its inhabitants. |
| Cookstown is a good shopping town with a colourful weekly market held each Saturday, and is easily accessible from all routes due to its central location within the province. It has many shops, pubs, restaurants, discos, cinema and a wide range of sports facilities. Above all, the area is rich in history and tradition. |
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| HISTORY OF THE CLUB Cookstown Owen Roe O'Neills (1889-91) were Tyrone's first club; played in Ulster final, 1890. Cookstown Brian Og flourished in the years 1905-11, 1916-20 and 1923-37; won SFC in 1916/17 and 1917/18. A second club - Geraldines - formed in 1932. Both amalgamated to become Fr. Rocks in 1938. Hurling and camogie teams played in the 1930s. Finalists in 1928 SFC, won JFC in 1978, MFC in 1953, IFC in 1962 and 1964, Juv. FC in 1977. Club grounds, purchased in 1945, vested in GAA. Phelim Brady Park and clubhouse officially opened in 1972. ('The GAA in Tyrone 1884-1984' by Joseph Martin). The ladies section of the club was started in 1996 by Marie Ross, who is now the current chairperson of the ladies. 1997 was a successful year, with the Under 14's winning the championship and the senior team winning the Division Two League title. This was followed the the ladies most successful year 1999. The senior team did the double winning both league and championship, this was then followed with the girls winning the Tyrone seven-a-side title and the Bank of Ireland sponsored All Ireland Junior Clubs seven-a-side shield. Now playing Division 1 football Cookstown Fr Rocks LGFC continue to do well and look forward to futher success in 2002. |
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| CLUB NAME/CREST The club is Named after Fr John Rock. It is believed that Fr Rock was educated and ordained in one of the Irish seminaries on the continent, probably the Irish college of Paris. He was a curate in Ballymakenny (Monasterboice), Co. Louth from 1876 to 1888. He was prominent in the activities of the Irish National Land League which had been founded in 1879 to combat the poor conditions of tenant farmers during the agricultural depression of the 1870s. The memory of Fr Rock's defence of his people was still alive in local folklore when Cookstown's parish priest, Mosignor Raymond Murray was curate there from 1965-67. Father Rock spent only four years in Cookstown (1889-93). |
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