Sport at UCD
In the Beginning… (1854 - 1904)
The first students of University College Dublin included a most unusual group. These included two Princes, a Vicomte, a Comte, a Baronet and the grandson of Daniel O'Connell. Little is known of them except that some of them were founder members of the debating society. It must be remembered that seven of the eight universities in the Ireland of today opened with active support from the government of the time. For the first 55 years of existence, University College Dublin did not have financial backing from the government. It is not surprising therefore that sport was not a priority to those running the university at the time. However, some, at least, of the students were interested in sport - mainly hunting, boating, and swimming. Dr. Cullen (Apostolic Delegate and Archbishop of Dublin) is said to have held fourth to Newman on one occasion about discipline, and what he saw as the lack of it complaining, "some of the collegians had been going to plays and had been hunting in pink." Perhaps even worse they were addicted to Billiards, frequenting tables in Dawson's Lane. Newman in his own words thought it well to act. As result, £160 was borrowed to form a billiard room out of one of the stables. This was the first, and for many years the only, provision for sporting activities in the University.
With regard to facilities for sport between 1854-1904, there were very little. In 1886 however a portion of the grounds at Cowper Road, Rathmines, which had earlier been purchased for Belvedere College by Fr. Tom Finlay SJ and laid out as a sports ground, were sub-let to the College. In 1890, the Medical School rented a ground at Sandymount. At this time, the hospitals attended by the students of the Medical School were already involved in the Hospitals Rugby Cup, which dated back to 1882.
The Growth of University Sport (1904 - 1954)
Athletic Union Council
The mid 50 years of the University were to be more momentous in terms of sporting achievements, facilities and organisational development. Two significant measures took place in that period that would enable sport to expand. The formation of the Athletic Union Council (AUC) in 1909-10 being the first. The AUC had existed for a time in the 1890's between the Jesuit College and Cecilia Street but it collapsed, presumably because of the loss of the Sandymount Ground. Under the first College Calendar, Football, Hurling and Boxing were listed, however it is presumed that the Soccer club, Rugby club and GAA club would have been represented by the Union at that time also. The first Athletic Union Council Chairman was Michael McGilligan, B.A., with Gerald R. Sheridan and Joseph P. Brennan as joint treasurers.
The AUC adopted the St. Patrick's Blue & Saffron colours for all clubs. Oddly enough, these colours were not welcomed with any enthusiasm at the time. Over the years a lot of the ladies clubs adopted the saffron as their main colours for jerseys. In more modern times however, it is the St. Patrick's Blue that runs consistently amongst the various sports clubs.
From 1937 until 1945, it was Dr. John Ryan that was effectively "Sport in UCD". He has overseen the move from Terenure to Belfield and the layout of the pitches and was to be seen there almost daily. He presided with a genuine interest in the doings of all the clubs and was always trying to improve facilities. He was also the first to preside over the allocation of club grants. In the 1917 All Ireland Hurling Final, which UCD won, he also played a part.
During the 1950's, various issues arose as life began to settle down after WWII. The AUC set up a Finance Committee, a sign that financial matters were becoming more settled. At the AGM in May, Dr. Moriarty was elected President, replacing Professor Keenan, who had refused to go forward. In his report for 1951-1952, the secretary reported that the Council had recommended grants totalling £3,238. Later in the year, there were complaints about sheep grazing in Belfield. "Hops" in "86" were awarded to the Sailing, Men's Hockey, Table Tennis, Boxing, Ladies Hockey, Ladies Swimming, Rugby and Boat Clubs. This meant that clubs were allowed to run dances at 86 St. Stephen's Green (Newman House) and take the gate money to enable the finances of the clubs. The 1950's saw the rise in student numbers in the College and International Affairs also figured.
Belfield House
The second significant event was in the thirties, which was the purchase of Belfield House and its grounds in December 1933 for £8,000. The reaction of the NATIONAL STUDENT publication was enthusiastic and also gives a description of the area, which seems incredibly remote today. "At present the athletic grounds purchased by the College at Belfield are beginning to interest the student mind. Many of us have visited them, and we cannot fail to be agreeably surprised both by their size and pleasant layout. There are forty-two acres in the new grounds so that even with two rugby, two Gaelic, two hockey or Camogie, an association ground, ten tennis courts and a large athletic track the grounds will still maintain their well-wooded appearance…" "There have been objections as to the desirability of the general neighbourhood of Belfield as being too far from the centre of the city and being badly served by buses".
Various families in the area once owned the grounds that are now used by current students from camogie to rugby. According to Joe Dempsey, the Mears owned Woodview. Mr. Case, the head brewer in Guinness's lived in Thornfield, Belfield Park, now home to UCD Soccer Club was a walled garden and two lily ponds, the pitches around the Owenstown gate were used for the grazing of Jersey cows and the area around Roebuck was a farm and used for training race horses. The College Authorities purchased this land over the years and in 1934, work began to develop new pitches. This lead to Collidge leaving its grounds in Terenure in 1935.
There were numerous notable achievements in 1935, which are listed below;
UCD won the following in 1935:
Barton Cup (Golf)
Leinster 7-a-side Championship (Rugby)
Metropolitan Rugby Cup (Rugby)
Ashbourne Cup (Camogie)
Fitzgibbon Cup (Hurling)
Sigerson Cup (Gaelic Football)
Irish Intervarsity Swimming
Maiden Eights (Boat)
Junior Eights (Boat)
First Senior Fours (Boat)
Second Senior Fours (Boat)
Senior Eights (Boat-Galway Regatta))
First Senior Fours (Boat-Galway Regatta)
Second Senior Fours (Boat-Galway Regatta)
Pembroke Cup-Metropolitan Regatta (Boat)
Junior Intervarsity (Boxing)
UCD were finalists in the following:
Leinster Junior Golf Cup
Junior League (Rugby)
Dublin Hurling Championship
Junior Football League (Soccer)
1954-1978
Belfield Campus
Eventually over-crowding in Earlsfort Terrace became insupportable as the College awaited the Report of the Ó Dálaigh Commission on its needs which, when it appeared in 1959 approved the move to Belfield. In 1960, the Government agreed that new building should begin. From this time onwards the planning and construction of the new buildings on campus continued. These had a major impact on the sports clubs as ground for building.
By now the planning and some of the building of the Belfield Campus was well advanced and, in practice, the AUC could exercise relatively little influence over events. A new University was being built and teaching had to be increased for the growing number of students. It is this period of time that saw the most movement of pitches and building work. During the sixties and seventies, one quarter of a million tons of soil to prepare the new pitches and the laying of 17 miles of drains. In the 1970's one problem that arose and a big one at that, was the fact that Belfield House had become inadequate to house all clubs, new and old. However it had been suggested that the building for new exam halls on campus would in fact be multi-purpose sports halls. This would lead to the building of the now Sports Centre and would show the way for major changes in sport at UCD and in the working structures of the Athletic Union Council.
1978 to Present
UCD has delivered on many initiatives within the domain of Sport, which is evidence of its willingness and capacity for leading change and pioneering innovation. Best practice, strategies, which are now central to the delivery of sport, programmes in many Third level institutions, have their origins in UCD. In 1991 the UCD authorities created the post of 'Director of Sport'.
1978 - UCD soccer club initiate the 'Sport Scholarship' concept and begin
awarding scholarship to identified talented students. This concept is an
innovation in Ireland and seeks to give a real choice to talented sports
performers to continue their 3rd level education at home rather than have
to emigrate.
1979 - UCD decide to build multi-purpose halls at Belfield. Earlsfort Terrace
accommodation becoming increasingly unsuitable. Student numbers at Belfield
beginning to expand. Halls at Belfield to be designed as 'multi purpose'
in order to suit a range of uses, particularly sport, conferrings, etc.
1981 - Opening of UCD 'Sport Centre' at Belfield, which includes a wide array of state of the art spaces, to accommodate a full range of activities. UCD Sports Clubs and AUC finally have a facility, which can operate as a home for sport.
1991 - UCD create a new post 'Director of Sport' and Dr. Tony O'Neill is appointed to the position. The College recognise the significant role of Sport in the life learning student experience at UCD and Dr. O'Neill's appointment reflects this. UCD intend that the new Director of Sport will continue to progress the pioneering policy in Sport Strategy development, which UCD has always sought to achieve.
1991 - The 'Sports Scholarship' programme is expanded to include other sport codes. Talented students in additional sport codes are awarded 'scholarships' as more UCD AUC clubs enter the scheme, and the development of elite sports ability is accommodated and nurtured. Technical advice and direction specific to international level performance is included in the system.
1994 - Construction of National Hockey Stadium adjacent to UCD Sports Centre in conjunction with Irish Hockey Union. This new facility provision is a joint venture and delivers a world-class facility for hosting national and international hockey events. Hockey World Cup 1996 is held at UCD. European qualifying competition held in 2001 at this venue.
1996 - UCD Sport create a new 'Marketing/Advertising' post to maximise the potential of the UCD Sport Brand. The opportunity that exists for UCD to benefit from the exposure of the UCD Sport brand through the performances and achievements of individuals and teams is recognised in developing this post.
1996 - 2000 UCD Sport creates 3 key full time field sport executive (development
officer) posts in GAA, Rugby and Soccer. This initiative is the first of its
type in the country and again is a reflection of UCD's desire to lead with
investment in human resources to match physical capacity and a stated ambition
to lead by example.
2001 - UCD Sport create the post of 'Strength and Conditioning' executive
for sport scholarship students. This post is the first of its kind in Ireland
and its focus is directed toward creating a real active sports science
based routine and strategy for elite sports performers. The knowledge and
experience of the post is also directed at identifying appropriate talent
for High Performance.
2000 -2004 UCD Sport develops NISH, 'National Institute of Sport and Health'.
With the support of various contributors across a number of faculties,
a proposal to create a vibrant source of knowledge is defined. The need
to deliver a dynamic centre of excellence in keeping with the stated needs
of Ireland in the area of community health is imminent. UCD is best positioned
to lend its expertise and experience to this enterprise which will progress
Governments' desire to build a lasting model of wellness and a culture
of 'Healthy Lifestyle' for the people of Ireland.
2002 -2004 UCD Sport launches its High Performance Centre and Strategy through the novel 'Elite Athlete Program'. This first for Ireland is aimed at creating a real environment of expertise to enable selected athletes from a wide range of sports codes access world standard sports science, and to produce world standard performances.
From the origins of UCD, Sport has been a 'constant' in terms of the recognition
of the important role of leisure and exercise in the 'life learning' of
every student. In the quest to develop the capacity of students to take
their place in the adult world and to make a positive contribution to the
community of Ireland UCD has always pioneered the notion of the realm of
sport acting as a key instigator of knowledge and real life experience.
The principle perspective in this philosophy, which has continued into
the present day, is in keeping with the holistic development of all students
and the capacity for real learning which sport participation offers regardless
of ability. The 'Sport for All' theory has been a cornerstone of the program
of opportunities provided at UCD, and this attitude has been progressed
continually over the past 150 years and particularly since the formation
of the Athletic Union Council in 1910.
The implementation of new strategies to progress the 'Sport' agenda has been a noticeable ambition of the authorities at UCD. It has been conceded that the original purchase of lands at Belfield to pave the way for a move for the university from its city centre location was significantly influenced by the availability of large portions of spacious areas for sport fields. Even in the mindset of those making the case for investment in a new greenfield campus the consideration of accommodating sport needs were central to the policy makers at the time.
(All factual information is courtesy of St. Patrick's Blue and Saffron, A Miscellany of UCD Sport since 1895, Patrick N. Meenan, Quill Print, Dublin, 1997)