In The Shadow Of Croker

05/10/2026

It was great to have my new tour "Plaques of Ballybough" accepted as a tour for the Dublin festival of history which went ahead on Saturday last 3rd October and also to receive a lovely message on Sunday morning from one of the group who came on the tour saying how much he enjoyed it.

25/09/2026

My tour of Ballybough on October 3rd as part of The Dublin festival of history showing the various plaques in the area, where I'll tell the story of Bloody Sunday in Croker Park, the Howth Guns of 1914, the Jewish Cemetery and much more has booked our fully. Ballybough Dublin Community Group Clonliffe House

13/09/2026

What a great group today on my "In the shadow of Croker" tour around Ballybough/Clonliffe great positive feedback and looking forward to bringing them on my 1913-1922 Revolution period tour soon. Look out for my walking tour as part of Dublin Festival of History on October 3rd....it's always best with local guides and historians.
Terry Fagan Ballybough Dublin Community Group Clonliffe House Clonliffe & Croke Park Area Residents' Association Daybreak Clonliffe Road Ballybough Dublin Remembering Croke Villas Liz Gillis

12/09/2026

This came up on my timeline today from a few years ago:

With Troy Parrot in the news a lot, with his great start to a career in Spain it's a good opportunity to read it again and remember that players like him started off as schoolboys.

The life and times of an underage manager..

He looks at the clock in work it's 4:30 he needs to be in the pitch an hour before everyone else. Put the nets up, mark out the field, sort out the jerseys, fill out the team sheet,fill the water bottles make sure he has the first aid kit, he won't have any dinner today or get to spend some time with his own kids. He sent out the texts last night only a few replied back "can't they just let me know, will I have enough" he thinks. The cars arrive the parents ask "what time is kick off at" "half 6" "grand we'll be back then" the car speeds off probably to go home for their dinner. He was hoping they might stay and give a hand but some people are just to busy.

He picks the team, he doesn't want leave anybody on the line, he's feeling guilty "everyone will get a game" he tells the players , some players are happy others look upset and he insures them they'll play. Some lads are nervous he calms them down and tells them to "go out and enjoy it lads and try your best" He knows some parents won't be happy their child isn't starting .

As he walks to the field he can hear some people commenting " my lad shouldn't be there" "he shouldn't be starting" " he's only starting because he's friends with his father" they whisper. The manager keeps his focus on the match. The game is going well he gives everyone a run. The ref blows for full time, he gathers the players around tells them all they played great, he doesn't mention the mistakes "ye gave it yer all lads well done and thanks for coming along" the players have to go as some parents are in a rush to go home. "Don't forget we're training on Thursday" the manager says as the parents drive off "sure I can't be asking them" he thinks "they have to rush home" As the pitch empties he carry's the spare football's , the water bottles and first aid. The nets must be taking down the jerseys washed it's now nearly half 8. Still no dinner he's been gone since half 7 this morning he hasn't seen his own family all day he's tired now. He locks the gate, and finally gets home his kids and wife are happy to see him. His wife says "I don't know why you do it" she asks "ah sure everyone else is to busy" he says "but what about us" she asks "I know love but I have to do it for the club"

This season We will get off early from work to coach your kid, We will miss out on own family time for your kid,

We will spend a lot of money on petrol to drive your kid all around the county so he can play matches.

We will look after your kid like one of our own.

We will comfort them when they get a belt, console them when they lose.

So the next time you feel like criticizing think about what We do so your kid can play Soccer .

These Kids are the real hero's make them feel like it.

That is a fact all We want to do is coach the kids and let them enjoy what it is,
enjoy Soccer

We miss out on loads of family time to train kids but it's something We love doing... ⚽️

29/08/2026

I had a great group on my tour this afternoon around Ballybough , Jones road and Clonliffe and someone must have brought the Child of Prague with them as we avoided the rain for the most part. Graham Kearns Clonliffe House Remembering Croke Villas Ballybough Dublin Ballybough Dublin Community Group Daybreak Clonliffe Road Clonliffe & Croke Park Area Residents' Association

18/07/2026

I had a great group on my social history tour yesterday arranged with Historian in Residence for Dublin North. I told stories of how the area has changed over the last 200 years, Bloody Sunday in Croke Park, famous football players Mohammad Ali and Tony Gregory. Contact me here to arrange a group tour €10 euro per person.

05/06/2026

Reminder: 'In the shadow of Croker ' revolutionary walking tour 1913-1922 starts tomorrow morning outside the Clonliffe House Pub at 11am stories of Howth Guns 1913, Easter Rising 1916, war for independence and Civil war atrocities, Bloody Sunday, burning of the custom house. Join me tomorrow cost €10 euro per person and we finish outside the Clonliffe house pub where you can have a drink and watch the sport on big screens. Ballybough Dublin Glynn's Wellington House Dublin Live

03/06/2026

During Ireland's war for independence the British Government recruited extra men for the Royal Irish Constabulary, known as 'Black and Tans' using advertisements like this one and offered ten shillings per week wages with other perks including accommodation and a footwear allowance, they also put a provisio in that you could leave with a months notice if it wasn't the job for you and that there was good compensation for injuries incurred on duty they also recruited an officer class known as the ADRIC or Auxillary division Royal Irish Constabulary (Auxies) these were on double the money of a Black & Tan, Twenty shillings per day. Plenty signed up and most were ex-servicemen from the various military outfits at the end of WW1 with recruitment offices in places like Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, Liverpool and London. It was a precarious job with lots of casualties, many died or were injured and they had a notorious reputation from events such as the burning of Cork and sacking of Balbriggan and Bloody Sunday in Croker Park when they shot and killed innocent children, civilians and one of the Tipperary players Michael Hogan on the 21st November 1920.
Join me on my tour of Ballybough and Fairview this Saturday and hear stories from the period where the Irish Citizen Army & 2nd battalion Irish Volunteers were based in 1916. Clonliffe House Sean Deegan Kavanagh's Marino House Phil Ryans The Hogan Stand Pub Cusacks Gaffney and Son Glynn's Wellington House Croke Park Dublin Live Ballybough Dublin

02/06/2026

This Saturday join me on a historical tour visiting Fr Matthew Park home of the 2nd battalion Irish Volunteers before Easter 1916 we will also see where Tom & Kathleen Clarke lived at the time. Little known stories brought to life with your local guide Sean Deegan, cost is €10 euro per person and starts at 11am outside the Clonliffe House pub.

Your guide Sean works as a Museum guide @14 Henrietta street Dublins social History & Tenement museum & is the Creator of 'In the shadow of Croker' tours.
1. A social history tour of Ballybough.
2. A Revolutionary period tour 1913-1922 DM for info.

31/05/2026

On this day last year 31/5/2025 we have the pleasure of hosting Luke Kelly's family in our pub following the marking of the 40 year anniversary of Luke Kelly Bridge opening