A Brief History of Passage G.A.A. Club

The Passage club was founded in 1885,primarily as a hurling club, just one year after the founding of the G.A.A. itself. It is one of the oldest clubs in the country.

Like all other clubs at the time it did not possess a playing field of its own. It had to depend on the generosity of some of the local farmers to provide a playing pitch.

For over 40 years the club used a playing pitch owned by the clubs first chairman, Mr.Ned Cadogan in Rathanker. His grandson Mr.Eddie Aherne provided a different field for the next 20years also in Rathanker. Mr.Pa Lane then came to the rescue of the club and provided a pitch in Upper Ardmore, which was used for both hurling and football. In 1949 the club decided to purchase a playing field.After 3 long years of laborious work and fundraising,and for the princely sum of £400,under the guidance of the local curate Fr.Willie O'Riordan,Passage GAA clubbed opened its own pitch.

It was a momentous and historic occasion as very few clubs in the country had their own playing facilities at the time. The pitch was named after a famous local athlete Jacksie Manning, and called Manning Park.

In 1952 the club transferred from playing in the southeast division of the county to the city division.Football was beginning to prosper in the club also at this time. In the early sixties the club concentrated on underage activities such as Parish Leagues, for the budding stars of the future. This proved very worthwhile as many inter county hurlers in minor under 21,and senior emerged and played for their county.It also propelled the club into the elite of senior hurling clubs in Cork.

In 1962 the club provided prefab dressing rooms and 20 years later these were replaced by modern dressing room facilities. In April 2004 the club opened a modern clubhouse bar, which was built over these dressing rooms with the help of club members.

At present the club is fielding teams in Junior hurling and junior football and in under ages codes.