Birr Town AFC
Birr Town AFC connects a 1969 St Patrick’s Day beginning with Frank O’Connell Park, a broad boys and girls pathway and adult football in the Midlands.
Birr Town AFC identity
Birr Town AFC is a long established County Offaly club formed on St Patrick’s Day in 1969. From its first friendly against Portumna, the club developed into a community football organisation with underage boys and girls teams and three senior sides.
The club’s blue and white identity, Frank O’Connell Park home and broad membership give Birr Town a clear place in the town’s sporting life. New members are welcome throughout the year.
Frank O’Connell Park in Woodfield
Birr Town AFC is based at Frank O’Connell Park, Woodfield, Birr, County Offaly, R42 W893. The grounds include two full size grass pitches, a floodlit all weather pitch and a clubhouse.
Midweek training can also use the all weather pitch at St Brendan’s Community School. Confirm the exact surface and arrival point with the team contact before travelling.
A St Patrick’s Day beginning
Birr Town played its first game in 1969 against Portumna, drawing 3 to 3. Friendly football came first, and the club then entered Division 2 of the Leinster Junior League in 1971.
That beginning set the tone for a club that has kept teams active across changing eras. Players, coaches and volunteers have continued to pass the Birr Town name from one generation to the next.
Boys, girls and adult football
The present pathway brings boys’ and girls’ underage football together with adult teams. The club supports many school age squads and three senior sides, giving players a route from academy sessions to competitive football as they grow.
Families should start with the player’s year of birth and the type of football they want to try. The club can then explain team availability, training times, registration and equipment.
Early league success
Birr Town won Leinster Junior League Division 2 without defeat across 26 games in the 1972 to 1973 season. The club later won the 1977 to 1978 subsidiary cup final by 3 to 0 against Marian Grotto.
Those seasons remain important because they show the club’s early competitive standard. They also connect today’s teams with the players and volunteers who built the first strong Birr Town football tradition.
| 1972 to 1973 | Leinster Junior League Division 2 winners without defeat in 26 games. |
|---|---|
| 1977 to 1978 | Subsidiary Cup winners, defeating Marian Grotto 3 to 0. |
Growth into schoolboy football
In 1983, Birr Town became a founder member of the Offaly Schoolboys League. That step added a clear youth route to the adult football already established in the town.
The combination of school age teams, adult squads and academy activity means players can remain close to home while developing new skills, friendships and a stronger understanding of team football.
MSL and CCFL setting
Underage teams are connected with the Midlands Schoolboys League environment, while adult football is associated with the Combined Counties Football League. The club’s team structure separates boys, girls and adult sections so families can find the right route more quickly.
League participation gives each squad a regular football rhythm. The practical detail for a player is the coach’s current message about the named pitch, arrival time and any change of venue.
Facilities for weekly football
Frank O’Connell Park offers two full size grass pitches, a floodlit all weather training area and a clubhouse. The extra training surface gives teams options when weather or pitch use affects the weekly schedule.
St Brendan’s Community School is used for some midweek training. Bring suitable footwear for the confirmed surface and ask about parking, changing rooms and access before the first visit.
A club with more than 400 members
Birr Town’s active community includes more than 400 members and over 20 teams across its underage and adult structure. That scale creates regular opportunities for coaching, volunteering, refereeing, team administration and match day support.
Parents can help with transport, refreshments, fundraising, pitch preparation or team organisation. Volunteers should follow safeguarding requirements and use the club’s welfare contact for any concern involving children.
Academy and new member entry
The academy provides a friendly starting point for younger boys and girls. Sessions can introduce ball mastery, movement, passing and small sided games before a player moves into a regular age group.
New members are welcome throughout the year. A first enquiry should include the player’s age, football background and preferred route so the club can point the family to the correct coach.
First visit guide
Before attending, confirm the player’s squad, training venue, arrival time, footwear, registration step and any kit requirement. Ask whether the session is at Frank O’Connell Park or at St Brendan’s Community School.
Arrive early enough to find the coach and settle the player. Bring water, weather appropriate clothing and any medical information the team needs. The club’s contact page also gives a separate route for safeguarding questions.
| Club | Birr Town AFC. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969. |
| Colours | Blue and white. |
| Main ground | Frank O’Connell Park, Woodfield, Birr, County Offaly, R42 W893. |
| Pathway | Academy, boys and girls underage football and three senior teams. |
| League setting | MSL underage and CCFL adult football. |
| Facilities | Two full size grass pitches, floodlit all weather pitch and clubhouse. |
| Training alternative | St Brendan’s Community School all weather pitch for some midweek sessions. |