Shillelagh Utd Youths
Shillelagh Utd Youths is a County Wicklow underage club playing from Ballard Park at Coolattin, with teams across the local school age pathway.
Shillelagh Utd Youths identity
Shillelagh Utd Youths is a Wicklow football club serving Shillelagh, Coolattin and nearby communities. The club plays from Ballard Park on the R725 at Coolattin.
The club crest carries blue and yellow colours, hill country, trees, a church tower and the Irish phrase Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh sí, tying the football identity to youth development and place.
Ballard Park location
Ballard Park gives Shillelagh Utd Youths a clear home ground in south County Wicklow. The address sits on the R725 at Coolattin, placing the club between village, rural roads and the wider Wicklow football network.
For visiting teams, the safest plan is to confirm the entrance, parking space, arrival time and meeting point with the coach before travelling.
Ballard Park, R725, Coolattin, County Wicklow.
Underage football pathway
Shillelagh Utd Youths is part of the Wicklow & District Schoolboys / Girls League setting, giving local players a regular route through school age football.
The current underage spread includes teams and activity at U11, U12, U13 and U14 levels. That range gives families a practical pathway from small sided football toward the full youth game.
Age group detail
The club’s Wicklow underage activity includes U11 groups, U12 Division 1, U13 Division 1 and U14 Premier League football. Those bands show a club working across both foundation years and older school age teams.
A broad age spread is valuable in a rural area because it keeps friends, classmates and siblings connected through one local football base.
Youths football connection
Shillelagh United Youths has also appeared in Wicklow & District Football League youth football, including the WDFL Youths Division and Youths Cup setting.
That matters because the step from school age teams to youths football is where players learn a more adult style of game while still staying inside a youth structure.
Club officers
The club officer group includes Claude Dagge as Honorary Chairperson, Senan Finucane as Honorary Secretary, Marguerite Fitzsimons as Honorary Treasurer and Senan Finucane as scheduling lead.
Named officer roles help parents and coaches understand who manages communication, administration, finance, scheduling and club organisation.
Child welfare
Breda Murphy is named for the Child Welfare Officer role. For an underage club, that role is central to safe football, parent confidence and clear standards around training and games.
Families joining the club should know who to contact if they have a welfare concern, a question about supervision or a concern about a child’s football environment.
Motto and crest meaning
Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh sí is a well known Irish phrase about encouraging young people so they can grow. Its place on the crest fits a club whose main identity is youth football.
The blue and yellow shield, rural scenery and football imagery give the club a visual identity that feels local to Wicklow while staying clearly connected to the game.
Local football role
Shillelagh Utd Youths gives young players in the south Wicklow area a local football option without every family having to travel toward larger towns for weekly training.
That local role is especially important for younger players, because shorter travel and familiar team mates can make the first seasons in football easier and more enjoyable.
Match day at Ballard Park
A match day at Ballard Park should be treated like any rural football visit: check the ground location, arrive early, respect local parking and follow the coach’s message about warm up time.
Players should bring boots, shin guards, water and suitable wet weather gear. Parents should keep the touchline positive and allow coaches and match officials to manage the game.
Joining Shillelagh
New player enquiries should include the child’s name, year of birth, school year, previous football experience and the age group being requested.
Because teams can fill at different rates, families should ask about the correct training group before attending. A simple first message with age and contact detail is usually enough to start the conversation.
Volunteer support
Like many underage clubs, Shillelagh depends on adults who can help with coaching, supervision, administration, kit, pitch set up, transport, communication and small weekly jobs.
Parents who cannot coach can still help by taking a rota slot, welcoming visiting teams, supporting fundraisers, helping with equipment or making sure young players arrive prepared.
Selected milestones
The table gathers durable Shillelagh Utd Youths points for the long term club story.
| Milestone | Period | Football context |
|---|---|---|
| Club home identified at Ballard Park | Ongoing | R725, Coolattin, County Wicklow. |
| Wicklow underage pathway active | Ongoing | School age teams include U11, U12, U13 and U14 football. |
| Youths football activity in WDFL setting | 2026 | Shillelagh United Youths appears in youth league and cup football. |
| Officer group named | Ongoing | Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, scheduling and welfare roles are identified. |
| Club contact visible on national youth football map | Ongoing | Shillelagh Utd Youths is included in the national club contact map. |
What to know before visiting
For a first visit, treat Ballard Park as a local community ground. Check which pitch area is in use, where the team will gather and whether any traffic or weather update has been sent on the day.
Shillelagh Utd Youths is best understood as a youth club rooted in place: Wicklow underage football, Ballard Park, named volunteers and a pathway for young players around Shillelagh and Coolattin.