Strandhill · County Sligo · Founded 1972
Football beside the Atlantic
Strand Celtic FC has brought football to Strandhill since 1972, with routes from first sessions to youth and adult teams.
This guide covers its story, Community Park, honours, safeguarding and joining.
The story
From an away season to a permanent Strandhill home
The club’s official history dates Strand Celtic’s foundation to 12 January 1972. Michael Weir, Terry Kiely, Liam Flannery, Jim McMorrow, Cyril Meehan, Aidan McMorrow, Jim Kivlehan and Joey Mullaney are named among the founders. Jimmy McMorrow became the first chairman, Joey Mullaney the first secretary and Aidan McMorrow the first treasurer, with Martin O’Connor as the first manager.
The new side played every match away from home in its first season. Collegians later allowed Strand to use Scarden, before the club moved to Brown’s Field in 1974. Those early years were about creating opportunity as much as collecting results: Joey Mullaney helped build the youth structure that became central to the club’s future.
A merger with Strandhill FC added a reserve side in 1987. Strand won its first Sligo Leitrim Super League title in 1988 and enjoyed a landmark 1998/99 season, when the Connaught Cup formed part of a treble. The club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2022.
Home ground
Strandhill Community Park
The club is based at Strandhill Community Park, Shore Road, Killaspugbrone, Strandhill, County Sligo. Its development history explains that the park was provided for the community by Sligo County Council in the late 1960s. Strand Celtic secured a long lease and established its permanent Strandhill base during the 1980s; dressing rooms opened in August 1998.
Later phases brought new pitches, a clubhouse and dressing rooms, all weather facilities, parking, fencing, dugouts and floodlights. Smaller projects have continued to improve security, storage, spectator areas, the walkway and the astro surface. It remains a shared community setting, so visitors should follow the club’s directions for the correct pitch, entrance and parking area.
Players and families
A pathway designed around participation
The official club mission puts fun, learning and skill development at the centre of football, with participation available regardless of age, gender or background. The Colts section was created in 2002 by Maurice Monaghan for children aged five to ten, while a girls’ section founded in 1999 by Finola Monaghan helped establish a route for girls and women.
Strand Celtic has also introduced Football for All activity, widening access within the community. Its history records representative progress for players including Bronagh Kerins, Emma Hansberry, Lauren Boles and Barry O’Mahoney. That record matters to young players, but so does the club’s stated aim of providing a safe and friendly place for everyone to enjoy the game.
Selected honours
Success in Sligo Leitrim and Connacht football
The official honours record documents success across adult and youth football. The selection below is not a complete season by season archive.
| Season | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 1972/73 | Sligo Leitrim Division 2 | Winners in the club’s first competitive era. |
| 1983/84 | Bank of Ireland Cup | Winners; Strand also reached the FAI Junior Cup area final that season. |
| 1985/86 | FAI Junior Cup Area | Winners, alongside another Bank of Ireland Cup success. |
| 1994/95 | Sligo Leitrim Super League | Champions in a season that also brought the McSharry and Foley Cup. |
| 1997/98 | Sligo Leitrim Super League | Champions for the second time recorded on the official honours page. |
| 1998/99 | Connaught Cup | Champions after defeating Ballyglass in the final, completing a celebrated treble season. |
The club history also records a first Super League title in 1988. Rather than forcing two differently structured official records into one sequence, this profile preserves both accounts and links readers to the club’s own archive.
Identity and standards
Green and white hoops, the cannon and Club Mark
Strand Celtic are known as the Hoops, the Celts and the Seasiders. The cannon on the crest is drawn from the historic cannon on Strandhill seafront, while the green and white hoops have become the club’s most recognisable playing identity. The crest was refreshed in 2010 without losing those local roots.
During its anniversary season the club earned the FAI Club Mark, recognising work in governance, safeguarding, coaching and club management. The short FAI video shared by Strand Celtic explains what that standard meant to the club.
Safeguarding
A safe start matters more than the result
The club’s safeguarding guidance describes safety and enjoyment as its first priority. Parents and players are asked to understand the relevant codes of conduct. A concern should normally be raised first with the coach, then with the club welfare team or designated liaison person when appropriate.
For match day, arrive early enough to find the correct pitch without rushing. Bring the footwear and clothing advised by the coach, keep access routes clear and support players and officials positively. At this coastal venue, weather can change quickly, so direct confirmation from the team remains the best source for late changes.
Joining and contact
Make a useful first enquiry
Use the official contact page for the current club secretary, child welfare team and designated liaison person. Club notices and recruitment updates also appear on the official Facebook page, Instagram and X.
A parent or guardian enquiring for a child should include the player’s name, year of birth and previous playing experience. Ask whether that age group is accepting players, when it trains, what registration is required and which surface it uses. Adult players should state their recent playing level and the team they hope to join.
Schedules and squad availability can change during a season. Confirm the time, meeting point and pitch with the relevant coach before travelling.
Research checked 18 September 2026. Current team availability and session times remain subject to direct club confirmation.