East Clare football since 1970
A community club at The Cragg with adult, boys’ and girls’ football, modern grass and all weather facilities, and a pathway beginning at age five.
1970
The Cragg
Blue and white
Clare
Tulla United AFC serves Tulla and a broad East Clare catchment that includes Bodyke, Broadford, Clooney, Crusheen, Feakle, Kilkishen, Killanena, O’Callaghan’s Mills and Quin. The club reports around 500 members and runs football from non competitive activity for children aged five to ten through school age leagues and adult competition.
How Tulla United began
The club was founded in 1970 by chairperson Sean Quinn, secretary Mar Torpey and treasurer Oliver Ryan. Its first competitive match took place at the Fairgreen in Ennis on 13 December 1970. Tulla beat Lifford B 3–2, with teenage forward Kevin Barry scoring twice. The club’s official history records that as its only win of the first season, an honest starting point for a club that later built a permanent home and a much wider programme.
Tulla won its first title in 1986, defeating Corofin 1–0 in the First Division Shield final through an M. A. Moloney goal. The team entered the Premier Division for the first time in 1987. Second Division championships followed in 1992 and 1999, and a women’s team operated through much of the 1990s.
From travelling club to The Cragg
For its first 38 years, Tulla United used a succession of grounds around the area, including O’Gorman’s Lawn in Knockadoon, Whelan’s in Kiltannon, two Tyreda sites, Cooney’s in Ashler, Lisofin Cross and Sraheen behind Henchy’s Pub. School age matches were also held at Melody’s Cragg.
That changed in May 2008 when The Cragg opened as the club’s permanent base. Tulla purchased and developed the property, built two pitches and added a clubhouse and dressing rooms. The all weather pitch opened in July 2011 as a joint venture with Tulla Community Council. The club’s facility record gives the full visitor address and Eircode V95 A061.
Teams and player pathway
Tulla United fields adult teams in the Clare District Soccer League and boys’ and girls’ teams in the Clare Schoolboys and Girls Soccer League. The club states that its programme begins with non competitive football from age five, moving into league football from under 7 and continuing to adult level. A renewed school age programme began in 2000, and the under 12 team won the club’s first schoolboy trophy in 2003 with a 6–1 Division 2 playoff win over Connolly Celtic.
The senior men’s A team competes in the Clare Premier Division and entered the FAI Junior Cup in 2026. The senior women’s programme has produced recent silverware, including the 2022–23 CDSL Ladies Cup and a league and shield double in 2024–25. The current site also records boys’ and girls’ teams, age group development, national cup entries, camps and academy activity.
Irish Youth Football does not yet hold connected 2026–27 team cards for Tulla United. Team availability and divisions change from season to season, so families should confirm the current age group directly through membership notices or the club contact page.
Honours
- First Division Shield: 1986
- Second Division Championship: 1992 and 1999
- CDSL Senior Ladies Cup: 2022–23
- CDSL Senior Ladies League: 2024–25
- CDSL Senior Ladies Shield: 2024–25
The list follows the club’s published roll of honour. Age group trophies reported in news and history items are part of the wider record, but only the named senior honours above are presented as the formal roll.
Coaching and player development
More than 50 male and female club members have completed FAI coaching courses, with many working across teams and the annual summer camp. Coaches working with children must complete Garda vetting and the appropriate safeguarding and coaching requirements. Tulla received the FAI Club of the Month award in January 2011, later gained FAI ClubMark Entry Level and achieved One Star Player Development Centre status in May 2022.
Facilities at The Cragg
The complex has two full size grass pitches, with the main pitch floodlit and fitted with team dugouts. A floodlit 60 metre by 40 metre synthetic pitch supports training and small sided football. The clubhouse includes an office, meeting and catering rooms, four changing rooms with showers, a club shop and an indoor gym. There is a large parking area and an external equipment store.
Visitor information
Ground: The Cragg, Tulla, County Clare
Eircode: V95 A061
Approach: Leave the R462 Gort Road and continue about 500 metres to the entrance.
Before travel: Confirm pitch and kick off time with the team contact.
Colours, badge and membership
Blue and white are the club’s main colours. The crest carries the Tulla United name, a football and the founding year 1970. Current membership, club policies, merchandise and registration routes are available through the official site. Secretary, coaching, children’s and public relations contacts appear on the contact page, along with the artificial pitch booking route.
The club has an official YouTube channel, but no current club introduction or facilities film with confirmed external embedding was found. A channel link is included without inserting match footage or an unreliable player.
Community support and volunteering
The Cragg was built through long term local fundraising, borrowing and volunteer work. The club continues to run a development draw, fundraising events and a merchandise shop to support football operations and the upkeep of the complex. Parents and adult members can help with coaching, team support, events and committee work. Prospective coaches are directed through FAI education, Garda vetting and safeguarding checks before joining a school age group. This structure helps the club serve several East Clare communities while keeping a clear local identity in Tulla.