Drumconrath GFC
Drumconrath sits in the far north of Meath, about 8km west of Ardee, in a parish that touches Louth and lies close to Monaghan and Cavan. Gaelic football has been played there since 1886, and in November 2025 the club put the whole story into a book.
From Crockedy to Birdhill
That is the title of the club history compiled by Peter Ludlow and launched in the Drumconrath clubrooms on 10 November 2025, with former Meath captain Donal Keogan as guest of honour. It runs year by year from 1925 to 2024, with what records survive from 1886 to 1924, memories from nearly 40 members going back to the 1940s, and photographs as old as 1928. It also covers the Dee Rangers ladies club, the Gold Watch Tournament of the 1970s and the parish handball alley.
The club’s home is on the Navan road at Birdhill. Players from neighbouring Meath Hill parish have also lined out with Drumconrath under the Drumconrath-Meath-Hill name at underage level.
The 1996 Parish Final
Drumconrath have won the Meath Junior Football Championship in 1928, 1963 and 1996. The last of those was an all-parish final against Meath Hill at Páirc Tailteann. Drumconrath led 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time, Meath Hill pulled level, and Seamus Hickey’s goal with about ten minutes left decided it, 1-10 to 0-10. Shane Durnin lifted the cup and Peter Fitzpatrick was the manager.
That win started 13 straight seasons at intermediate level. The best of them was 2006, when Drumconrath beat St Colmcille’s and Oldcastle to reach the county intermediate final, losing to Rathkenny by a point. Relegation came in 2009.
Junior B in 2026
In 2024 Drumconrath reached the Junior B quarter-finals after beating Eastern Gaels 1-17 to 0-3 at Rathkenny. The 2026 campaign was harder. Kilmainhamwood won the opening game 3-9 to 1-13 at Meath Hill after a late Drumconrath goal, and Kilmainham won 5-23 to 1-13 in Nobber on 22 August. In the league, Drumconrath play in Division 5.
A North Meath Jersey
A Drumconrath jersey is rare outside the parish. It belongs to a small border club with roots going back to the GAA’s earliest years in Meath.
This FanFile covers Drumconrath GFC as a club rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its specific season and edition.
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Sources & Further Reading
- Meath Chronicle: Drumconrath history book, From Crockedy to Birdhill
- Hogan Stand: The 1996 junior final against Meath Hill
- Hogan Stand: Drumconrath’s intermediate years, 1996 to 2009
- Hogan Stand: Kilmainhamwood v Drumconrath, Junior B 2026
- Hogan Stand: Kilmainham v Drumconrath, Junior B 2026
- Wikipedia: Meath Junior Football Championship roll of honour
Facts checked: 11 November 2026.