Welcome to Armagh Harps GFC Website...Enjoy your tour and please visit again...

At around 5 p.m. on Sunday 10th September 1989 Harps captain John Grimley hoisted the Mckillop Cup amidst absolute euphoria and unprecedented scenes of jubilation. Harps 3-9 to 2-8 victory over a gallant St.Paul's team meant that john was the first Harps catain to carry out this task since the great Jack Bratten, 31 years before in 1958. "The long wait is over!", "the bridge has been gaped!" were the cries that echos from the shambles to Abbey Park, and from Banbrook to Longstone, all known Harps territory. True, the fifties formed an integral part of Harps "history" (indeed they became known as The Glory Years) but to search for Harps tradition one must delve back another 60 years to the late 1880's where it source can be found. To find such information such places as local librarie headquarters, or the Irish Reference Department of the National Library have had to be used.

    In his quest to seek out this tradition, one of Harps finest officers and committee men, Phil McGinn has been researching Harps history in an effort to compile the complete story of Armagh Harps. The greatest pitfall in such a task is not what to put in but the danger of leaving some event or person out.

    Armagh Harps Foundation were founded in 1888 in an attempt to generate the spirit of Gaelic games and national culture in Armagh.Harps represented Armagh in the Ulster Final beating Cookstown's Owen Roes, but losing to All-Ireland Champions Middleton of Cork in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.

    These were the days of 21 players in a team. Many of these first Harps players have descendants playing today:- Harps 1890 was Joseph Donnelly, James McGerizen, Patrick Knipe, Hugh O'Neill, Thomas Allen, Patrick Molloy, Jack Mullan, James Deegan, Jack Fitzpatrick, James Lennon, John Vallely, Henry & William Thomas, Ned Mallon, James & Barney Corr, William Slevin, Owen McKenna, John Mulholland, Hugh Carberry, Charles O'Neill and William J. Mckernon, grandfather of a later Harps stalwart Buddy McArdle.

    During these years, Harps, along with Tir na nOg and Phelim Brady's kept football strong until the decline during the years 1910-15.

    It was in 1916 that Armagh Young Irelands were formed but opinion seems to favour the view that this club was one and the same as Armagh Harps with many committee and playing personnel being interlinked between the two. Fr.Peter Kerr (1989-91 Senior Team Manager) has studied these years in depth and has read of intense rivalry at matches with players arriving on horseback with two valuable pieces of equitment - a sledge hammer and a crowbar! John Vallely, Frank McAvinchey, Joe Harney and Jack Corrigan, were outstanding personalities at this time and all were part of Armagh's All-Ireland junior winning team of 1926. Also prominent was Joe Houlahan, grand Uncle of Gerard Houlahan, and of course the legendary Jim McCullough.

    Two other vital mediums for football during the early 40's were the St.Malachy's Club under the guidance of Patsy Irwin from Primrose Hill and the legendary streets league, started by Carvan Peter McDonnell (uncle of Fr.McDonnell), Harps Honorary Vice President. The Athletic Grounds was often filled to capacity during these titanic struggles especially those between Navan Street and Irish Street.

With a generation of interest in Gaelic games, Harps were reformed in 1945 under its present name following a meeting in the City Cinema (Now the Foresters Club). The following officials were elected to administer the club; Jim Cooney, (chairman) R.I.P, P.J Toner (Secretary), John McCusker, (Treasurer) R.I.P, Joe Houlahan, Hugh Cassidy, Jim McCullough (R.I.P), John Lenagh (R.I.P), Gerry Hicks, Pat Garvey (R.I.P), Jack Corrigan, Pat Houlahan, Committee. These were the men who were to carry on the heritage of dedication and tradition from the earliest days of the GAA at grass roots level. The scene was set for greater achievements still.