Westport Rugby Football Club
Founded 1925
84 Years of Sporting Rugby
Westport R.F.C. was founded in 1925 by Joe Gill, a local Westport solicitor, who gathered a disparate group of like minded individuals, to play and enjoy their favoured sport. In 1951 the Club moved to it's first permanent home, where it was to have some of it's best years.
The original location of its single pitch was in the Demesne Westport and located at the "Bog Field Gate."
The veracity of this name could be confirmed by many a mud covered veteran, however memorable rugby was played there. The earliest members of those first teams trained with strenuous runs along beaches and country roads, washing in a pitch side stream. The teams later enjoyed the changing facilities of two local hotels; One of those hotels 'The Castlecourt' owned by the Corcoran family, remains closely linked to the club to this day.
In 1984 the club purchased land in Carrowholly, three miles from Westport town and developed two new pitches and a training
area. This was followed by the opening, with much celebration, of its purpose built clubhouse in 1986.
In 2003 the club finished a major 100,000 euro, pitch improvement ,which allows the teams to play and train whatever the weather This was officially opened on 1st March and marks the first phase of our club playing facilities development. also on 1st March 2003 Westport revamped and refreshed it's playing kit and reaffirmed its nickname " The Bulls "
Now on the map
Directions to Westport Bulls Rugby Football Club,
Carrowholly, Westport , Co Mayo, Ireland.
Arriving from Castlebar on the N5 drive down Castlebar Street past the Castlecourt and Plazza
hotels on your right then turn right along The Mall before reaching the bridge.
At the end of The Mall there are the traffic lights at the T junction, turn right.
Drive up the hill, past the church on your left and continue up, then down
the hill. On reaching the bottom of the hill, turn left on to the
Golflinks Road. You will see signposts for the golf club
and Carrowholly, drive for 3 kilometers, passing
the golf club on your left.You will find the
Westport Bulls R.F.C.Clubhouse
on your left. See you there.
Our Club History
Westport's 1954 / 55 Connaught Cup and League winning team
In the Club's early years most of the matches were "friendly" fixtures played at local venues.
In the 1929/1930 season, a bare four years after its conception, Westport R.F.C.'s early founders won the Connaught Junior Cup and retained it the following season. This trophy was also collected in 1936.
The 1950s were the golden era of Westport rugby. In 1954/55 season the "Covies" won all thirty of their matches and brought home the Junior Cup and won the Junior League. This was indeed a halcyon year; in 21 competative matches they scored 380 points with only 110 against .They also won the Junior League for four years in a row, which was no mean achievement, then or indeed now. They were the first Connaught side to tour abroad.
Westport became a senior team in 1957 and has moved in and out of senior rugby ever since In 1974 / 75 we won the Connaught Junior Cup, beating Connemara, 4 points to three at the Sports Grounds.
Always fringing on glory, it finally achieved its potential in the 1997/1998 season when it won the Junior League. The following year it came a close second in the same competition and last year we again came second -good but not good enough!
Season 2000 - 2001
Fourth in the League and finalists in the Junior Cup , a middling year on balance
Season 2002 - 2003
We were bound for glory, as usual but only third in the league and not much else to show,
but some great development work in junior and underage and loads of social rugby.
Season 2003 / 2004 .
Won the Cawley Cup and came distant second in the Junior 1 league. Semi finalists in the Junior Cup
and an under 16's Plate win, a good year.
Season 2004 / 2005
Won the Cawley Cup, came second in the Junior 1 league (same number of matches won as the winners,
but 2 points shy on bonus points, Bummer)
Semi finalists in the Junior Cup. A good year that nearly came right.
Second 15 came seventh in the J D 2 league and semi finalists in the Ard Na Cregg.Cup
Season 2005 / 2006
Won the Connaught J D 1 League.
Qualified for the Connaught J D 1 Junior Cup Final.
Won the Ard Na Cregg J D 2 Cup Final.
Won the Mayo Cup
Qualified for the A I L play offs
Came fourth in the J,D. 2 League
U- 13s Cup Finalists 2005 - 2006
Junior Division 1 Cup Finalists 2005 - 2006
Season 2006 / 2007
Won the Ard na Cregg
Won the Cawley Cup
Won 16's Connaught Plate
A Bloody Great Season.
Season 2007 / 2008
Development Team win the J D 2 League Cup ( for the first time )
1st Fifteen won The Cawley Cup
18's pipped at the post in the Connaught Cup
Season 2008 / 2009
14's team win historic Cup and League double
1st Team 8th in the league table
2nd team 6th in the league table
This archive material was written and researched by Mr Jim Lydon.
We gratefully aknowledge his work.
Video Click on Club Logo icon
Dessie and the lads playing OLBC in a
Sunday League match two seasons back.
