Colours: Blue and white | Founded 1929 | |
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Location County Kildare, Republic of Ireland Grounds Newtownbert, Kilberry, County Kildare | ||
Rheban /ˈrɛbən/ is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club based in southwest County Kildare, Ireland, near Kilberry. Twice winners of the Club of the year in 1996-1997, they competed in the senior championship in the 1940s, reaching the semi-final in 1945, and after winning the Junior and Intermediate championships in successive years in 1996-7.
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History
Rheban was founded by brothers John and Tom Moore on February 6, 1929. A club from nearby Bert (Newtownbert) affiliated to the GAA in the 1890s. Jack Maher went on to serve as club chairman for over forty years, stepping down in 2008 to be followed in the role by his brother Dick Maher. The club takes its name from the nearby Rheban Castle.
Gaelic Football
Paddy Myles was on the 1931 Kildare Junior Team. Rheban won the 1940 junior (beating Ardclough) and 1942 Intermediate (beating Straffan) titles they reached the county semi-final in 1945. Regraded in 1951 they lost Junior finals in 1955, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1966 and 1968 until William 'Wag' O'Keeffe's team won the championship and Jack Higgins cup in 1969. In [1970 the club scored a memorable victory over neighbours Athy in the intermediate championship final. A sweep of four trophies, including the Junior Championship of 1996 was followed up with the Intermediate championship in 1997.
In 2007 Rheban were relegated to Junior status.