Jackpot €2900

. County Board award to Swanlinbar GAA Club in recognition of reaching the AIB All Ireland Junior Club Final 2011

Swanlinbar ('An Muileann Iarainn' in Gaelic) is small village even by Irish standards yet it is a place with a long and colourful history. It is situated in the valley between Commas Mountain and Slieve Russell Mountain where the river Claddagh rushes from its source at the foot of Cuilcagh Mountain to Lough Erne. Dean Swift is reputed to have stayed in Swanlinbar and partook of the water from one of the many spa wells, which the area was famous for at that time.

The name Swanlinbar derives from the names of four entrepreneurs who set up an iron foundry along the river in the early years of the 18th century. Messrs. SWIFT, SANDERS, DARLING and BARRY concocted the name of SWANDLINGBAR. Gradually the D and G were dropped and by 1850 the name of SWANLINBAR was the common usage.

For the past ninety years the GAA has been one of the few shinning lights in Swanlinbar. Often it was difficult to raise enough players to field a team. Players either played for adjacent parishes during those years or the club amalgamated with a neighbouring club. The club also had no permanent ground until recently. In the 1950's and 60's different fields were leased. The club now has a permanent ground on the bank of the Claddagh river in the heart of the village.

The present property was acquired in 1975 and the development of the ground started in the early 1980's. Much has been achieved. The club has a thriving and successful under age structure making the most of limited numbers and limited resources. This has impacted at senior level. In 1981 the club won the junior league title and again in 1984 and 2010. In 1985 they won their first junior championship, a feat they repeated in 1998, 2006 and 2010. In 2000 promotion to Division 1 was secured for the first time in the clubs history. In 2004 Swanlinbar reached the Div. 2 League Final only to loose to Cuchullains by the narrowest of margins.In 2010 after winning the Ulster Junior championship they reached the all Ireland final in Croke Park. A day that will be long remembered. Several of the present players have represented Cavan at different levels.(see HISTORY of the CLUB for more).

Today the club stands proudly facing the future. During periods of change and turmoil it has stood firm and developed. There were years when it barely existed and was treated with some bemusement by stronger and better-resourced clubs. Those days are gone. The present generation of players and administrators can stand comparison with any in the country. The centenary commemoration was held in 2004 and the official opening of the redeveloped pitch and refurbished dressingrooms took place in 2006. The GAA flag flies proudly in Swanlinbar.