Crettyard
Crochta Ard

The Ireland's Ancient East
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Crochta Ard · Co. Laois

A south Laois crossroads on the Kilkenny border. Crettyard GAA — the place where it all happens.

Crettyard is not a village. It is a crossroads at the junction of the N78 and R431, on the border with County Kilkenny. The houses are scattered. The real centre is the Crettyard GAA clubhouse.

The club was formed in 1960 from the merger of Fairymount and Tolerton clubs. In 2005, they won the Laois Intermediate championship and the Leinster Intermediate title — a remarkable achievement for a small club from a borderland hamlet. That is what Crettyard is known for.

If you are not coming for the GAA, you might pass through without noticing. Newtown is the closest village with a pub. Kilkenny city is 22 km south. Carlow is 14 km east. Crettyard is the in-between place.

Population

~150

Founded

Hamlet

Coords

52.7647° N, 7.0186° W

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Stories & lore.

The reason to come back. The things every local will eventually tell you about, usually after the second pint.

The club that defines the place

Crettyard GAA

Crettyard GAA was founded in 1960 from the merger of two smaller clubs — Fairymount (founded 1948) and Tolerton (founded 1956). The new club won the Laois Junior championship in 1961 and the Intermediate in 1965. In 2005, they achieved their greatest success: winning the Laois Intermediate football championship and then the Leinster Intermediate title, beating Rathcline of Longford. For a hamlet on the border, it was an extraordinary moment. Crettyard Ladies football club was formed in 1974 and has won county championships at all grades.

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