Rathangan GAA Club was established in 1888 and was known as Rathangan Wolfe Tones, at that time there would have been various other townland clubs in the locality i.e. Boherkill, Kilmoney, Coolelan and Lullymore. In the early days before our current playing field, football was played in Dawson's field (Millbrook). Rathangan achieved it's first major success in 1919 by winning the Leader Cup with Junior Football Championship success following in 1920 , a Leinster Leader Cup win in 1922 and the club's only Senior Football championship in 1925. At one stage there were 15 senior Leinster medals achieved by one household in the locality in the 1920's-1930's playing for Kildare. Rathangan experienced significant success in the late thirties with a Junior Football title in 1938 followed by an Intermediate title in 1941.

 

The late forties and early fifties saw 5 Senior Hurling Championships in the locality, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950 to Killinthomas and 1953 to Killinthomas / Rathangan. Bord na Móna at this time would have attracted large numbers of workers from around the country where they would have originally lived in the Camp in Killinthomas Woods. These workers would have been the backbone of the team at the time. The mid-fifties saw a seven-a-side football team which could hold it's own with the best in the country at the time winning various honours.  The 1970s brought Junior, Minor and U21 football titles to the club, winning various championships including Junior "A" in 1970,  Minor Leagues and U21 championship in 1977.

 

In 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1981 saw Senior Championship Hurling success for St.Brigids an amalgamation of Rathangan and Round Towers. The eighties saw Minor Football League and Intermediate Football Championship success in 1981.The nineties saw championship success at both U21 Football Championship in 1991 and Intermediate Football Championship level in 1993.

Rathangan Camogie had teams participating from 1934 with the club formally founded in 1940 playing in club colours of Blue and White. The camogie club was reformed in the early 1970's and won the Junior Championship in 1974. In 1980 a number of Rathangan players represented Kildare on the Leinster Junior championship winning team. Further reform took plan in 2019 in terms of actions to re-build Camogie within the club, registering with Kildare Camogie in 2023 as a new Camogie Club.

 

1993 also saw the formation of Springfield Ladies Football Club, a combination of Rathangan and Ellistown. This was followed by the formation of Rathangan Ladies Club in 1996. The Ladies won a championship in 2008 and "B" championship in 2014, followed by a league title in 2018 .

 

In the 2000's more success at Intermediate Football Championship level in 2001 followed by a Leader Cup success in 2006. The early 2020's brought success at U23 Football level in 2022 "C" Championship and again in 2023 in the "B" Championship. Various Junior and under-age honours have also been won over the years.

Rathangan mentors and players both men and women have also contributed significantly to Kildare underage and senior county teams in both football and hurling / camogie, some of whom have been involved in Leinster and All-Ireland success. Many Rathangan club players have also played hurling for various hurling clubs in Kildare including St. Brigid’s, winning junior and senior championships.

 

Currently Rathangan GAA have teams in place at lady's and men’s football from senior to underage level, underage hurling and camogie and Gaelic for Mothers and Others.

We would like to acknowledge all our team's and mentors over the years for their efforts and dedication provided to Rathangan GAA.