On this day in 1886, a grand intercounty football contest took place on the grounds of the Avondale estate in Wicklow. On a sunny day in late autumn, crowds gathered to watch the matches played between GAA clubs from Wicklow and neighbouring Wexford.
It was an idyllic location for a sporting event, adjacent to the Avonmore River and overlooking the nearby Vale of Avoca. Tall beech trees lined the pitch and even though the ground was on the rough side, conditions were otherwise perfect for the day’s activities.
Beginning at noon, 10 teams – five each from both counties – met in opposition, with the matches taking place every 45 minutes. The football contest was noteworthy for several reasons.
Avondale was, of course, the ancestral ho
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