The West Offaly Lions Rugby Club is a new club situated in West Offaly and has a catchment area of Ferbane, Shannonbridge, Ballycumber, Cloghan, Doon, Pullough, Clara and all the surrounding areas.

The club itself was founded in 2005 at the first ever meeting which took place in the Gallen Inn Ferbane on Thursday 16th June and the first officers were elected they were, Chairperson: Bernard Quigley Secretary: Marion Gilligan Treasurer: Martin Kelly assisted by Tom Gilligan PRO: Kevin Doyle and Fixtures: Ray Walsh, along with an 11 strong committee they would over see the running of the club. It was decided at this meeting that the club would be called the West Offaly Lions the club colours Green White and Gold the county colours and to affiliate to Connaught Rugby.

Coaching courses were held in September 2005 to insure the smooth running of the club, the numbers for the underage teams were excellent and the club was really getting established    at the next meeting facilities, jerseys, and training were finalised, Gallen Community School would facilitate the pitch for training, Gallen United Soccer Club allowed access to their dressing rooms and coaches were appointed for all underage teams from U8’s right through to U12’s

The first ever rugby match took place on in October against Birr in Ferbane and the club hasn’t looked back since, with various matches been played against the other clubs in the surrounding areas such as Tullamore, Moate, Ballinasloe, Athlone and Nenagh.
Ever since that first meeting in the Gallen Inn the club hasn’t looked back and with an excellent committee, coaches and parents the club has grown from strength to strength so much so that in 2007 our Adult team was founded.

In the spring of 2007 a number of players, Charlie Couper and Peter Mooney to name just a few gathered together in Hiney’s Ferbane and it was agreed that an Adult team would compete in the J2 division of the Connaught League and that training would commence mid October, the next quest was to contact players and on our first training session in the Gallen United flood light Astroturf soccer pitch there was up to 40 players present.
The numbers over the week did decline slightly but the training sessions always had up to 30 players and as the season drew closer the West Offaly Lions played there first ever match a challenge game against Buccaneers Rugby Club under flood lights at Dubarry Park. Michael Cunningham attended the match and welcomed us to Connaught Rugby. It was a close exciting match with Bucc’s winning out but the commitment and determination was there from all the players’ coaches and everybody present, the junior team were here to stay.

Training continued as intense as ever with every player fighting for there position and to our first league game of the season away to Westport. It was a momentous occasion for everyone involved from Coaches, Players, Supporters and Committee members on this very proud day, Declan Farrell scored the Lions first ever try and although the result didn’t favour the West Offaly Lions on this day with the effort displayed by everyone it would not be long, as the season progressed the team developed and to our first win of the season away to Our lady’s Boys Club away in Galway and onto where we are today.

In our first year we gained promotion to play J1 rugby next season and we also reached the semi final of the cup.
The club right now, everyone is looking forward to next season, the underage teams are all doing very well at their respected levels which has now progressed up to U14’s, the junior team are starting their second season in J2 and it is also hoped to have a team competing in the J2 division.

A huge thanks has to be said to the people and businesses that supported and still support the West Offaly Lions. To Gallen United Soccer Club, Gallen Community School for the use of their facilities. The Sisters of Clunly for the use of the Rugby pitch and to all our sponsors, the Coaches must also get a mention Charlie Couper, Peter Auret, Roy Fletcher, Peter Mooney, Tom Gilligan, Aidan Keenaghan, Ronan Guinan, Jude Feehan, Paddy Marshall, Deirdre Wynne, John Kelly, Keiran Murrary, Maurice Higgins, Ken Murtagh, Donie Kelly and Padraig Clancy and to any one else we failed to mention, with out these people and everybody’s help the West Offaly Lions would not be where it is to day,
Thank You.