Club History
28 Feb 2009

Founded in 2004 in the village of Partry in County Mayo, Partry Athletic represents the Parish of Ballyovey comprising Partry and Tourmakeady in South Mayo.

Partry entered Division 2B of the Mayo league in 2004 and had a tough start with a majority of players with little or no organised football expierience. We played our first league game against Moy Villa in Attymass and were on the wrong side of a 5-2 beating but as we acclimatised to life in the Mayo league we went on to shock a lot of teams and near the end of the season we showed the progress we had made when we again travelled to Attymass and came away as winners. We finished the season a very creditable third.

In 2005 Partry finished the season as division 2B champions 5 points clear of second place Charlestown Athletic. We began with a shock loss at home to Swinford B but finished the season by only losing once more and had the division won with a game to spare. Indeed because of our early wrapping up of the title we were able to field an overweight, unfit player manager in the last game of the season against Castlebar Town for 10 minutes and he showed that class doesn't fade by scoring.

In 2006 Partry competed in division 1 and finished a creditable 5th and were beaten in the Tonra cup final by Bangor Hibs 1-0 after extra time. Partry also won the Paul Burke cup. Our first season in Division 1 was hard and for a while we found the going tough but dug in and climbed the table to safety.

In 2007 Partry finished 4th in division 1 and were very unlucky to lose 1-0 to Kilmore in the Tonra cup final. We retained the Paul Burke cup after a memorable final. The big bonus in 2007 was the opening of the new pitch which has a surface that is comparable to and better than most in the Mayo League.

Season 2008 saw Partry compete in Division 1 again in what was the most competetive division in the Mayo league with no "whipping boys" amongst the ten teams competing but Partry had the players and the backroom people to win promotion and cap an amazing 4 years in the clubs existance.

In 2007 Team manager Michael Cronin stepped down to concentrate on underage football and the club showed it's ambition by recruiting the hugely expierienced managerial duo of Brian and Neil Donnelly.

2008 saw the completion of the club house which made our facilities amongst the best in the county. The clubhouse was opened by Mr David Blood, Pesident of the FAI, and the assembled dignataries from the FAI and the Mayo FA included former internationals Don Givens, Ireland U21 Manager, Ray Houghton and Pakie Bonner. A hugely enjoyable day was celebrated with Partry's new youths players having a mini tournament watched by a large crowd from the parish who helped to support Partry Athletic's success.