Galway Town Rugby Football Club c1900?

[Malcolm173]

I don't know whether anyone can help with this. It's a poor-quality scan of a photo given to me by a cousin and we don't know who has the original. My grandfather is on the far right of the middle row and, given his age (he was born in 1877), must have been taken in the 1890s or around 1900. My grandfather was in the Galway Town Rugby Football Club. 

I'd be very grateful for any information that would help date it and it's possible there's a better quality photo somewhere, but I know the chances are small!

[myluck!]

This is the earliest article I can see about Galway Town RFC but it does name the team that played in April 1903. You can check and see if your Grandfather is listed!
The club was incorporated into Galwegians in 1922
I don't have access to the Connaught Telegraph any longer but their records go back to the mid 1830s

The winners in each year are shown here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connacht_Senior_Cup_(rugby_union)
The photograph looks like a "winning team" and Galway Town won the Connaught Cup in 1895/6, 1905/6,1910/11 and 1912/13.

[myluck!]

Long shot here but I think the trophy was made by Thomas Dillon & Sons
The jewellers has been in Galway since the mid 1800s and still exists (owned by the Magrets now since 1920s!) and may have records.

There is a description in the newspaper in 1907 of the senior and junior Connaught Cup as "splendid specimens of the silversmiths art" "surmounted with a figure of 'Victory'" as they were displayed in the jeweller's window for a time that year.

[hanes teulu]

There's a lengthy report of Galway Town's 1896 Connaught Cup win in the Sligo Champion, 21 March 1896 - both teams listed.

[Malcolm173]

Many thanks for these suggestions - they are very helpful.  I've just taken out a short subscription to a newspaper archive site and will investigate further. 

My grandfather (Bertram Staunton) isn't listed in the 1896 team in the Sligo Champion article, nor in the one My Luck has posted, but I might find him in one of the other winning years from the archive articles.  That definitely looks like the right trophy!

[Malcolm173]

I think this must be the cup final, in March 1906.  It looks as though my grandfather did his bit!  There's no photo, unfortunately.

Many thanks for your advice - I hadn't thought of subscribing to a newspaper archive to look for this, even though I've used them a lot in the past!

[hanes teulu]

Did you check newspapers for Bertram Staunton?
It throws up 2 "hits" - a marriage in 1904, Manchester, one stating "Edward Bertram Staunton", the other just "Bertram Staunton".

[Kiltaglassan]

For others reading-

It throws up 2 "hits" - a marriage in 1904, Manchester, one stating "Edward Bertram Staunton", the other just "Bertram Staunton".

Bertham Edward Staunton born 18th March 1877, mother Jane Semple, father Edward Patrick Staunton an apothecary.   (image not online)
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01qze/

1901 census
House 8 in Dominic St. Lower (part of) (Galway South Urban, Galway).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Galway_South_Urban/Dominic_St__Lower__part_of_/1375200/

Death of Edward Patrick Staunton in 1878.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1878/020499/7193574.pdf

KG

[Malcolm173]

Many thanks for these leads. I bought a month's subscription to the newspaper archive so I will follow this up with a bit more searching to see what else I can find.

Just for interest, I've attached a wedding photo of my grandparents which, as hanes teulu says, was in Manchester in 1904. After this they came back to the apothecary shop in Dominick Street.

I had no idea he played rugby until a few days ago when I came across the copy of the team photo.