Rock St Patrick's are a small rural Gaelic Athletic Club situated in East Tyrone, we are approximately 6 miles from the towns of Cookstown and Dungannon. Situated in the parish of Cookstown we are a Gaelic Athletic Club with a great historical background and culture. The area has many small townlands within a relatively small area between Rock and Slatequarry, which over the years has produced a very close knit community. We have a deep involvement in Gaelic Culture and its promotion, especially Gaelic football.
Premises
Our club premises are ideally located beside Tullyodonnell Chapel and the Primary School about a quarter of a mile out of the Rock Village. The new grounds were purchased from the Fox family in co-operation with Father Flanagan and the parish. Work commenced on the new pavilion and playing pitch in 1995 to today's high standards and was officially opened on Sunday 24th May 1998.
Rock St Patricks GFC Crest
Our Club Crest is of a simple design in the club colours taken from a famous historical landmark "The Pump" which is situated in the centre of the Rock village. It shows "The Pump" in the centre of the crest surrounded in Irish by An Carraig Naoimh Padraig simply translated as Rock Saint Patrick's.
Saint Patrick
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461. As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.
Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.
He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. During this time it is said that he passed through the local area and it is because of this and the fact he is the Patron Saint of Ireland that Rock St Patrick's got its name.
