It was a momentous and historic occasion in Annanough on Friday as the club celebrated 105 years in existence.
The Vicarstown club were honoured to have GAA President Jarlath Burns in attendance.
The Armagh native planted an apple tree, a nod to his home county, beside the pitch to mark the occasion and then headed for the community centre where he spoke in front of a packed audience.
Chris Miller spoke about his father Dick Miller who founded the club in 1920. All former chairman of the club were commemorated and presented with a momento from the GAA president.
Kevin Miller was also recognised by the club for his commitment to the club.
While the night was all about looking back, Darren Hennessy spoke about how the club has one eye on the future.
Annanough club members who were on the victorous Stradbally Parish Gaels U-20 team last year were given special recognition.
A special mention was also made to the efforts done years ago to reestablish the juvenile structure of the club.
A presentation was also made to the Crean Family in memory of Martin Crean who tragically lost his life in a car accident aged just 29.
Pat Coleman made a speech on the night of his memory of the character of Martin.
Refreshments were then served and entertainment was provided by the band Half The Truth.
Annanough was founded in 1920 from a merger of the old Vicarstown and Moyanna clubs.
Moyanna had won the 1891 Laois SFC title while Vicarstown were Laois IFC winners in 1917 and 1919.
Annanough enjoyed almost instant success with Dick Miller captaining to a three-in-a-row of Laois SFC titles from 1924 to 1926.
After a period at Intermediate level in the 1930s and 1940s, the club return to their senior winning ways in the 1950s.
They defeated Portarlington in the 1951 final and Park in the 1956 final – their last at senior level.
Annanough’s last IFC title was in 1978 when they were captained by Martin Stapleton with his son Shane ending a 40 year drought in 2018.
That was the club’s first Junior A title and they won that again in 2023 before establishing themselves at Intermediate level last year.
Photographer Alannah Foley was present in Vicarstown on Friday evening and captured some great images.
Check them out below:
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