Club’s History

Brief Club History and Achievements

Barna United FC was originally set up in 1996 and ran for a couple of years before it was re organized in 1999 based on approx. 15 under 8's who mainly trained on a Saturday morning in The Bearna National School Hall. The Club has grown consistently through the years and now has approx. 350 players. This has developed through the years and the Club now participates fully in the Galway and District League since the 2004/05 season. The Club boasts teams that participate also in Connacht and Irish Cups from Under 12 up to Under 18 age groups and starting from 2010 the club has its own adult team competing in the Galway and District League and Irish and Connacht Cups. From Under 11 down to Under 7's the club players partake in various development leagues and mini blitz's with other clubs where the emphases is on development, participation and fun.

“The Club has at its core a strong community based ethos and draws members from the greater Bearna/Na Forbacha area, and its environs.”

The Club has at its core a strong community based ethos and draws members from the greater Bearna/Na Forbacha area, and its environs. The Club is unique in that all its officers and team coaches are parents of the players of the club. The clubs motto 'chun barr feabhais a chothú' is based on the desire to bring out the best in all of its players no matter what age, gender or ability of the individual.

In 2010 the Club had a name change mainly due to the geographical spread of the club members and also due to the restarting of an adult team which previously was based at Na Forbacha and was called ‘Na Forbacha’. The new name is Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe.

Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe currently play their home games at An Sportlann at 'na Forbacha'. Also training sessions are held on this Community facility & on our own Floodlit Astro Turf during the winter months.

Going Forward…

The Club a number of years ago purchased 6.7acres of land adjacent to the existing Community based facility at An Sportlann, Na Forbacha. Planning permission was subsequently given by Galway County Council for the development of an Astro training facility and a full sized grass based pitch on these lands.

While the Club has a substantial female participation from the lower age groups up to the age of 12, these players in the past had to leave the club to go to other clubs outside the area to continue their playing activity. However a major goal of the Club was achieved in the summer of 2015 when U8 & U10’s girl’s only squads were established in the Club. (Sacar Cailiní). The Club has currently 650 playing members. Currently the Club is developing a full sized international grass based soccer pitch at our grounds at Na Forbacha.

The Club is run by a 9 person Executive Committee and has various subgroups that work on a project basis on the various functions of running a developing club. The clubs aim is to provide football for participants up to and including adult players that are based in the greater Bearna/na Forbacha area and its environs. The Club has a very open ethos and encourages all levels of ability and is a Gealtacht community based club that has the Irish language and culture at its core.