History of Regional United

Regional United was founded in 1974 by Lorcan Harney and Seamus Ryan of Dooradoyle Road. It evolved from an inter-estate soccer competition between Raheen, Gouldavoher, Dooradoyle and Ballykeefe estates.

Lorcan Harney continued his involvement in the club up to the mid-eighties when he moved out of the Limerick area for business reasons. Lorcan Harney was also the chairman of the Limerick schoolboy league for a number of years and was also a delegate to the schoolboy Football Association of Ireland. he participated in a number of International Schoolboy teams.

Regional United F. C. in the early days, like a lot of clubs at the time, was mainly a family affair. The club boasted 16 schoolboy teams and vied with Caherdavin for the title of biggest clubs in Limerick. These teams were managed by Lorcan Harney's father John and by the Harney brothers Aidan, Gerard and Brian Harney.

Many clubs were guided by strong community minded individuals: Liam Dillion of Caherdavin, Jerome Henry of Ballynanty Rovers, Brother Nicolas of Vereker Clements, the Grehan family of Granville Rangers, Mike Ryan of Geraldines, Charlie Elliot of Summerville Rovers, Kevin O' Dwyer of Weston Villas, the Colbert family of Prospect United and the McCarthy brothers of Ardhu Highfield. These individuals presided over many years during which great football was played in the right spirit.

"Harney field" originated from our pitch upon which Russell Court now stands. The field was purchased by John Harney around 1978 but unfortunately due to financial pressure it had to be sold in 1985. The then chairman and secretary, Aidan Harney and Pat Ricard respectively, negotiated with Garryowen Rugby Club and the late Pat O'Connor, Secretary of the Limerick County Council, to secure a hold on the pitch where the club now plays.

The original rental agreement for this field was in John Harney's name and thus this pitch became commonly known as "Harney's field".

The Harney family and members of the Junior team did a lot of work on the pitch to make it playable. Impressively this team went from the fourth division to the premier division in as many years. Over this time, they took a number of premier scalps and reached two Lawson cup semi finals and more recently won their first premier trophy in the form of the Tuohy Cup.

In 1987 the club was approached by Mungret Regional with a view to amalgamation. Because of the heavy financial burden our sizable club had to shoulder, and due to economic climate and pressure of the day, Regional United F.C. came to the conclusion that it would be the best course of action.

After a number of years the club realised that the amalgamation may not have been the wisest decision. Brian Harney was one of the people who initially agreed with the amalgamation. Brian, Con Buckley and Seamus O Connell (Manager Premier side to-day), led the breakaway or split from Mungret Regional.

Brian Harney managed teams and recalls many memories of great days as he led teams to success in his native pitch where his father had first secured for the Regional United Soccer F.C.

It is based on this proud tradition that Regional United F.C. was founded and went on to become a major club in the City of Limerick to-day.

List of Recent Club Achievements