The club covers the twin communities of rural Maree and suburban Oranmore in Co Galway. The club was formally established in April 2005 after a series of public meetings to gauge interest in setting up a structured club for the youth in the community.
Among those who were involved from the beginning and who are still ever present include Martin Horgan (Present Hon Secretary), Domnic Delany, Enda Cox and Noel Greaney while the pioneering work of Cllr Liam Carroll at that time should also be recognised. The game locally had its origins in the community back in 1989/90 with the early work of two stalwarts who soldiered with little support at that time, namely the late Brendan Carney and Paul Cowell R.I.P.
Today, Maree/Oranmore FC is now the largest club in Galway with over 700 players. Based on demographic data the club expect their playing base will grow to over 1,000 within five years. The club fields over 40 teams from Under-6 to Adults and caters for the elite to the developing player. In recent years a particular emphasis has been on developing the girls game with a major growth in numbers continuing along with success and most importantly player development.
Maree/Oranmore FC also run a Football For All Programme which caters for children in the community with disabilities which illustrates the emphasis we place on providing for all who wish to play the beautiful game. Three years ago the Club Facilities Development Committee formed with the target of building a 4G full size pitch facility. A four acre site was purchased in Maree and in August 2020 this facility was built and used for the first time.
The club project will cost €750,000 when complete and will include a floodlit full size facility and a grass training area.The club would like to thank especially their 15 strong executive, previous executives and the coaching volunteers who give countless hours developing our club to be the Premier force it has now achieved.
Maree/Oranmore FC had it's first Senior Irish International last year in Aaron Connolly. The Brighton and Hove Albion striker played for six years for Maree/Oranmore FC and is a former student at the local secondary school Calasanctius College. The club has had several underage internationals including Donal Higgins, Alan Greene and Matthew Barrett amongst others.
The club enjoys an excellent relationship with all the stakeholders in the game including Galway United and Galway WFC, along with the Connacht FA, Galway and District League, SFAI and the FAI.
As a community club, Maree/Oranmore FC provide coaching expertise to four local Primary schools and the local secondary school. They also would like to thank the Oranmore and Maree Development Associations for the rental of facilities which will be required due to further expansion in playing numbers. Each year our club run the very successful non-competitive St Columbas CU Invitational Tournament which caters for over 4,000 children from U7 to U10 boys and girls from close to 20 clubs in Co. Galway.
The main club sponsor is the nearby Galway Clinic, with The Porterhouse Bar and Restaurant assisting the three adult mens sides while Oran Precast has assisted the Girls Football Programme.
The club wish to further expand their facilities with the help of state and community funding in years to come. Player development and service to the youth is the club's priority and while silverware is always most welcome and we have achieved much of that, keeping our community identity and parochial focus is crucial.
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