Our History
History of Club Italiano Irlanda
The idea of forming an Italian social club came about when Fr. Francesco Cellini and Fr. Giuseppe Bonaudo of the Consolata Fathers in Turin arrived in Ireland in 1970 to initiate the Dublin base of the Consolata Missionaries in Stillorgan. Rev. John Moloney (later Monsignor) who was chaplain to the Italian community at that time introduced Fr. Cellini to the congregation who attended the Italian mass in St. Kevin’s Oratory, Pro-Cathedral Dublin. Father Cellini encouraged the Italian community to meet in the grounds of the Consolata House on Sundays after mass with their families and play football and bocce. Among them was Gino Di Mascio who with a group of friends organised the Irish- Italian Dances annually since 1950. (The first one was in Clery’s Ballroom with Billy Watson and his Orchestra.) Amongst this Sunday group there was also Donato Borza who since 1968 had founded and was player manager of a football team called Lazio F.C. He was asked to organise Five-a-side football tournaments for the young Italians in the grounds of the Consolata House. Part of this group was also Rodolfo Caira who had a passion for hunting, he was encouraged by Fr. Cellini to set up a society for fellow enthusiasts and it was called Consolata Gun Club.
In 1971 a committee was formed amalgamating these three groups and Club Italiano was born. Victor Cassoni became the first president of the club.
In 1972 Italian classes for the children were held in the Consolata House every Wednesday and Saturday under the supervision of Maria Di Mascio and Maria Colombo Gray . These classes were subsidised by the Italian Government and later were transferred to the Italian Institute of Culture.
In 1983 the committee made a decision to purchase a 13 acre site in Tibradden at the foot of the Dublin Mountains which had come on the market, this site was paid for with the many generous donations from the community and numerous fund-raising events. This was to be a focal point for the Italians – a little piece of home on Irish soil – a haven with a spectacular view of Dublin city and the Irish Sea.
Lazio F.C. made Tibradden its new home ground where they currently continue to train and play their matches.
On the 30th August 1987 after many delays with planning permission the first phase of the clubhouse was opened with an official blessing by Monsignor John Moloney.
Over the years, Club Italiano has supported many charities such as, Jack & Jill Childrens Foundation, Make A Wish, Laura Lynn House, Snowflakes, Cystic Fibrosis unit in Our Lady’s Childrens Hospital, Straight Ahead, My Canine Companion, and Darkness into Light, to name just a few.
Many Irish friends of Italy take part in club events providing an excellent opportunity for strengthening the ties and cultural bonds between the two countries. The Italian Embassy gives its continued support to all major events organized by the club.
A grateful Thank You to all sponsors and contributors who have continuously and loyally supported Club Italiano for many years.
History of Consolata Gun Club
The club gets its name from the Consolata Missionaries who were founded in Turin in 1901 by Blessed Fr. Giuseppe Allamano, they have many missionary houses across Europe and the world.
As the name suggests, the club is a Game / Clay Pigeon Shooting Club. Founded in 1971, by Rodolfo Caira and friends encouraged by Fr. Cellini who came to Dublin to open a new Consolata Fathers missionary house in Stillorgan.
The Consolata Gun Club plays a pivotal role in the Italian recreational licensed shooting scene in Ireland. Rodolfo Caira was the club’s first President and dedicated a lot of his free time to ensure that the initial formation was suitable for its members and conformed to all legal requirements. Rodolfo was a member of the Irish Deer Society and was featured in a program on RTE: ‘Deerstalkers in Wicklow 1969’.
To insure the continuation of this club Rodolfo was assisted in its administration by Donato Borza, Gennaro Di Nardi, Santino Rea and Mario Aprile to name but a few.
In recent years under the leadership of Giuliano Leonardi the club has flourished and now has a meeting room/kitchen which was built with voluntary work and funds donated by its members, this was built within the grounds of Club Italiano in Tibradden.
The club has 600 acres of forest leased from “Coillte” the Irish forestry board, this is for the members who partake in licensed game hunting.
History of Lazio F.C
Lazio F.C was founded in 1968 by Donato Borza with the help of his friend Domenico Vella, two migrants from the Lazio region in Italy, both men central figures of the Italian community in Dublin at that time.
They encouraged young Italians to socialize by meeting up for a game of soccer in the Phoenix Park on a Sunday morning (their only time off). Arising from these early morning kick abouts and with a strong interest as more lads turned up to play the idea of a competitive team was formed. They decided to enter a team into the Amateur Football League in Dublin and Lazio F.C was born. The name was chosen from the region in Italy where the majority of these migrants came from, and was also the name of the team that Donato and most of the lads supported (S.S Lazio).
The first few seasons were spent finding their feet and establishing a team structure. After a few seasons Lazio F.C moved to the Athletic Union League where after a slow start, success was finally achieve with various league title wins, thus firmly establishing themselves into the Dublin Junior Soccer ranks.
1986 brought about the realization of a dream, years spent on the road were ended when a suitable location found nestling in the foothills of the Dublin mountains where Lazio F.C would finally find their home, with Club Italiano Irlanda in their grounds in Tibradden. With Vincenzo Giglione the team continued to grow and previously under the guidance of Angelo Vecchio, Lazio F.C looked to the future with more league titles added and the club name down in the footnotes of local soccer history.
Each year we organize a 5-aside tournament on the day of Club Italiano Irlanda’s summer fest, which attracts new players. Currently playing in the Dublin Amateur League (where it all began) and recently passing the half century mark, with a strong interest from second and third generation Italians, Lazio F.C will continue the legacy which began with the man who left his homeland of Montattico, Casalattico in 1950 but so much enjoyed the beautiful game.
