Bohemians are delighted to confirm the signing of Ciarán Kelly from St Patrick’s Athletic.

The centre-back, 21, originally joined the Richmond Park club when he was 17 and starred for the St Pat’s U17 and U19 teams.

The Lucan native made his first-team breakthrough during a season away in the First Division with Drogheda United in 2018 before rejoining the Saints ahead of the 2019 season, during which he made 25 league appearances.

Manager Keith Long said: “We welcome Ciarán to the club. I believe he’s going to be a great addition to our squad.

“He’s young, he’s hungry and we are looking forward to working with him.”

It brings to 25 the number of first-team players signed for 2020: Andre Wright, Andy Lyons, Anthony Breslin, Ciarán Kelly, Conor Levingston, Cristian Magerusan, Dan Casey, Danny Grant, Danny Mandroiu, Dawson Devoy, Dinny Corcoran, Glen McAuley, James Finnerty, James Talbot, JJ Lunney, Keith Buckley, Keith Ward, Kris Twardek, Luke Wade-Slater, Michael Barker, Paddy Kirk, Promise Omochere, Rob Cornwall, Ross Tierney, Stephen McGuinness.

Bohemian FC welcomes today’s announcement of funding which facilitates the progression of the Dalymount Park redevelopment to phase two of the project.

The government grant of €918,750 paves the way to appoint architects, engineers and a design team to work alongside project managers.

The redevelopment of Dalymount Park, projected to cost €34.3million, in conjunction with the proposed redevelopment of Phibsborough Shopping Centre, offers a unique opportunity to develop a community-owned sporting and cultural space in the heart of Dublin 7 for generations to come.

Bohemian FC look forward to continuing to work closely with all the relevant stakeholders – namely Dublin City Council, local residents and Shelbourne FC – over the coming years to see this project to completion.

Dalymount Park has been our home for 119 years but regular sell-out crowds last season and unprecedented season ticket sales/new members this year show that Bohemian FC has outgrown its current capacity.

The stadium’s redevelopment is key to the club’s ability to maximise its potential for growth going forward, while the community facilities envisaged for the project will be of incalculable benefit to the wider north Dublin 7.

Bohemian FC wishes to put on record our sincere gratitude for the continued cross-party support of our local representatives, our members and supporters and also that of the local community since Dublin City councillors voted unanimously to purchase the ground in 2015.

Luke O’Riordan
Communications Director
pro@bohemians.ie

Bohemians can confirm the following provisional pre-season friendly schedule:

• Tuesday January 21: Longford Town (AUL, 7.30pm)
• Tuesday January 28: Drogheda Utd (United Park, 7.30pm)
• Friday January 31: St Mochtas (Venue/KO TBC)
• Friday February 7: Galway Utd (Eamonn Deacy Park
• Saturday February 15: Wexford (Venue/KO TBC)

All fixtures subject to change. Further friendlies to be confirmed.

Confirmation of KO times and venues will be posted on our social media channels.

We are delighted to announce Gavin Teehan has been appointed manager of the Bohemians U19s, recently-retired club skipper Derek Pender will take the reins of the Bohs-SKB U17s, while Keith Roche will take charge of the Bohs-SKB U15s.

Teehan arrives from Bray Wanderers-St Joseph’s U17s and welcoming him to the club, first-team manager Keith Long said: “Gavin is a great developmental coach and has good experience of schoolboy football at St Joseph’s and Cabinteely.

“It’s a change coming from U17s to U19s football but Gavin has a track record of bringing players through.”

The Bohs U19s have enjoyed success in recent years, winning the league in 2018, retaining it 2019 as well as winning the Enda McGuill Cup, while they have ably represented Ireland in the Uefa Youth League the past two seasons under the guidance Craig Sexton, who stepped down at the end of the season.

In doing so and with the club working closely with our partners at St Kevin’s Boys, a successful player pathway programme has seen players promoted from the youth ranks to Long’s first team.

Former Bohs U19s/Bohs-SKB underage players Andy Lyons, Danny Grant, Paddy Kirk, Ross Tierney, Ryan Graydon and Dawson Devoy have all made the step-up to first-team football at Bohemians over the past three seasons.

Other notable graduates from our U19s include Warren O’Hora, now with Brighton, and Ali Reghba, who joined Leicester City last summer.

Long said: “Success at U19s level comes in tandem with developing players ready for the first team and we want that to continue.

“But it might be a season of transition as there has been a big turnover of players and it will take time for him to implement ideas. We’re looking forward to a new voice and new ideas to help develop young talent and Gavin has that.”

Derek Pender celebrates Bohs qualifying for Europe at Richmond Park in October - Stephen Burke

Meanwhile, Pender, who hung up his boots at the end of the season after eight seasons with the Bohs first team, will take charge of the Bohs-SKB U17s in his first step in his coaching career.

He succeeds Jimmy Mowlds, who has opted to leave, and Bohemians wish to express our gratitude for his service to the club and to the Bohs-SKB partnership.

Pender will be assisted by Rory Kirk, older brother of Bohs first-teamer Paddy, who has developed a reputation as a respected young coach at St Kevin’s Boys.

Most recently he has worked with St Kevin’s U14s, many of whom will form part of the Bohs-SKB U15s team this year.

Long said: “It’s a great opportunity for Derek to cut his teeth in coaching. But it’s a huge opportunity for young players to learn from one of the most experienced and professional players in the league too.

“Again, he will also need time to implement his ideas and he will be ably assisted by Rory, who is a very respected with St Kevin’s.”

Roche succeeds Ger Browne as manager of the Bohs-SKB U15s having coached with St Kevin’s for four years.

Bohs-SKB Technical director Alan Caffrey said: “We welcome them in. We’re looking forward to working with them and getting started.”

Karl Lambe remains in charge of the Bohs-SKB U13s.

Bohemians are delighted to confirm Michael Barker has re-signed for 2020.

Barker, who can play at full-back or centre-back, rejoined the Gypsies this time last year after five years away with UCD, Bray Wanderers and St Patrick’s Athletic.

The 26-year-old came through the Bohs U20 team and previously played for the first team in 2013 and 2014 under.

But he had to wait until May of this year for his first taste of action during his second spell at the club after agonisingly suffering a hamstring tear in the final week of pre-season.

He went on to play an important role in the club’s drive to qualify for Europe, however, his 93rd-minute winner away to Waterford a particular highlight.

It brings to 24 the number of first-team players signed for 2020: Andre Wright, Andy Lyons, Anthony Breslin, Conor Levingston, Cristian Magerusan, Dan Casey, Danny Grant, Danny Mandroiu, Dawson Devoy, Dinny Corcoran, Glen McAuley, James Finnerty, James Talbot, JJ Lunney, Keith Buckley, Keith Ward, Kris Twardek, Luke Wade-Slater, Michael Barker, Paddy Kirk, Promise Omochere, Rob Cornwall, Ross Tierney, Stephen McGuinness.

Bohemians are delighted to confirm that Paddy Kirk has re-signed for 2020.

The left-back, 21, is one of the successes of club’s determination to bring players from the youth system through to the first team having captained both Bohs’ U17s and U19s, winning a league title with the latter.

The Raheny man made his first-team debut in the EA Sports Cup against Cabinteely in April 2017 and his league debut against Dundalk in May 2018. He went on to make nine further league appearances that season.

Last season saw him benefit from injuries to Darragh Leahy to enjoy his best run in the first team to date, making 15 league appearances.

He is expected to vie with new signing Anthony Breslin for the left-back berth this term.

It brings to 23 the number of first-team players signed for 2020: Andre Wright, Andy Lyons, Anthony Breslin, Conor Levingston, Cristian Magerusan, Dan Casey, Danny Grant, Danny Mandroiu, Dawson Devoy, Dinny Corcoran, Glen McAuley, James Finnerty, James Talbot, JJ Lunney, Keith Buckley, Keith Ward, Kris Twardek, Luke Wade-Slater, Paddy Kirk, Promise Omochere, Rob Cornwall, Ross Tierney, Stephen McGuinness.

Bohemians are delighted to confirm the return of Dan Casey to the club.

The 22-year-old rejoins after a year with Cork City having originally joined Bohs in July 2017 after four years with Sunderland.

He established himself as a key man at the heart of the Bohs defence in 2018, his personal highlight seeing him score twice in the 3-1 win over Shamrock Rovers on the opening day of the season.

Manager Keith Long said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Dan back to Dalymount Park after a season with Cork.

“At 22, he is still very young but has gained good experience over the last 2½ years.

“I believe the best is yet to come from Dan and I hope he can continue to improve at our club.”

It brings to 22 the number of first-team players signed for 2020: Andre Wright, Andy Lyons, Anthony Breslin, Conor Levingston, Cristian Magerusan, Dan Casey, Danny Grant, Danny Mandroiu, Dawson Devoy, Dinny Corcoran, Glen McAuley, James Finnerty, James Talbot, JJ Lunney, Keith Buckley, Keith Ward, Kris Twardek, Luke Wade-Slater, Promise Omochere, Rob Cornwall, Ross Tierney, Stephen McGuinness.

An early Christmas present for Margaret McEvoy, who won one of the top prizes in the FAI National Draw.

Margaret will drive away with a brand new Ford Fiesta in the regional draw section. Congratulations Margaret!

Other Bohs winners include Cairbre O’Fearghail, Fran Brophy and Brendan Dcruz, who all won signed Ireland jerseys.

We thank all members and supporters for selling and buying tickets to the FAI National Draw. Those efforts raised €15,000 for the club this year.

With no private investor and up against clubs who we believe trade unsustainably, fundraising remains crucial to our efforts as a club to compete on and off the field.

With that in mind, we take this opportunity to remind members that tickets remain on sale for the annual Christmas Draw, which takes place this Saturday.

There is over €8000 in cash prizes still up for grabs and tickets can be purchased online.

• A full list of the regional and national draw winners are available on the FAI website.
• A full list of the club draw winners are available on our website.

Prize winners will be contacted in due course.

 FOOTBALL MEMORIES
Tomorrow, Friday December 6 2019, Jackie Jameson Bar, 11am

The Bohemian Foundation is holding a Football Memories session in the Jackie Jameson Bar tomorrow morning from 11am with former Ireland and Bohemians players in attendance.

The programme is designed for older people in the community to engage in conversation through the medium of their memories of football in years gone by.

The first instalment last year saw Johnny Giles welcomed as our special guest.

A lot of older people in our community are quite isolated. Let your parents, grandparents and neighbours know about this event.

This programme is a way of engaging people. It’s reminiscing, a trip down memory lane.

Going forward, we call on Bohs fans and fans further afield to loan of any football memorabilia that we could use during the programme.

If you look at what you have in your house, you’ll be surprised to see what you might have that can start a conversation or trigger a memory for someone.

As well as our new partnership with Des Kelly Interiors and our new 2020 O’Neills jersey, we have four new signings and seven re-signings to announce.

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