Created by workers in 1880, Distillery FC has endured and is now one of the oldest clubs in Ireland.

In 1879 Dunville’s distillery workers formed a cricket club. The following year, to keep themselves fit over the winter, they created a team for the increasingly popular sport of ‘association football’. 

Dunville’s board supported the move by filling in a waste-water pond behind the distillery to create a football pitch. With this one of the great names in Irish football was born. 

Distillery FC played its first match in December 1880 (a one-nil friendly victory over Dundela), claiming its first trophy, the Irish Cup, in 1884. It would go on to win the cup three times in a row. A founding member of the Irish Football Association, Distillery soon established itself as one of the Irish League’s top sides, enjoying success in both cup and league competitions. 

In 1952 it also created history by being the first team in Ireland to install floodlights, and would be the first in the British Isles to hold a competitive floodlit match, going on to host memorable floodlit games against European, English, Scottish and Irish teams at Grosvenor Park. 

The club’s history has included matches in Belfast against European giants Barcelona and a famous 3-3 draw against Benfica. The club has also been innovative, pioneering both the first season tickets in Ireland and installing the first electric clock in the Irish League. Distillery moved to its current ground at Lambeg just outside Lisburn in 1980. 

It has produced many illustrious players, including former Northern Ireland internationals Billy McAdams, Derek Dougan, Bryan Hamilton, Martin O’Neill and Jim Magilton. O’Neill credits his time at Distillery as providing the foundations of his long and successful career as a player, club and international manager.

Chruthaigh na hoibrithe Distillery FC sa bhliain 1880, agus tá sé ar na clubanna is sine in Éirinn.

Chuir na hoibrithe i ndrioglann Dunville club cruicéid ar bun sa bhliain 1879. Chruthaigh siad foireann sacair an bhliain ina dhiaidh sin, spórt a bhí ag éirí níos coitianta, le hiad féin a choinneáil aclaí thar an gheimhreadh.

Thacaigh bord Dunville leo ach an linn fuíolluisce ar chúl na drioglainne a líonadh le páirc pheile a dhéanamh. Leis seo, tháinig ceann de na hainmneacha is fearr i sacar na hÉireann ar an tsaol.

D’imir Distillery FC a gcéad chluiche i Mí na Nollag 1980 (bua a haon a náid i gcluiche cairdiúil in éadan Dundela), agus bhain siad a gcéad chorn, Corn na hÉireann, sa bhliain 1884. Bhain siad an corn trí huaire as a chéile ansin. Bhí Distillery i measc bhunaitheoirí Chumann Sacair na hÉireann, ba ghearr go raibh siad ar na foirne is fearr i Sraith na hÉireann, agus d’éirigh go maith leo sna comórtais coirn agus sraithe. 

Sa bhliain 1952, chruthaigh siad stair fosta nuair a bhí siad ar an chéad fhoireann in Éirinn le tuilsoilse a fháil, agus bhí siad ar an chéad fhoireann in Éirinn agus sa Bhreatain Mhór a d’eagraigh cluiche iomaíoch tuilsoilsithe. Rinne siad cluichí suntasacha tuilsoilsithe a óstáil ina dhiaidh sin in éadan foirne Eorpacha, Sasanacha, Albanacha agus Éireannacha ag Páirc Grosvenor. 

Tá cluichí i mBéal Feirste in éadan fhathaigh na hEorpa, Barcelona i stair an chlub, chomh maith le comhscór cáiliúil 3-3 in éadan Benfica. Bhí an club nuálach fosta, thug siad isteach na chéad ticéid séasúir in Éirinn mar aon leis an chéad chlog leictreach i Sraith na hÉireann. Bhog Distillery chuig a bpáirc reatha ag an Lann Bheag, díreach taobh amuigh de Lios na gCearrbhach sa bhliain 1980. 

Tháinig cuid mhór imreoirí mór le rá fríd Distillery, iar-imreoirí idirnáisiúnta a d’imir le Tuaisceart Éireann san áireamh - mar shampla Billy McAdams, Derek Dougan, Bryan Hamilton, Martin O’Neill agus Jim Magilton. Deir O’Neill go raibh an t-am ar chaith sé le Distillery mar bhonn faoina ghairm fada rathúil mar imreoir agus mar bhainisteoir club agus idirnáisiúnta.