Faughs GAA Club was founded in
Easter 1885 in the
Phoenix Park in Dublin. Its inaugural meeting was held at 4 Gardiner's Row, home of
Michael Cusack. The club name, Faughs, is derived from the
Irish language slogan, , anglicized as
Faugh A Ballagh, meaning "clear the way". When the Dublin County Board was formed in 1886, Larry O'Toole was on the committee. At this time the Faughs colours were amber and black, and the club played both
hurling and
football. The Faughs took part in the first Dublin championships in 1887, and were winners of the
Dublin Senior Football Championship in 1889.
Merge with Davitts In January 1891, Faughs merged with the "
Davitts" who, like Faughs, were mostly "spirit grocers assistants". As the "Faughs–Davitts" they adopted a tri-colour amber, black and blue kit. They won their first Dublin senior hurling championship in 1892, and were beaten by
Redmonds of Cork in the All-Ireland final in an unfinished match. The Faughs–Davitts coalition declined after this match.
Reorganisation, 1895-1920s In 1895, a number of members of the original Faughs club revived and reorganised the club. After 1895, Faughs became a hurling-only club and adopted the colours of saffron and green, which it has kept to the present day. In the early 20th century, the club won the first four senior championships (a four-in-a-row lasting from 1900 to 1904) and another five before 1920. Players during this period included Jack and Jimmy Cleary,
Danny McCormack, Andy Harty, and Jack and Will Connolly.
Harry Boland, known for his part in the 1916 Rising, War of Independence and Civil War, also played for Faughs on the 1914 and 1915 championship teams. A four-in-a-row was achieved again in 1920–1923. In 1920, they won three titles: the Senior Championship and League, Intermediate Championship and League. The team was led by
Bob Mockler and captured the
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title beating
Cork in the final by six points. The final score was 4–9 to 4–3. Included in this team were Jim "Builder" Walsh,
Tommy Moore,
Mick Neville,
Martin Hayes, Tom Hayes, Jimmy Cleary, Ned Tobin,
Bob Doherty and
John Joe Callanan, who would later captain
Tipperary to beat
Dublin in the 1930 All-Ireland final.
Mid- to late-20th century From 1939 to 1952, Faughs won eight championships, including two threes-in-a-row in 1939–1941 and 1944–1946. These teams included a number of inter-county and inter-provincial players, including
Ned Wade,
Mick Butler,
Terry Leahy,
Mick Gill,
Dan Canniffe,
Dan Devitt,
Jim Prior,
Tony Herbert, Jack Sheedy and Tommy Boland. Faughs' next senior championship success had to wait until 1970. They then won several championships in a row. They beat St. Vincents in
Croke Park to win the 1970 title. In May 1971, after a gruelling game, they were beaten by one point by Buffers Alley in the
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship. A few days later, they were knocked out of the Dublin championship, again by a single point margin by Craobh Ciaran who went on to win their first Dublin title. Faughs won the next two county championships of 1972 and 1973 and reached the final in 1974, which they lost to Kilmacud Crokes by one point. Two senior titles came in the 1980s—1986 and 1987. Two more came in the 1990s, 1992 and 1999, to bring the total of senior championship titles to 31. == Grounds ==