The Celtic Cowboys of Austin, Texas, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. Members and friends of the sport and social club met on the rooftop of the Texas Bankers Association building in downtown Austin to commemorate the occasion with a gala.
The Celtic Cowboys were founded by Limerick man Pat Doab in 2004 and they sponsor teams in golf, soccer, hurling, and Gaelic football. The past two decades of the club’s existence have seen a number of accolades on the field, with the GAA sides being particularly strong. The men’s Gaelic football and hurling teams won their first national titles in their divisions in 2008 and 2011, and the ladies’ Gaelic football side won their first in 2018. The Cowboys also served as host to the GAA Hurling All-Stars showcase in 2015 and the LGFA Ladies’ Football All-Star showcase in 2023. The numerous soccer sides have won local, state, and national tournaments throughout the years as well, making athletic excellence a through-line of the club’s ongoing history.
Conor Ryan leads members of the Celtic Cowboys in “The Fields of Athenry.”
However, according to club founder Doab, the club’s reach goes beyond the playing field. “The organization was and continues to be around connection and community, where sport is the cornerstone of that community,” he told me. “It doesn’t require members to actively participate in the sports, but to feel part of a supportive group.”
The Texas and Austin Roses of Tralee at the 20th Anniversary Gala with the Texas State Capitol in the background.
The Celtic Cowboys host numerous networking and social events throughout the year, and provide a “soft-landing program for anyone that moves to the Austin area.” Indeed, hundreds of members from Ireland, the U.S. and elsewhere have passed through the ranks of the club in the last two decades. It is clear that the Celtic Cowboys are at the center of Austin’s burgeoning Irish community.
Sound check on the roof. Texas' famous Hill Country in the distance.
“Congratulations to the club on 20 years,” said Robert Hull, the Consul General of Ireland based in Austin, at the gala. He had particular praise for Pat Doab, whose “drive led to the creation of the club.” Hull also noted Doab’s work on the Austin Limerick Sister City Initiative, which has led to the recognition of an official Friendship City status between the two.
When asked to reflect on what has kept the club going for so long, Doab said, “Being part of an organization that’s volunteer driven is a wonderful experience. It takes a village to maintain a community for any length of time and this is something everyone associated with the club should be proud of.”
He also acknowledged the contributions of deceased members. “It’s important that we remember the loved ones that have passed away in these 20 short years, an integral part of our community. Family and wonderful friends to us, we will always remember them.”
With 20 years’ history already, the future looks bright for the Celtic Cowboys of Austin, Texas.
