While gaelic games were likely played in the area before then, the Fermoy Gaelic Athletic Association club was founded in 1886 at a meeting in the National League Rooms (now called Fermoy Commercial club in O’Neill Crowley Quay or present home to the Fermoy Bridge club). Mr William Troy was the club's first Chairman. He was also one of the Munster delegates to the 2nd All-Ireland Congress held in Thurles in 1887, he was elected one of the 1st Vice-Presidents of the GAA National Executive Body.

Clondulane village in the suburbs of Fermoy, was the hub of Fermoy teams at that time, this was due to the large employment available at the Flour Mills which were situated there for many years.