​​The town's name in Irish is Muileann an Bhata which translates as 'The Mill of the Stick'. Tradition has it that the name was derives from a mill which could only be approached by means of a rough stick over the Glendonnel River, where the bridge on the main road is now, beside the Garda Barracks.

Mullinavat originally comprised the civil parishes of Kilbecan, Kilahy and Rossinan, all located in the barony of Knocktopher. Prior to 1842, Mullinavat formed one Ecclesiastical parish with Kilmacow. In the middle of the 18th century, Mullinavat consisted of only a few houses. In 1801, the number of houses was 35, with 158 inhabitants. The erection of a church here in 1805 had a decided influence on the general improvement of the village, which in 1841 had 110 inhabited houses. In 1871, the population of Mullinavat was 531. The parish church of Kilbecan was in use up to 1830, then used as a Protestant church. It was dedicated to St. Beacon, Bishop and confessor whose feast day is set down as May 27.

Notable Features

Tory Hill (Ir. Sliabh gCruinn, 'Round Mountain') rising to a height of 966 ft (294 m). above sea level, is said to have derived its name from an outlaw named Edmund Den, who flourished in this locality around the year 1700. There is a pattern held each year on Tory Hill on the second Sunday of July. This is locally called 'Tory Hill Sunday' and 'Frocchans Sunday'. It never was a religious celebration, but merely consisted of the people of the neighbourhood gathering to pick the wild berries called 'Frocchans'. In the Holy Year of 1950 a large cross was erected on the summit of the hill, and since then the rosary had been said by the people who gather beneath the cross.

Club History

G.A.A. Mullinavat Football Club was formed in 1887, the first year of official Gaelic Athletic Association. championships. Gaelic football was the dominant sport in the parish until around 1913 when a hurling team from Mullinavat entered the Junior championship for the first time. The present pitch was bought in 1953 for £590. Fr. Joseph Gallavan C.C. was the driving force behind the purchase and development of the field.

The arrival of Monsignor Tommy Maher as PP in 1983 provided the catalyst for the club's future successes. Fr. Tommy guided the club to the centenary Junior Championship and the same group of players went on to win the Intermediate Championship in 1999.

Winning the Minor B and U21 B championships in 1998 and 1999 provided the core group of players who won the Intermediate Championships of 2001 and 2006. The club won its first ever U21 A championship in 2013 having lost the previous year's final and this group along with a number of more experienced players claimed the 2014 Intermediate Championship.

The club won the Senior football Championship in 2007 and won back to back senior football titles for the first time in 2017 and 2018..

Club facilities were upgraded in 2004 when the new dressing rooms, flood lights and covered stand were constructed.

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