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The GWEEDORE CELTIC story

 

Stair CHELTIGH GHAOTH DOBHAIR

 

Gweedore Celtic has a long and distinguished history. It is one of the oldest clubs in the country. The club existed before the end of the nineteenth century but it was in the 19121912-1918 period that they were better known for their feats. During that period they only lost one match. Winning many cups in the process. When travelling away to clubs like Cranford,Milford and Glenties,they travelled on side cars overnight. Some prominent players were Charlie Friel(granduncle of Paddy Crerand),Mickey Mc Bride,Barney Mc Garvey,Thomas Johm Mc Bride,Willie Coppins,Donal Shein Gallagher and Paddy Mc Fadden who later played professional football in the U.S.A.

The club practically disappeared during the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s due mainly to the establishment of the G.A.A. in the parish in 1931. In the fifties interest was revived again with the formation of the North West League in 1952. Con Mc Fadden Bunaninver was responsible for starting the Glassagh Celtic Club. Prominent also in the establishment of the same club were the Coyle brothers Francis and Barney,Mickey Gallagher,Padraig Mc Ginley,Jimmy Coyle, Neily Mc Hugh,Colm and Padraig Ferry, and Murry Coyle. Other teams from Gweedore involved in that league were Glasserchoo, Foreland Dynamos and Derrybeg United.In the late fifties emigration took it’s toll and some teams found it impossible to form a squad .Also the G.A.A rule 27 which barred players from taking part in both codes,Gaelic and Soccer, contributed to the shortage of talent. During this period Glassagh Celtic and Foreland Dynamos and later Derrybeg United amalgamated to form  Gweedore Celtic.

The establishment of Ard Scoil Mhuire in 1957 created the demand for school sports. One of their sports was of course the popular game of soccer. Also in the mid-end sixties soccer got a lot of TV coverage thus increasing more interest in the game. In the late sixties the young Colm Mc Bride(ex Ard Scoil Mhuire student) and the more experienced Fred Coll took charge of the Celts. Other people involved were Connie Duffy,Joe Gallagher,Michael Coll,Dan Doherty,Michael Gallagher John Mc Gee,Jcolmohn Mc Fadden, Jimmy Mc Garvey and Tony Mc Cauley. The team was still playing in the North West League. The first few years were lean times and their only Success on the field was the Falcarragh Cup in 1967. Colm’s youth policy was beginning to bear fruit. A crop of young talent such as Hugh Rua Gallagher,Donal and Eamon McGee,Donnchada and Eamon Mac Niallis ,Padraig, Jerry and Brian Coyle, Pat Doohan(deceased),Dermot Coll,Cornelius Mc Fadden,Piaras Coyle Jodie Doohan and many others were to be the foundation of what was to be the golden era of Gweedore Celtic. Between 1977 and 1987 they achieved the following honours1986

Winners of the Donegal Premier League in’79,’83,’85 and 86.

Winners of The Top Four Competition  in ’78,81,’and ’83.

Winners of the I.A.W.S.Cup  in’78,’82 and ’83.

Winners of the Ulster Junior Cup in ’79,’84.95 and 96

Winners of the Donegal Champions Cup in ’86.

They broke a lot of records including their 117 goals in one season which indicated their all-out attack style. Theirachievements coincided with Donegal League winning the first major national title. The Oscar Traynor Trophy which isthe Junior International Championship of Ireland.

Six players from the club played in the Final, Donal Mc Gee,Donnchadh Mac Niallias,Doalty Sweeney,Jerry Coyle,Pat Doohan(deceased)and Hugh Rua Gallagher who had the honour and distinction of captaining the team.

In 1986 the club along with the majority of the Donegal Premier League teams joined the newly–formed Ulster Senior League. By this time many of the players who had played with distinction had reached the end of their careers and found it difficult to achieve the same form at that level.

Eventually in 1995 the club decided to revert to the Donegal League.The team reached the semi –final of the Junior Cup and was knocked out by Calry Bohs, of Sligo in the national competition.In the same year they became Ulster Junior Cup Champions when they beat Glenea United in the final. They repeated the feat the following year by beating Cockhill Celtic.The club experienced lean time in the followings ten years and even had a spell in the first division.

Hugh Rua Gallagher is trying to reinvent the glories of the mid seventies, starting again with the youth of the area.

In 2005 the Youth team captured the Youth League and the Ulster Youth Cup with Fanad United pipping them in the League Cup.In 2006 the youths finished runners-up to Fanad in the league and Cup.The nucleus of the present team is drawn from that successful youth team.Players like Paul Gillespie,Eamon, Paul and Micky Curran,Michael Mc Kelvey,Colin Ferry,Gary Whoriskey  and Matthew Smith are the backbone of the present senior team. Along with veteran Gordgie Doherty ,Kevin Friel,William and Paul Mc Bride,Ciaran Ferry, Damien O’Sullivan and Prionnsais Forker. the club can look forward with confidence to the future.

In the past success was enjoyed on the field; however club facilities off the field were poor. And it became clear that in order to attract the young talent in the future playing conditions would have to improve.

In the  nineties land was purchased on An Screaban near the Gweedore Industrial Estate and for the next fifteen years a lot of club energy went into developing an attractive environment for the future.ScreabanThe new facilities consist of a club house, enclosed astro pitch and a new soccer pitch. This development would not be possible, only for the generosity of the people of Gweedore.The local people both business and private are  always willing to contribute where the development is in aid of the youth in the area. The club also produced their own website www.gweedoreceltic.com to keep the diaspora and local members up to date with the latest happenings at the club, a club very proud of its history. The new facilities brought new energy to the club and attracted new talent. With the help of the new management team of Hugh Rua Gallagher,Paddy Duggan and Donal Mc Gee, Gweedore Celtic won the Donegal League Championship in 2011 and the Donegal League Cup in 2010 & 2011.

Is it possible that the club is at the start of some thing special. Only time will tell.