Tir Chonaill Gaels

The Tir Chonaill Gaels GFC club was formed in London in 1962 by predominantly Donegal men. The first ever meeting took place in the Red Lion pub in Kilburn and was chaired by Jackie Reilly. Other people in attendance included Bernard Laverty, Peadre & Mickey Duffy, Jackie Rushe, Liam Doherty, Christy Boyle and John Kelly. There were many others but there names are too many to mention. The club was originally named Clan na Domnaill or Club of the O'Donnells, but this was changed, as the London County Board would not allow the name to be used. It was changed to the present name.

The club in its short history has become one of the most successful clubs in London and Britain. They started firstly winning the junior championship and league in 1963. In the seventies they won the intermediate championship and league. They also claimed the Sean Shiel's and Murphy cups. They then progressed to senior level in the early eighties and first won the London Senior Football Championship in 1983. In that year they also won the British Championship. Since then the club has gone on to win a further nine London and British senior Championships. They have also won the senior league on ten occasions and won numerous Tipperary and Conway cups.

The club has also won numerous All British B&I nine a-side tournaments. They have also completed in the Kilmacud sevens in Dublin on many occasions. The Gaels have played in this tournament more times than any other over seas team. The club in recent years have a policy of playing a number of friendly matches against teams from Ireland. Either the club goes back to visit these teams or the club will play host to these teams.

Over the years the club has had the honour of playing against some of the finest teams from Ireland either in competition or in friend lies. The club has played in ten All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship quarter-finals against teams such as Lavey (Derry) twice, Knockmore (Mayo), Salthill-Knocknacarra(Galway) Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) twice, Nemo Rangers (Cork), Castlehaven (Cork), Ballinderry (Derry), Burren (Down) and Castlebar Mitchels (Mayo). They have also played a number of prestige friendlies against teams such as Kilcar (Donegal), Killybegs (Donegal), Civil Service (Dublin), St Olafs (Dublin), Ballyshannon (Donegal), Donegal (New York), University of Ulster (Belfast) and many more.

The club celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a weekend of celebrations that took place on the last weekend of October 2002.

Former Players

*Barry Brennan - Played in the early nineties. Barry won one All-Ireland with Galway and two All Stars.
*Barry Cunningham - Played in the early nineties and was part of the 91 team that was beaten against Lavey due to some disgraceful refereeing decisions. Barry won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal with Donegal in 1992.
*James McCartan - Played in the early nineties and was part of the great team that took Lavey all the way in 1991. Tir Conaill Gaels were beat after extra time by one point in Derry and Lavey went on to win the All- Ireland club Championship that year. James has won two All-Irelands with Down in 1991 and 1994 and two All Stars.
*Jody Gormley - Jody played in midfield for Tyrone in the 1995 All-Ireland defeat against Dublin. Has also played Railway Cup for Ulster.
*John McParland - Played with the club in the eighties, and was a member of the team that won the senior Championship in 1983. He also managed the club to two London and British senior Championships in 1997 and 1998. John also won a Sigerson Cup medal with Maynooth College, still regarded as the finest student football competition in Ireland He also played for Down in the National League and Championship on many different occasions. He also played for London on many occasions and managed them in 2004 with the assistance of Maurice Somers and people still talk of John as one of the greatest footballers to play in London.
*DJ Kane - Played with the club in the late eighties before going on the captain Down to All- Ireland success in 94. He also won an All-Ireland in 1991. Has also won an Allstar and played Railway Cup for Ulster on a number of occasions.
*Timmy Connolly - Played with the club in the early nineties and was regarded one of the finest footballers to play for the club. Played for Antrim regularly in the late eighties and early nineties. Also made a number of appearances for Ulster in the Railway Cup.
*Maurice Somers - Played with the club between 1994 and 2001, won 5 London Senior Football Championships and is also considered a legend of the red and white jersey. Played minors for his native Down in 1984 and 1985 and London in the early nineties, remembered for his lion hearted displays at his favourite centre half back position and his equalising point against Sligo in the 1993 National Football League when he ignored managers orders to never go past the halfway line and score one of Londons most memorable points of recent history.
*Tommy McGuire - Tommy McGuire, considered by many to be one of the finest players to pull on the green and white of London and the red and white of Tir Chonaill Gaels. Tommy was a prominent member of the London team of the 1990s and won 2 Sigerson Cups with University of Ulster Jordanstown and played Senior County Football for Fermanagh. He also has captained and managed Tir Chonaill Gaels over the years collecting every major award in London football on numerous occasions.

Links

* [http://www.tirchonaillgaels.com Official Tir Chonaill Gaels website]