Girish Mahajan (Editor)

C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair

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Founded:
  
1931

Nickname:
  
Gaeltacht Men

County:
  
Donegal

Colours:
  
Green and White

Grounds:
  
Áras Mhic Eiteagáin, Machaire Gathlán

C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair is a GAA club based in the parish of Gweedore in northwest County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. They are one of the strongholds of Gaelic football in County Donegal.

Contents

Their home ground is at Machaire Gathlán, and they are currently the most successful club in both the Donegal Senior Football Championship and Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta. They currently have the most players on the Donegal Senior Panel with 6. Veterans Neil and Eamon McGee along with youngsters Odhran MacNiallais, Kieran Gillespie, Michael Carroll and Cian Mulligan. Past players such as Neili Gallagher, Hughie Tim Boyle, Kevin Cassidy and others are regarded as some of the finest players to play for Donegal.

History

The first records of Gaelic football being played in Gaoth Dobhair date back to 1918. Up until the late 1920s, there was no official club, but two teams in the parish. (One consisting of players from the east of Derrybeg church, and the other comprising players from the west of the church.) Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Ghaoth Dobhair would later be founded in 1931. Their traditional local rivals are Dungloe and Falcarragh but their biggest rivals are St Eunans of Letterkenny. The two clubs are Donegal's most successful clubs and usually have feisty and tough matches that are full of drama and great football skill from under 12 level right up to senior level. Ghaoth Dobhair are known for their physical,handpassing and 'never say die attitude' style of play. The club is also famous for its Thursday night discos during the summer which has been running since the 70s. This is a massive income provider for the club and people travel from as far as Downings and Killybegs to attend due to its good reputation and unique setting.

Gaoth Dobhair has produced many county footballers over the years and the club's players have been awarded All Stars on 5 occasions: Kevin Cassidy in 2002, and him again in 2011 alongside full-back Neil McGee, who received another one in 2012 and 2014 when Donegal reached All-Ireland Finals winning one and losing the other to Mayo and Kerry respectively. Underage development has improved in recent times with successes in the under-14, under-15, under-16 and under-21 levels after a long drought. This success is largely down to the coaching plans and underage structure put in place by a number of members in the early noughties. In the summer of 2012, after years of planning and development, a new pitch was built beside the clubhouse. In 2016 plans were laid down to replace the old pitch with a brand new one featuring a small stand opposite the clubhouse.

Honours

Gaoth Dobhair have won a total of 14 Donegal Senior County Championships, more than any other club in Donegal. They are also the most successful team in Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta history, with nine wins. The last of their Senior County Championships was won against rivals St Eunan's on 30 September 2006 at Mac Cumhaill Park, Ballybofey. In the summer of 2012, Ghaoth Dobhair won the Donegal and All-Ireland Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta on their own pitch. In recent years, success has been scarce at senior level but a promising underage team which has won county championships at all underage levels up to under 21 level has provided hope for better fortunes in the near future. This underage team has provided 3 senior players, 8 under 21 and 11 minor players for their respective county teams in the past 3 years.

Three players in their history have been part of All-Ireland winning squads and this was Peter, Eamon and Neil McGee in 2012 when Donegal won their second All-Ireland title, While Odhran MacNiallais also featured in the 2014 final.

  • 14 Donegal Senior Football Championships (1935, 1938, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1961, 2002, 2006)
  • 12 Donegal Senior Leagues (1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1970, 1973, 2003, 2006)
  • 5 Donegal Under 21 Championships (1971, 1984, 1991, 2005, 2016)
  • 9 Donegal Under 18 Championships (1933, 1934, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1976, 1987, 1999, 2014)
  • 4 Donegal Under 16 Championships (1958, 1962, 2011, 2012)
  • 2 Donegal Under 15 Championships (2011, 2012)
  • 4 Donegal Under 14 Championships (1967, 1986, 2010, 2012)
  • 2 Donegal Under 13 Championship (1985, 2016)
  • 1 Donegal Under 12 Championship (1985)
  • 14 Donegal County Gaeltacht Championships (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012)
  • 9 Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta (Náisiúnta) (1969, 1975, 1976, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013)

    • Current senior panel

  • Manager: vacant

    • '*' means capped at County Level

    References

    C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA