Dunmore McHales
Encyclopedia
Dunmore MacHales is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club based in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland
. The club is a member of Galway GAA
. Teams at underage level and Senior play in the Galway League and Championships.
They were the first team to win the Galway Senior Club Football Championship
in 1889 and have enjoyed many victories in the competition ever since although their last county title was won over 25 years ago. They last appeared in the final in 1997. They are third in the all-time list of most victories.
They had two great decades, the first coming from 1900 to 1912, and the 1960s when they won 5 of the ten championships. They contributed five players to the great Galway Three-in-a-Row team of 1964,65 and 66.They included John Keenan, John Donnellan, Pat Donnellan,Bosco McDermott and Seamus Leydon, with Tommy Keenan in the subs.
Notable players to play for Dunmore in their history include 3 generations of Donnellans. Michael Donnellan was a talented footballer and won an All-Ireland
medal with the Galway Senior football team
in 1925. He died in Croke Park at the 1964 All-Ireland final, shortly before his son, John Donnellan
, as victorious Galway captain, received the Sam Maguire Cup
. John would follow in his father’s footsteps in both football and polictical pursuits. He captained the Galway winning team in 1964, the first of a historic "3 In A Row" His brother, Patrick (Pateen) was also on the team. John's son Michael
, kept the family tradition alive by winning two All-Ireland titles in 1998 and 2001. He was one of the most exciting players of his time but he never enjoyed similar success with Dunmore. He was revered by all who had the privilege of sharing a pitch with him and Armagh footballing great Oisin McConville once said of him 'He was the best athlete I've ever played against'. His capabilities were never more evident than in the All-Ireland final of 1998 where his surging runs and skillful ball-carrying were crucial to the teams victory. His stunning run of the full length of the pitch to assist Sean Og De Paor was voted the best moment in the history of GAA. He later moved to Salthill-Knocknacarra
in 2003 and won an All-Ireland club medal in 2006. His legacy will live on despite his absence. Undoubtedly along with his father and grandfather he is the best player ever to pull on the green shirt
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club based in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The club is a member of Galway GAA
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. Teams at underage level and Senior play in the Galway League and Championships.
They were the first team to win the Galway Senior Club Football Championship
Galway Senior Club Football Championship
The Galway Senior Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Galway Clubs. The winners of the Galway Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship and in turn, go on to the...
in 1889 and have enjoyed many victories in the competition ever since although their last county title was won over 25 years ago. They last appeared in the final in 1997. They are third in the all-time list of most victories.
They had two great decades, the first coming from 1900 to 1912, and the 1960s when they won 5 of the ten championships. They contributed five players to the great Galway Three-in-a-Row team of 1964,65 and 66.They included John Keenan, John Donnellan, Pat Donnellan,Bosco McDermott and Seamus Leydon, with Tommy Keenan in the subs.
Notable players to play for Dunmore in their history include 3 generations of Donnellans. Michael Donnellan was a talented footballer and won an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medal with the Galway Senior football team
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in 1925. He died in Croke Park at the 1964 All-Ireland final, shortly before his son, John Donnellan
John Donnellan
John F. Donnellan is a former Irish politician and sportsperson. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Dáil Éireann for twenty-five years. He played Gaelic football with his local club Dunmore McHales and with the Galway senior inter-county team in the 1960s.-Early & private life:John...
, as victorious Galway captain, received the Sam Maguire Cup
Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup, often called The Sam , is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
. John would follow in his father’s footsteps in both football and polictical pursuits. He captained the Galway winning team in 1964, the first of a historic "3 In A Row" His brother, Patrick (Pateen) was also on the team. John's son Michael
Michael Donnellan (GAA player)
Michael Donnellan is a former inter-county Gaelic footballer for Galway. He is the son of former politician and footballer, John Donnellan and grandson of politician and footballer Michael Donnellan. All them have captained the Galway football team in their careers...
, kept the family tradition alive by winning two All-Ireland titles in 1998 and 2001. He was one of the most exciting players of his time but he never enjoyed similar success with Dunmore. He was revered by all who had the privilege of sharing a pitch with him and Armagh footballing great Oisin McConville once said of him 'He was the best athlete I've ever played against'. His capabilities were never more evident than in the All-Ireland final of 1998 where his surging runs and skillful ball-carrying were crucial to the teams victory. His stunning run of the full length of the pitch to assist Sean Og De Paor was voted the best moment in the history of GAA. He later moved to Salthill-Knocknacarra
Salthill-Knocknacarra
Salthill-Knocknacarra is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Salthill and Knocknacarra areas in Galway City, Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA...
in 2003 and won an All-Ireland club medal in 2006. His legacy will live on despite his absence. Undoubtedly along with his father and grandfather he is the best player ever to pull on the green shirt
Páirc Mhic Éil is the home pitch of Dunmore MacHales since 1973, before this it was called "the Demesne" or "The Captain's"
Under 10's 9's 8's 7's 6's 5's and team (Present)
They still do matchs and train and work on a local Sunday (Matches could be other days)Honours
- Galway Senior Club Football ChampionshipGalway Senior Club Football ChampionshipThe Galway Senior Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the top Galway Clubs. The winners of the Galway Championship winners qualify to represent their county in the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship and in turn, go on to the...
s: 15- 1889, 1891, 1900, 1902, 1907, 1910, 1912, 1953, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1983