Tir Chonaill Gaels
Encyclopedia
The Tir Chonaill Gaels GFC are a Gaelic Football
club based in Greenford
, London
.The club was formed in London in 1962,
making it one of the oldest clubs outside of Ireland
. The club is one of the most successful in the London Gaelic Scene
, with many players representing
London at Inter-County Level.
, Ireland
. The first club meeting took place at the Red Lion Pub in
Kilburn
, London
. The club is now revered as one of the most successful in London, and indeed all of Britain. The club one the junior championship and league in 1963, then winning the intermediate championship and
league in the 70's, as well as claiming the Sean Shiels and Murphy Cups. The club continued to strengthen and won its first Senior London
Championship in 1983, as well as winning the All-Britain Championship. Since then the club has won eight London and British Senior Championships respectively.
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 overseas 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.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
club based in Greenford
Greenford
Greenford is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, UK. It was historically an ancient parish in the former county of Middlesex. The most prominent landmarks in the suburb are the A40, a major dual-carriageway; Horsenden Hill, above sea level; the small Parish Church of...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.The club was formed in London in 1962,
making it one of the oldest clubs outside of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The club is one of the most successful in the London Gaelic Scene
London GAA
The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...
, with many players representing
London at Inter-County Level.
History
The club was founded in 1962 by men hailing from County DonegalDonegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The first club meeting took place at the Red Lion Pub in
Kilburn
Kilburn
Kilburn is an area of north west London, England, which is divided between three London Boroughs, Brent, Camden, and a small part in Westminster. The main thoroughfare running northwest-southeast is Kilburn High Road, part of the modern A5 road which forms the boundary between the boroughs of Brent...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The club is now revered as one of the most successful in London, and indeed all of Britain. The club one the junior championship and league in 1963, then winning the intermediate championship and
league in the 70's, as well as claiming the Sean Shiels and Murphy Cups. The club continued to strengthen and won its first Senior London
Championship in 1983, as well as winning the All-Britain Championship. Since then the club has won eight London and British Senior Championships respectively.
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 overseas 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
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
quarter-finals against teams such as Lavey (Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
) twice, Knockmore (Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
), Salthill-Knocknacarra(Galway
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,...
) Crossmaglen Rangers
Crossmaglen Rangers
Crossmaglen Rangers G.A.C is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. They cater for Gaelic football and camogie. Their home football ground is St. Oliver Plunkett Park which was opened in 1959...
(Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
) twice, Nemo Rangers
Nemo Rangers GAA
Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football Club is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club on the southside of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1922 and is primarily concerned with the game of Gaelic football, though interest in hurling has escalated in recent years.-History:Nemo Rangers...
(Cork), Castlehaven (Cork), Ballinderry (Derry), Burren (Down) and Castlebar Mitchels (Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
). They have also played a number of prestige friendlies against teams such as Kilcar (Donegal), Killybegs (Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
), 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, and won one All-Ireland with GalwayGalway GAAThe 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,...
and two All Stars. - Barry Cunningham - won an All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe 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 DonegalDonegal GAAThe Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
in 1992. - James McCartanJames McCartanJames McCartan is a retired Irish Gaelic footballer and current manager. He played for Down between 19xx and xxxx. McCartan was part of the Down team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1991 and 1994. McCartan also won two Ulster Senior Football Championships with the county...
- won two All-Irelands with DownDown GAAThe Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in 1991 and 1994 and two All Stars. - Jody GormleyJody GormleyJody Gormley is a former Gaelic footballer for Tyrone, and London. He also played a coaching role for Down following his retirement from Inter-County playing, and has held the role of Antrim football manager. Gormley can now be found managing the Longstone football club in Co...
- Jody played in midfield for TyroneTyrone GAAThe Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
in the 1995 All-Ireland defeat against DublinDublin GAADublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. Has also played Railway Cup for UlsterUlster GAAThe Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
. - 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 CupSigerson CupThe Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
medal with Maynooth College, He also played for DownDown GAAThe Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in the National LeagueNational Football League (Ireland)The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
and Championship on many different occasions. He also played for LondonLondon GAAThe London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...
on many occasions and managed them in 2004 with the assistance of Maurice Somers. - D. J. KaneD. J. KaneD. J. Kane is a retired Northern Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Newry Mitchels and was a member of the Down senior inter-county team from the 1980s until the 1990s...
- Played with the club in the late eighties before going on the captain DownDown GAAThe Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County 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 UlsterUlster GAAThe Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
on a number of occasions. - Timmy Connolly - Played for AntrimAntrim GAAThe Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
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 ChampionshipLondon Senior Football ChampionshipThe London Senior Club Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association cup competition between the top Gaelic football clubs in London, England. The London Football championship first began in 1897 with Ireland United claiming the inaugural title...
s - Tommy McGuire - was a prominent member of the London team of the 1990s and won 2 Sigerson CupSigerson CupThe Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
s with University of Ulster Jordanstown and played Senior County Football for FermanaghFermanagh GAAThe Fermanagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Fermanagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. The county board is also responsible for the Fermanagh inter-county teams-History:...
. He also has captained and managed Tir Chonaill Gaels over the years collecting every major award in London football on numerous occasions.