Glenswilly GAA

History

The present club was founded in 1982. A teenage Manus McFadden arranged a meeting at Foxhall of Glenswillyites who were interested in forming a team, with John Mc Ginley, Roger McDaid, Fr Eamon Crossan, Finbar Glackin, Jimmy Joe McGinley and chair Eddie McDevitt.

Glenswilly reached their first ever Senior county final in 2007, where they lost to near neighbours St Eunan's 0–12 to 1–3.

In 2011, they won the Donegal Senior Football Championship for the first time, with a 1–8 to 0–9 defeat of St Michael's in the final.

On 25 September 2012, the Donegal senior team—fresh from winning the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final—were scheduled to visit Glenswilly; however, the visit was postponed due to time constraints which arose due to the huge crowds around the county eager to catch a glimpse of the team. The team eventually visited Glenswilly on 27 September.

In 2013, the club rebuffed allegations that they forced children into GAA jerseys. Later that year they hosted the 2013 All-Ireland Football Series launch, held following confirmation of the four provincial winners. That year they won their second Donegal Senior Football Championship and progressed to the final of the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship, which they lost to Ballinderry.

The club won its third and final Donegal SFC in 2016.

By 2020, Neil Gallagher, Ciaran Bonner, Darren Mc Ginley and Joe Gibbons (all three-time SFC winners) had retired.

The club commemorated forty years in existence with a year-long event in 2022.

Non-playing personnel

Managers

Notable players

• Ciaran Bonner — 2007 NFL winner
• Neil Gallagher — 2007 NFL-winning captain and 2012 All-Ireland winner
• James Pat McDaid — Glenswilly senior team captain 2013
• Gary McFadden — member of the 2012 All-Ireland panel; Glenswilly senior team captain 2011, 2016
• Michael Murphy — 2012 All-Ireland winning captain

Other figures

• Manus Kelly — led Glenswilly to a Senior C Championship win in 2016
• Michael McGeehin — 2000 JFL trainer
• Shane Williams — Welsh rugby union player

Honours

Football

• Ulster Senior Club Football Championship:
  • Runner-up (1): 2013
• Donegal Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (3): 2011, 2013, 2016
  • Runner-up (2): 2007, 2014
• Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship:
  • Runner-up (1): 2005
• Donegal Intermediate Football Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2005
• ** Donegal Senior B Football Championship**:
  • Winner (1): 2015.
  • ** Donegal Senior C Football Championship**:
  • Winners (2): 2016, 2017
• Donegal Junior A&B Football Championship:
  • Runner-up (1): Junior A Finalists 2000
  • Winner (1): Junior B Champions 1984
  • Runner-up (1): Junior B Finalists 1988, 2014
• Donegal All County League Divisions:
  • Winner (2): Division Two 2007, 2013
  • Winner (3): Division Four 1989, 1993, 2000
• Comortas Peile Na Gaeltacht Tir Conaill:
  • Winner (1): 2011

Other

• Donegal Ladies Intermediate Football Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2007
• Donegal Ladies Junior Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2006
• Donegal Ladies Junior B Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2017
  • Runner-up (1) 2016

References

References

1. (28 August 2022). "Glenswilly remain unbeaten as they overcome challenge of Glenfin".
2. (10 September 2016). "Molloy hopes Ardara can win relegation four-pointer". [[Donegal News]].
3. (11 December 2008). "Major test for Eunan's minors". [[Donegal Democrat]].
4. Cahill, Jackie. (21 October 2011). "Glenswilly boycott threat over Murphy". [[Irish Independent]].
5. (2 October 2011). "Club History". Glenswilly GAA.
6. Foley, Alan. (24 January 2012). "Founding father McFadden goes back to his roots". [[Donegal Democrat]].
7. (2 October 2011). "Classic Murphy goal gives Glenswilly first senior county championship". [[Donegal Democrat]].
8. (2 October 2011). "St Michaels Wins County Championship for Glenswilly".
9. (2 October 2011). "Murphy is the star as Glenswilly triumph". [[The Irish Times]].
10. (25 September 2012). "Details revealed for Sam Maguire's visit to Letterkenny".
11. (25 September 2012). "Sam on tour – where you can see the team today".
12. (25 September 2012). "Exhausted players facing four-hour delays in county tour".
13. (27 September 2012). "Sam on tour today – Times and schedules here".
14. (27 September 2012). "Breaking news: Donegal team due in Buncrana at 10.15PM".
15. (27 September 2012). "Breaking news: Captain Murphy on way to Glenswilly for 11.30PM".
16. (1 February 2013). "Glenswilly hit out at jersey ban rumours". [[Hogan Stand]].
17. (23 July 2013). "All-Ireland Football Series 2013 Launched". GAA.ie.
18. (23 July 2013). "All-Ireland Series launched at Glenswilly GAA club". Donegal Daily.
19. (1 December 2013). "Ballinderry 1–13 Glenswilly 2-06". [[RTÉ Sport]].
20. (1 December 2013). "Live: Glenswilly v Ballinderry Shamrocks Ulster senior club final". Donegal Now.
21. Ferry, Ryan. (16 July 2020). "Changing of the guard for Glenswilly".
22. (21 December 2021). "Glenswilly GAA launches calendar to celebrate 40 years". [[Donegal News]].
23. (30 September 2008). "Six in contention for Donegal job". [[BBC Sport]].
24. (15 October 2011). "Glenswilly fly the Donegal flag".
25. McNulty, Chris. (23 November 2015). "Glenswilly appoint managers for 2016 season".
26. Ferry, Ryan. (31 March 2022). "Glenfin gear up for Division 1". [[Donegal News]].
27. (21 August 2022). "Glenswilly ensure no slip-ups as they overcome St Naul's".
28. Foley, Alan. (16 November 2023). "Glenswilly pay tribute to outgoing Pauric Bonner and management team: Pauric Bonner took the Glenswilly hotseat in late 2020 and having been relegated from Division 1 of the All-County Football League in 2022, were impressive winners of Division 2 this year". [[Donegal Live]].
29. McNulty, Chris. (30 December 2023). "Gary McDaid installed as new Glenswilly manager: Glenswilly have selected Gary McDaid as the successor to Pauric Bonner as manager of the club's senior football team". [[Donegal Live]].
30. McNulty, Chris. (24 June 2019). "Declan Bonner pays tribute to Manus Kelly on day of 'mixed emotions'".
31. Doherty, Conan. (2017). "Welsh rugby legend Shane Williams battles Donegal storm to kick four points for Glenswilly". [[Joe (website).
32. (2 December 2013). "Ballinderry's 12-year wait is over". [[Irish Examiner]].
33. (21 October 2013). "Donegal SFC final: Murphy delivers man-of-the-match display". [[Hogan Stand]].
34. (17 October 2016). "Donegal SFC final: Murphy leads by example". [[Hogan Stand]].