Tír Chonaill Gaels Gaelic Football Club are a
Gaelic football
Gaelic football (; short name '')'', commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA, or football, is an Irish team sport. A form of football, it is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score ...
club based in
Greenford
Greenford () is a large town in the London Borough of Ealing in West London, Greater London, London, England, lying west from Charing Cross. It has a population of 46,787 inhabitants.
Greenford is served by Greenford station, Greenford Stati ...
, London. The club was formed in London in 1962,
making it one of the oldest clubs outside Ireland. The club is one of the most successful in the
London GAA
The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or London GAA is one of the County (Gaelic games), county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London. The county board is also responsible for the London ...
,
[ ] with many players representing
London at Inter-County level.
History
The club was founded in 1962 by men hailing from
County Donegal
County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...
, Ireland. The first club meeting took place at the Red Lion Pub in
Kilburn, London.
The club is now one of the most successful in London and Britain. They won 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 friendlies. The club has played in ten
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament which began in season 1970–71. It is the top-tier competition for the senior football clubs of Ireland and London.
The current champions are Cuala of D ...
quarter-finals against teams such as
Lavey (
Derry
Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest City status in the United Kingdom, city in Northern Ireland, and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. Located in County Londonderry, the city now covers both banks of the River Fo ...
) twice, Knockmore (
Mayo),
Salthill-Knocknacarra (
Galway
Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...
)
Crossmaglen Rangers
Crossmaglen Rangers Gaelic Athletic Club () is a GAA club in Crossmaglen, 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. In 1971 the ...
(
Armagh
Armagh ( ; , , " Macha's height") is a city and the county town of County Armagh, in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All ...
) twice,
Nemo Rangers
Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Ballinlough, Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated to the Seandún Board and fields teams in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.
History
Nemo Rangers Hurling & ...
(
Cork
"Cork" or "CORK" may refer to:
Materials
* Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product
** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container
*** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine
Places Ireland
* ...
),
Castlehaven
Castlehaven () is a civil parish in County Cork, Ireland. It is located in West Cork, approximately 45 miles south-west of Cork City on the coast. The civil parish includes the town of Castletownshend and the hamlets of Rineen and Tragumna. Th ...
(
Cork
"Cork" or "CORK" may refer to:
Materials
* Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product
** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container
*** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine
Places Ireland
* ...
),
Ballinderry (
Derry
Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest City status in the United Kingdom, city in Northern Ireland, and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. Located in County Londonderry, the city now covers both banks of the River Fo ...
), Burren (
Down) and Castlebar Mitchels (
Mayo). They have also played a number of prestige friendlies against teams such as
Chíll Chartha (Donegal),
Na Cealla Beaga (
Donegal), Civil Service (
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
), St Olafs (
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
), 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.
Football Titles
*
London Senior Football Championship
The London Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association cup competition between the top Gaelic football clubs in London, England. The London GAA, London Football championship began in 1897 with Ireland United winning the first ti ...
s: 18
** 1983, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
Former players
*
Ciaran Bonner – won the
2007 National Football League with
Donegal.
* Barry Brennan – Played in the early nineties, and won one All-Ireland with
Galway
Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...
and two All Stars.
*
Barry Cunningham – won an
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) () is the premier inter-county competition in Gaelic football. County (Gaelic games), County teams compete against each other and the winner is declared All-Ireland Champions.
Organised by the ...
medal with
Donegal in 1992.
*
James McCartan Jnr
James McCartan is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player who played at senior level for the Down county team between 1990 and 2000. McCartan was part of the Down team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1991 an ...
– won two All-Irelands with
Down in 1991 and 1994 and two All Stars.
*
Kevin McMenamin – won the
2007 National Football League with
Donegal.
*
Jody Gormley – Jody played in midfield for
Tyrone in the 1995 All-Ireland defeat against
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
. Has also played Railway Cup for
Ulster
Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
.
* 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
The Sigerson Cup is the trophy for the premier Gaelic football championship among Higher Education institutions (Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology) in Ireland. It traditionally begins in mid January and ends in late February. T ...
medal with Maynooth College, He also played for
Down in the
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
and Championship on many occasions. He also played for
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
on many occasions and managed them in 2004 with the assistance of Maurice Somers.
*
D. J. 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
Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
on a number of occasions.
* Timmy Connolly – 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 Championship
The London Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association cup competition between the top Gaelic football clubs in London, England. The London GAA, London Football championship began in 1897 with Ireland United winning the first ti ...
s
* Tommy McGuire – was a prominent member of the London team of the 1990s and won 2
Sigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the trophy for the premier Gaelic football championship among Higher Education institutions (Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology) in Ireland. It traditionally begins in mid January and ends in late February. T ...
s with University of Ulster Jordanstown and played Senior County Football for
Fermanagh
Historically, Fermanagh (), as opposed to the modern County Fermanagh, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Fermanagh. ''Fir Manach'' originally referred to a distinct kin group of alleged Laigin or ...
. He also has captained and managed Tír Chónaill Gaels over the years collecting every major award in London football on numerous occasions.
See also
*
Paul Coggins, manager
References
External links
Official Tír Chónaill Gaels website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tir Chonaill Gaels
Gaelic football clubs in London GAA
Sport in the London Borough of Ealing