CLG Gaeil Fhánada

CLG Gaeil Fhánada is a Gaelic football club based Portsalon in Fanad (Fánaid) County Donegal, Ireland. Their home ground is Páirc Uí Shiadhail located in Portsalon. The club has frequently used their secondary playing field in Trialough prior to Páirc Uí Shiadhail’s establishment and during times when it was closed. The club does not participate in hurling or camogie.

History

The club was founded in 1982 by a local group primarily lead by Miah Shiels. The club began playing in Trialough, on the coast of north Fanad until 1994 when it opened their current ground, Páirc Uí Shiadhail in Portsalon were it established it’s home grounds, clubhouse and later a club gym. When opened in May 1994 by the CLG Dún na nGall club board, it hosted a game between the county’s of Donegal & Mayo. The grounds still to this day, despite its lack of spectator capacity, is ranked in the top five surfaces in the county. Páirc Uí Shiadhail is also notable for being one of the few pitches in the world to not have 65 meter lines.

The club’s first majority success was winning the 1985 Donegal Junior Men’s Championship, after defeating CLG Sean Mac Cumhaills in the final. Gaeil Fhánada’s side that day was captained by Colman Carr. In 1990 they would go on to win All-County League Division 4 title. In 1992 the club’s first underage title was won by the U12, winning the U12 B County Title, defeating CLG Iorras in the final. The same year the club’s Senior Quiz Team was the first Ulster team in history to win the National Final in Senior Scór. Their most recent quiz victory being their Senior county title success in 2025 with notable team members being Micheál Friel, Cathal McElwaine, Geard Patrick Shiels & Bernard McGettigan Sr.

In 1997 the men’s side won the Donegal Junior Championship again after loosing the 1993 final. In 2007 & 2009 the men’s side won the Donegal Intermediate Championship, coming runner up in 2006 final, after the final went to a replay against CLG Cloich Cheann Fhaola. Gaeil Fhánada won the 2013 All-Ireland Comórtas Peile na Gaeltacht Sóisir title captained by Paddy & Mark 'Seán' McConigley in County Waterford, the club's first Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachttitle title.[1]

The men’s side won the 2014 Donegal Intermediate B Championship against CLG Cloich Cheann Fhaola. In 2017, Aidan ‘Murray’ McAteer was appointed manager of the senior men’s team. The retired Gaeil Fhánada player, brought the side to the 2017 Donegal Intermediate Semifinal were the lost to CLG Naomh Náille and Peader Morgan in Páirc Uí Dhónaill in Letterkenny.

In 2018 the club experienced a great year. The ladies side won the Donegal Junior Championship in 2018. The men’s side won the 2018 Dún na nGall Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sóisir against local rivals Na Dúnaibh in Ná Dúnaibh’s home grounds. The two sides met again in 2018 the All-Ireland Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sóisir final, where Na Dúnaibh won 1-12 to 1-10. The men’s side would go on to finish mid table in the All-County Division 3 League & get knocked out of the Donegal Intermediate Championship Quarterfinal by CLG Aodh Ruadh Béal Átha Seanaidh. However, the Minor Boys team would go on to win the ‘treble’ in 2018. Captained by centre back Matthew Gallagher, the side won the Donegal Northen Regional Board Division 2 League Minor Final in Downings against CLG Gaeil Leitir Ceanainn. The Donegal All-County League Minor Final at ‘The Burn Road’ against CLG Gleann Fhinne and the Donegal Division 2 Minor Championship Final in Convoy against CLG Chill Chartha with Gaeil Fhánada’s number 10 Darren McElwaine from Muineagh hitting 1-3. The year ended in spectacular fashion with the North, South, East, West tournament took place. In the men’s section, South beat a weak East team & North defeated a strong West team in the semifinals. Then, the South Ladies defeated the North Ladies in the Ladies Final, whilst afterwards the South Men’s team defeated North by 1 point, scored at the end by Mark McAteer.

In 2019, Séamie ‘Coshia’ Friel represented the club for the Donegal Masters team. The minor side performed poorly. The men’s side captained by Jimmy Coyle, were knocked out of the Dún na nGall Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sinsir Preliminary Round in Páirc Uí Shiadhail by CLG Gleann t Súilí. Then, in the Donegal All-County League Division 3 they avoided relegation, struggling without key player Michael Sweeney to injury. They would later fail to get past the group stage of the Donegal Intermediate Championship. The U21 side were defeated in the winter by An Tearmainn in the U21 B Quarter Final.

In 2020, after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, the men’s side competed in the Donegal Northen Regional Board Division 2 League. They were later knocked out of the Donegal Intermediate Championship Quarterfinal by hosts CLG Bun Cranacha & Darach ‘Jigger’ O’Conner. The reserve side experienced several victories. Mulroy Gaels was re-established for the minor boys, were by Na Dúnaibh & Gaeil Fhánada came together to compete in the Donegal Northen Regional Board Division 1 League, were they were knocked out by CLG Naomh Ádhamainn. Conor McConigle would later leave the men’s panel and was selected for London GAA Inter-County panel where he was a permanent member for several years. His brother Kevin continued to player for Gaeil Fhánada.

In 2021, the club started a Dads & Lads team that was short lived. The men’s side battled hard to make it to the Donegal All-County League Division 3 Promotion Playoff but slimly lost to CLG Gaeil Leitir Ceanainn at the ‘Burn Road’. They would later get knocked out of the Donegal Intermediate Championship Quarterfinal once again by CLG Bun Cranacha, in Páirc Ó Dhónaill. The reserve side under Bernard McGettigan Sr. made it to the Donegal Division 3 B Final but lost to CLG Gaeil Leitir Ceanainn. The ladies side would make it to the Donegal Ladies Intermediate Final but lost to CLG Naomh Ádhamainn in Moyle Park. At underage, U21 side which consisted of the same group of men who won the 2018 Minor ‘Treble’ went of the hunt for U21 B glory. However they were knocked out by neighbours CLG Baile na nGallóglach at ‘The Bridge’. The U17 side captained by Aaron ‘Sean’ McConigley, won the Donegal Northern Regional Board League Championship Shield Final away to Naomh Mhuire Conmhaigh, after a man of the match performance by full forward Dylan McFadden. The U15 boys made it to the Donegal All-County Division 2 League Championship quarterfinal but lost away to CLG Iorras and now professional soccer goalkeeper Oisin Cooney, who scored double digits on the day.

In 2022, the men’s side captained by Ryan ‘Red Bird’ McGonigle hosted & won the Dún na nGall Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sóisir in Páirc Uí Shiadhail, after beating Naomh Mhuire Íochtar Na Rossan in the final. They automatically got promoted in the league as the leagues were manually redrawn. They later go on to have a steady campaign in the Donegal All-County Division 2 League. They won the 2022 All-Ireland Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sóisir title after extra-time against Mayo's Cill Chomáin (2–10 to 2–11) in Leitir Móir, County Galway, the second time they won the competition.[2] It was their most significant trophy at adult level for nearly a decade, having earlier contested the 2018 final against Downings and lost.[1] They made it to the Donegal Intermediate Championship Semifinal in Páirc Mac Cumhaill were they experienced a heavy defeat to CLG Naomh Colmcille & the Doherty cousins. The reserve side would experience the same faith as they bowed out of the Donegal Intermediate B Championship Semifinal an hour before hand. At underage, the U21 side captained by Shaun Kerr, battled hard in the B championship defeating rivals CLG Na Dúnaibh away in the last minutes in the group stage, before being knocked out in the quarterfinal by CLG Aodh Ruadh Béal Átha Seanaidh. The U17 boys captained by Callum McAteer, would go on to reach the Donegal Northern Regional Board Division 2 League Final but loose to hosts CLG Gaoth Dobhair. The boys would later battle in the Donegal All-County Division 2 Championship but fail to reach the knockout stages. Key performances throughout the year from Seán ‘Joe’ Carr and forwards Killian Friel & Charlie McAteer kept them in touching distance. The U15 boys captained by Ciaran ‘Baker’ McElwaine had a poor campaign in both league & championship but retained the Anthony Blaney Memorial Cup which they have won consecutively from 2018 to 2023.

2023 saw the men’s side loose key players Bernard McGettigan Jr. & Ryan McGonigle to injury. The side once again captained by Jimmy Coyle had an ok campaign in the Donegal All-County League Division 2. The side also made it to the Dún na nGall Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sóisir Semifianl but, with a weak squad out, lost to CLG Gaoth Dobahir & Caoimhín Ó Casaide. They made it to the Donegal Intermediate Championship Semifinal but lost to CLG An Málainn in Páirc Ó Dhónaill. The reserve side failed to make it past the quarterfinal stage as they lost CLG Bun Cranacha in Convoy in the Donegal Intermediate B Championship. At underage, the U21 side made it to the U21 B quarterfinal but lost to CLG Cloich Cheann Fhaola away. The U17 boys made it to the Donegal Northern Regional Board Final but lost to CLG Gaeil Leitir Ceanainn in Downings, which would mark the start of a long rivalry between the two sides at ‘Born in 2006/7 group’. The Donegal All-County Division 2 Cup didn’t go in the boys favour. The U15 boys after a long tough season won the Donegal All-County Division 5 Cup in Burt with a man of the match performance by 13 year old Jack Dunlevey.

2024 saw the men’s loose to Naomh Mhuire away in the Dún na nGall Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sóisir in the quarterfinal. They would go on to have an ok Donegal All-County Division 2 League campaign. They would go on to avoid relegation after winning the relegation semifinal in the Donegal Intermediate Championship. The reserve side made it to the Donegal Intermediate B Championship quarterfinal after a poor Donegal All-County Division 2 B League performance. They would get knocked out by CLG An Málainn in Burt. At underage, the U21 side failed to make it out of the group stage of the U21 B Championship. The Minor boys captained by Jamie McAteer would make it to the Donegal Northern Regional Board Final but lost to CLG Gaeil Leitir Ceanainn in Downings. The boys would later loose the Donegal All-County Division 3 Cup Shield semifinal to CLG Gleann Fhinne away.

In 2025, the club started up a Mothers & Others team who even travelled to Philadelphia to play football. The men’s side captained by Oisin Shiels would loose in the Dún na nGall Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Sóisir semifinal to CLG Naomh Conaill’s Sóisir side in Ardara. They would go on to have a disappointing campaign in the Donegal All-County Division 2 League, defeating CLG Naomh Bríd in the relegation/promotion playoff. In the Donegal Intermediate Championship they avoided relegation by defeating CLG Cloich Cheann Fhaola in the relegation semifinal in a high tempers affair in Moyle Park. The reserve side would experience a mixed league campaign in the Donegal All-County Division 2 B League. In the Donegal Intermediate B Championship they made it to the semifinal where they narrowly lost to CLG An Beart at ‘The Burn Road’. The Laides won the Dún na nGall Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Idirmheánach na mBan Final against CLG Árd an Ratha away. The ladies would loose the All-Ireland Comórtas na Peil na Gaeltacht Idirmheánach na mBan Final in County Meath by a narrow margin. None the less, the ladies won the Donegal Ladies Intermediate Championship. At underage, the U21 side captained by Conor Heraghty ended the Gaeil Fhánada U21 25 year long famine by winning the Donegal U21 D Championship Fianl in Lifford against CLG Realt Na Mara. The Minor boys captained by JP Gallagher would make it to the Donegal Northern Regional Board Division 3 League Final but failed to field.


Awards: Paddy Shiels Award (Senior Player Of The Year)

2018 - Oisin Shiels

2019 - Jimmy Coyle

2020 - Ryan ‘Red Bird’ McGonigle

2021 - Shaun Kerr

2022 - Bernard McGettigan Jr.

2023 - Paddy Carr

2024 - Odhrán Sheils

2025 - Ronan McAteer & Oisín Mac Pháidín


Young Senior Player Of The Year

2018 - Fergus Friel

2023 - Callum McAteer

2024 - Seán ‘Joe’ McAteer

2025 - Darragh O’Doherty


Reserve Player Of The Year

2018 - Paul ‘Dougie’ Coyle

2023 - Michael Sweeney

2024 - Aaron ‘Seán’ McConigley

2025 - Michael McDevitt


Reserve Young Player Of The Year

2018 - Brandon McClafferty

2023 - Byran ‘Bull’ Gallagher

2024 - Jamie McAteer

2025 - Caolan McElwaine & JP Gallagher


Ladies Player Of The Year

2025 - Íseult Ní Mhathúana


Ladies Young Player Of The Year

2025 - Grace Beagley

Notable players

• Séamie ‘Coshia’ Friel (1994 - 2020)

• Aidan ‘Murray’ McAteer (1997 - 2020)

• Michael Sweeney (2003 - 2025)

• Clare Friel (- 2026)

Managers

Aidan McAteer (2017 - 2022 & 2025)

Geard Patrick Shiels (2023)

Finbar O’Neill (2024)

Honours

• Donegal Ladies Intermediate Championship: 2025

• Donegal Ladies Junior Championship: 2018

• Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Dún na nGall Idirmheánach na mBan: 2025

• Donegal Intermediate B Championship: 2014

References

  1. ^ a b c Ferry, Ryan (9 June 2022). "Heroes welcome for Fanad players after final success". Donegal News. p. 62. It was a memorable day for the Fanad club and their biggest triumph at adult level in nine years… [Player] Eoghan Carr turned 24 over the weekend… 'It brought me back to when I was younger and seeing our intermediate teams coming back in the late noughties and in 2013 when we won the All-Ireland down in Waterford'… It was a hectic schedule at Leitir Móir, but wins over Cárna Caiseal (Galway), Caisleán Ghriaire (Kerry) and Na Piarsaigh (Galway) secured a spot in Monday's final. Cill Chomáin from Mayo were a game outfit but Gaeil Fhánada found the answers and won by 2–11 to 2–10 after extra-time… 'Four years ago a lot of the team played when we lost the All-Ireland Final to Downings… thankfully we managed to do it on Monday… It was like our first All-Ireland in 2013'.
  2. ^ a b "All-Ireland joy for Gaeil Fhánada". Donegal News. 9 June 2022. p. 62. Gaeil Fhánada landed the All-Ireland Junior Gaeltacht title for only the second time when they saw off Cill Chomáin in a cracking tussle after extra-time on Monday.
  3. ^ Paddy Carr out of race; McDaid, 'Banty' and Corey to be nominated, DonegalLive
  4. ^ Ballymun boss Paddy Carr linked with Donegal manager role, Irish Independent
  5. ^ Former All-Ireland Club Winning Manager In Contention For Donegal Job, PUNDITARENA
  6. ^ "Gaeil Fhánada clubman Paddy Carr was tonight ratified as Donegal senior team manager by the clubs of the county, with 2002 All-Ireland winner Aidan O'Rourke as head coach, on a two-year term with a review after one year". 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Paddy Carr says it's incredibly special to manage Donegal". Highland Radio. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Donegal achieve historic win — First national league title comes to county after victory over Mayo". Donegal Times. 25 April 2007. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  9. ^ McNulty, Chris (7 May 2018). "Aidan McAteer says Gaeil Fhánada eyes now on All-Ireland crown". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  10. ^ Ferry, Ryan (5 May 2022). "Gaeil Fhánada secure Junior crown at home". Donegal News. p. 60. Gaeil Fhánada produced a superb second half performance to see off Naomh Muire in the Donegal Junior Gaeltacht Final at Páirc Uí Shiadhail on Monday.
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