CLG Carndonagh
A love of hurling by a young schoolteacher who obtained a teaching post in Craigtown School in the Parish resulted in the first ever GAA club being established in Carndonagh. The teacher's name was James Reid, a native of Drumkeen near Ballybofey, and the year was 1921. Closely associated with him in the formation of the Club were Michael F. O'Doherty, N.T., John Denney, Agricultural Adviser, a native of Cavan, J. Kirwan, National Bank, Rev. D. Reid and Joe Lynch.
Hurling was the sole activity of the Club and the same got a timely boost by the establishment of the Garda Siochana and the dispersal of the force to the towns and villages throughout the country. Proficient hurlers were posted to various areas throughout Inishowen, which led to the formation of a number of hurling clubs in the peninsula.
The awakening of the national consciousness following the 1916 Rising, encouraging young men to become associated with promotion of the national game of Hurling. The Carndonagh Club was registered under the name of Cuchullains and with the help of a couple of Gardai; a very fine hurling team emerged whose tussles with Burt produced many memorable games and attracted big crowds of spectators.
However, after a few years of activity and improving standards, a serious dispute arose between Carndonagh and a Christian Brothers team from Derry. In what would seem to have been an emotive decision, Carndonagh withdrew from competition and the Club ceased to function. The unexpected death in 1944 of the Club's principal founder, James Reid compounded the problem further and hopes of and hopes of an early revival were shattered. After a lapse of a few years, a gradual reawakening took place and the Club was reorganized and affiliated to the County Board. The standard of hurling soon improved and during the mid-thirties there were many fine games involving Carndonagh, Carrowmore, Burt and Letterkenny.
Gaelic football was introduced to the Carndonagh Club in 1938 and officers of the Carndonagh Club embarked on a crusade to establish Gaelic football in other areas of Inishowen. Prominent in this activity were Michael F. O'Doherty, Bennie McBride and Tom Farren. The arrival of the Irish Army at Leenan and Dunree was a wonderful boost as both forts entered teams in the Gaelic Football Competition. This helped raise the standard of the game and with nine teams in Inishowen, excellent competition resulted.
The Death of Michael F. O'Doherty occurred in 1944. The Club decided that it should do something to perpetuate his memory and the decision was made to purchase grounds to develop as a Memorial Park. This was done on 7th February 1945 when Tom Farren with Hugh Diver and Stephen Butler cycled to Ballyliffin to negotiate a deal with the owner of the land, Neil Kelly. A sum of �650 was agreed upon and Tom Farren paid a deposit of �5 back in Patrick McLaughlin's solicitors' offices in Carndonagh. As the Club had no money, many people helped in the fund raising. It took only three months to raise the money, and O'Doherty Park was officially ours!
Carndonagh's first breakthrough at County level came in 1950, when the footballers won the County Junior Championship by defeating Dungloe on the score 1-06 to 1-02. In 1953, Carndonagh reached the Senior County Football Final in which they lost to Gweedore on the score 1-05 to 1-04 in a thrilling game. The juvenile footballers made their mark in 1956 by winning the County Championship. Hurling had continued to flourish within the Club and such was the standard that Carndonagh supplied eleven hurlers in 1947 and 1948 when the County won the Ulster Junior Championship.
In later years, apathy set in and it was only at under age competitions that the Club was really active. Dedicated work by teacher Tom McBrearty kept the spark alive. In 1983 it was decided to make an effort to get the team active in adult competitions and after two public meetings, a new committee was elected which transformed the image of the GAA in Carndonagh and approximately 80 adults were involved in a Parish League in 1984. Since then the Club been involved in Hurling and Football competitions at all ages and levels under the County Board.
