Ballymaguigan GAC
Encyclopedia
St. Trea's Ballymaguigan GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club based in Ballymaguigan
, County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. They play in the Derry
league and championships. They currently cater for both Gaelic football
and Ladies' Gaelic football
.
The club was founded in 1944 and have won the Derry Senior Football Championship once. Ballymaguigan fields Gaelic football teams at U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, Minor, Reserve and Senior levels. Underage teams up to U-12's play in South Derry
league and championships, from U-14 upwards teams compete in All-Derry competitions.
had been organised on the western shores of Lough Neagh
for over 50 years before St. Trea's GFC was formed. Before 1944 one team (Newbridge GAC
) catered for the Ballymaguigan and Newbridge areas. Both areas are part of Ardtrea North
parish. The American Army built Toome airfield during World War II
. This effectively split the parish in two, making it very difficult for the Ballymaguigan based players to travel to the pitch.
Paddy Bateson suggested a ball be bought so the Ballymaguigan players could train among themselves. Soon friendlies were arranged against established clubs. The first of these was against Castledawson
. The first home fixture was against Greenlough
. St. Trea's GFC was soon formed on the 23 April 1944. The name was in honour of Saint Trea who has many traditional associations with the area. The first chairman was John McCartney, with Paddy Bateson as Vice-Chairman.
Ballymaguigan is a very small rural community, consisting approximately of 1 square miles (2.6 km²) in area. Establishing a Gaelic Football Club in such a small area is quite an achievement. A new pitch was officially opened in 1957 by GAA President
Séamus Mac Ferran. A hall was opened in 1969.
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.
Under 14 ladies
Feile Na Og 2004
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club based in Ballymaguigan
Ballymaguigan
Ballymaguigan is a hamlet and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the northwest shore of Lough Neagh and close to Magherafelt. The hamlet forms one part of a parish named Ardtrea North. Ballymaguigan is part of the local Magherafelt District Council.-Lough Neagh:Lough...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. They play in the 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...
league and championships. They currently cater for both Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and Ladies' Gaelic football
Ladies' Gaelic football
Ladies' Gaelic football is a team sport for women, very similar to Gaelic football, and co-ordinated by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association...
.
The club was founded in 1944 and have won the Derry Senior Football Championship once. Ballymaguigan fields Gaelic football teams at U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, Minor, Reserve and Senior levels. Underage teams up to U-12's play in South 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...
league and championships, from U-14 upwards teams compete in All-Derry competitions.
History
Gaelic gamesGaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
had been organised on the western shores of Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
for over 50 years before St. Trea's GFC was formed. Before 1944 one team (Newbridge GAC
Newbridge GAC
Seán O'Leary's GAC Newbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Newbridge, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football and Camogie. They have won the Derry Senior Football Championship on ten occasions...
) catered for the Ballymaguigan and Newbridge areas. Both areas are part of Ardtrea North
Ardtrea North
Ardtrea North is the name of the first parish in the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland dioceses of Armagh. The parish is made up of two communities named Ballymaguigan and Newbridge.-Education and Worship:...
parish. The American Army built Toome airfield during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This effectively split the parish in two, making it very difficult for the Ballymaguigan based players to travel to the pitch.
Paddy Bateson suggested a ball be bought so the Ballymaguigan players could train among themselves. Soon friendlies were arranged against established clubs. The first of these was against Castledawson
Castledawson GAC
St. Malachy's GAC Castledawson is a Gaelic Athletic Club from Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for both Gaelic football and Camogie....
. The first home fixture was against Greenlough
Greenlough GAC
St. Oliver Plunkett's GAC Greenlough is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Clady/Greenlough, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football and Camogie, and also compete in Scór. The club is named after Irish martyr...
. St. Trea's GFC was soon formed on the 23 April 1944. The name was in honour of Saint Trea who has many traditional associations with the area. The first chairman was John McCartney, with Paddy Bateson as Vice-Chairman.
Ballymaguigan is a very small rural community, consisting approximately of 1 square miles (2.6 km²) in area. Establishing a Gaelic Football Club in such a small area is quite an achievement. A new pitch was officially opened in 1957 by GAA President
Presidents of the Gaelic Athletic Association
The role of President of Gaelic Athletic Association has existed since the foundation of the GAA . The current president of the GAA is Christy Cooney. The role of President involves representing the GAA in Ireland and across the world...
Séamus Mac Ferran. A hall was opened in 1969.
Well known players
- Eamonn ColemanEamonn ColemanEamonn Coleman was an Irish Gaelic footballer and later manager.He had two separate stints as manager the Derry senior football team, and his chief success was guiding the county to the victory in the 1993 All-Ireland Championship - Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title...
- former DerryDerry GAAThe 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...
managerManager (Gaelic games)In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and footballer. - Gary ColemanGary Coleman (Gaelic footballer)Gary Coleman is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played with Derry in the 1990s and early 2000s. He still plays club football with St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan....
- All StarGAA All Stars AwardsThe All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
winning Derry footballer. Son of Eamonn Coleman. - Jim McKeeverJim McKeeverJames "Jim" McKeever is an Irish former Gaelic footballer. He played for Derry in the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s and played club football for St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan and Seán O'Leary's GAC Newbridge...
- 1958 Footballer of the YearTexaco Footballer of the YearThe Texaco Footballer of the Year is a Gaelic football award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a footballer of outstanding excellence...
. - Paddy CrozierPaddy CrozierPaddy Crozier is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player who managed Derry between 2006 and 2008, guiding the county to a National League title. He has also managed a number of club teams and Derry underage teams. Crozier currently manages Omagh St. Enda's...
- Former Derry manager. - Damian McgintyDamian McGintyDamian McGinty, Jr. is a Northern Irish singer and actor from Derry, Northern Ireland, and was a member of the group Celtic Thunder. He has been performing for the past thirteen years, winning his first music competition before the age of six...
- Youngest singer for Celtic ThunderCeltic ThunderCeltic Thunder is a singing group composed of male soloists who perform both solo and ensemble numbers. Celtic Thunder debuted in August 2007 at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland...
. - Seán Young - Ballymaguigan native who managed RoscommonRoscommon GAAFor more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games...
for a few years.
Senior
- Derry Senior Football Championship: 1
- 1962
- Derry Senior Football League: 1
- 1962
- South Derry Senior Football Championship: 1
- 1957
- South Derry Senior Football League: 1
- 1949
- Derry Intermediate Football Championship: 5
- 1971, 1993, 2001, 2003, 2009
- Derry Intermediate Football League: 3
- 1993, 1998, 2006
- Derry Junior Football Championship: 2
- 1951, 1970
- Derry Junior Football League: 1
- 1951
- South Derry Junior Football Championship: 2
- 1969, 1970
- Seán Larkin Cup: 2
- 1958, 1959
- Graham Cup: 2
- 1970, 1971
- McGlinchey Cup: 1
- 2011
Minor
- Tommy O'Neill Cup: 2
- 1997, 2003
- South Derry Minor 'B' Football Championship: 2
- 1997, 2003
- South Derry Minor 'B' Football League: 2
- 1997, 2003
U-14
- South Derry U-14 'B' Football Championship: 1
- 1999
- South Derry U-14 'B' Football League: 1
- 1999
Ladies' football
- Senior Ladies Derry Intermediate League: 1
- 2006
- Under 14 South Derry League: 1
- 2003
- Under 14 Derry Championship: 1
- 2003
- Under 13 'B' Derry Championship: 1
- 2011
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.
See also
- Derry Senior Football Championship
- List of Gaelic Athletic Association clubs
Under 14 ladies
Feile Na Og 2004