The Club
Like the saint who gave the club its name — a saint tied to much of the Conamara Gaeltacht, from Iorras Aithneach to the Aran Islands to An Cheathrú Rua — CS Mac Dara serves the wide, dispersed community of south-west Conamara.
The club’s crest is a traditional Galway hooker under sail with the motto An Ghaeilge Bheo — the living Irish language. The sail boat stands for the culture the Gaeltacht has kept alive: an ancient maritime tradition that faded elsewhere around the country. The Gaeltacht as a crucible of culture and heritage can be seen to this very day in the Galway Hookers and the currachs, in sean-nós song and dance, in lúibíní and agallaimh bheirte, and in other traditions that survived in the Gaeltacht when they survived nowhere else.
At the heart of it all is the living language, An Ghaeilge Bheo. The traditions were kept alive in the crucible through the Irish language, and Cumann Sacar Mac Dara is proud to this day of its standing as a Gaeltacht club, a club that trains and plays through Irish, and proud too of the generations before us who kept that language and heritage alive.
History
The townland league
Football put down roots in An Cheathrú Rua in the 1970s. Around 1971 a league began between the townlands of the area — An Sruthán/Gleann Mór, Cuileán, Bóthar a' Chillín/An Caorán Beag, and An Tismeáin/An Bóthar Buí. Teams of eight or nine played across Páirc an Chathánaigh, driven by local figures like Coilín Bheachla Dan, Pádraig Phat Chite and Danny Staff. The games drew crowds and fierce rivalry — and the odd row with the GAA crowd over use of the pitch, until it was settled at two nights a week each.
Na Réalta Gorma
Around 1974 the town’s first football club was founded, Na Réalta Gorma — the pioneers who first brought teams from this side of the county into the Galway League. They didn’t last long, but the stories did: goalposts cut from the wood at Casla, nets woven from rope on the floor of the tech school, and the infamous referee in Galway who ordered the team to stop speaking Irish on the pitch.
From the Tornadoes to Mac Dara
Around 1978 a new team from An Cheathrú Rua was registered, the Toureen Tornadoes, and since 1986 the club has played as Cumann Sacar Mac Dara. Its founding changed the local game: players came in numbers from Ceantar na nOileán, and the club has served that wider area ever since.
Great days
In 1986 Bernie O’Connell — one of the heroes of the local game since the seventies — brought Galway United to Páirc an Chathánaigh, where they played FC Groningen of the Netherlands in the UEFA Cup. Three years later, in 1989, with Bernie as manager, Mac Dara won the Galway League — conceding only about seven goals all season and losing just one game.
Today
Páirc Astro na Ceathrún Rua is now the club’s home, and the club is as strong as it has ever been: boys’ and girls’ teams from Under 8 up, and adult teams. Mac Dara represents the whole south Conamara Gaeltacht, and the club plays, trains and runs its affairs through Irish — An Ghaeilge Bheo.
This is a summary of «Baile Faoi Bhláth», Micheál Ó Máille’s 2020 account (in Irish) of the early years of football in An Cheathrú Rua. The full account — the townlands, teams and players — is available from the club, and further information and photographs are always welcome.
Club and community together — celebrating the double champions, 2018.
The next generation.
Milestones
1971 — the townland league
1974 — Na Réalta Gorma
1978 — Toureen Tornadoes
1986 — Cumann Sacar Mac Dara
1986 — UEFA Cup at Páirc an Chathánaigh
1989 — Galway League champions, Division 2
1995 — Jim Murphy U15 League champions
1996 — Jack Lillis Cup
2004 — Jack Lillis Cup
2009 — Galway Reserve League champions
2018 — the double: Division 2 League and Joe Ryan Cup
2022 — U13 Division 5 League champions
2024 — U15 Division 2 League champions
2024 — U16 Division 1/2 Cup
2024 — the U12 double: Division 3 League and Cup
Champions
League Champions, Division 2 — 1988/89
The club’s first senior trophy.
Mac Dara played 14 league games that season and won 13 of them. There was a fierce contest with UCG through the year; UCG slipped in their final game against Portumna, and the title came to Conamara. The neighbours, Na Forbacha, were the only team to get the better of them, away in Bearna. They scored 63 goals in those games and conceded just eight. Bernie O’Connell was the manager.
League results 1988/89
- Mountbellew 0–8 Mac Dara
- Mac Dara 5–0 Ballinakill Utd
- Mac Dara 4–1 Corofin Utd
- AIB 1–5 Mac Dara
- Mac Dara 9–0 KC Celtic
- Mac Dara 1–0 West Coast Utd
- UCG 0–1 Mac Dara
- Mac Dara 6–0 Bohs United
- Tuam Celtic 0–5 Mac Dara
- Furbo 3–2 Mac Dara
- Mac Dara 4–0 Loughrea
- Portumna 2–7 Mac Dara
- Mac Dara 6–1 Salthill FC
- Bard Celtic w/o Mac Dara
League scorers
- Myles Mac Donnacha — 27
- Michaelin Willie Ó Flatharta — 9
- Kevin Gannon — 8
- Michaelin Gleann Mór Mac Donnacha — 4
- Aodán Ó Sé — 4
- Tony Connolly — 4
- Michael Larkin — 2
- Máirtín Gavin — 2
- Stiofán Brennan — 1
- Máirtín Molloy — 1
- Maitiú Ó Gríofa — 1
Back row: Dave Russell, Michaelin Willie Ó Flathartha (RIP),
Maitiú Ó Gríofa, Mick McDonagh, Dara Brennan, Michael Larkin, Máirtín Molloy,
Páid Mac Donnacha.
Front row: Michaelin Gleann Mór Mac Donnacha, Michael Brennan,
Myles McDonagh (RIP), Cian Ó Conaill (mascot), Máirtín Gavin (RIP), Aodán Ó Sé,
Stiofán Brennan.
The table in the newspaper: seven wins from seven games, 33 goals scored and two conceded.
Jim Murphy U15 League Champions — 1994/95
The U15 team of 1995 was one of the first underage teams in the club — an exceptionally able group who won the Jim Murphy U15 League and, until then, the club’s only underage trophy. They met Moyne Villa in the final at Terryland, and two goals from the captain, Pádraig Sruthán Mac Donnacha, secured the win. Shane Davis was in goal; Shane Garvey, Paraic Seosamh Ó Domhnaill, Máirtín Weather Mac Donnacha and Cathal Lydon in defence; Colin Ó Conghaile, Ciarán de Paor, Richard Ó hEadhra and Tomás Chonnie Mac Donnacha in midfield; and alongside Pádraig Sruthán up front, Rory Óg O Connor. Dave Russell was in charge of the team.
Of this group, Keith Ó Gairbhín is the only one still involved with the club. Seven of the age group went on to play for the senior team. Diarmaid Ó Loideáin played his first game against Corrib Rangers in 1998, and Colin Ó Conghaile spent several years in the Mac Dara jersey — often alongside his four brothers, Paraic, Máirtín, Gerald and Peter.
Pól Ó Loideáin played the most games of any of them, and was a man fiercely loyal to the club — an outstanding player who captained the side and travelled down from Dublin every week for games. It was a point of pride for him, and for his club, that he was selected for the Galway Oscar Traynor panel. Aodán Breathnach spent a spell between the posts; Pádraig Sruthán Mac Donnacha was with us until he went abroad; Paraic Ronan Ó Mullaoidh played for several seasons before injury ended his playing days; and Paraic Seosamh Ó Domhnaill was on the senior team that won Division 3 as recently as 2017.
The Mac Dara U15 team of 1995 — Jim Murphy League champions.
Jack Lillis Cup Champions — 1995/96
CS Mac Dara had a fine 3–0 win over OLBC in the Jack Lillis Cup final at Terryland Park in 1996. Micil Pháidín Ó Curraoin, Mike Connolly and Declan Francis Ó Flátharta got the goals, with credit due too to Garry Mac Donncha for the pressure he put on the OLBC defenders throughout the game.
Jack Lillis Cup champions with the cup at Terryland Park, 1996.
The newspaper report on the final: Mac Dara 3–0 OLBS.
Jack Lillis Cup Champions — 2003/04
Cumann Sacar Mac Dara were Jack Lillis Cup champions again in 2004, with a 3–2 win over Colga. Michael Kennedy scored two goals and Micil Pháidín Ó Curraoin the other in a game that went to extra time. Michael Staff Mac Donncha, as captain, accepted the cup on behalf of the team.
The 2003/04 team at Terryland Park — Lár-Ionad Sacair na Gaillimhe.
The captain, Michael Staff Mac Donncha, lifting the Jack Lillis Cup, 2004.
Galway Reserve League Champions — 2008/09
In 2009 Mac Dara won the Galway Reserve League for the first time in the club’s history — and it was a season in which they were never beaten. They got the better of Corrib Rangers, West Utd, Claregalway, Athenry, Mannions AFC, Renmore and St Ellen’s, and drew with Milltown and Crumlin Utd — though Crumlin were expelled from the league and their results were annulled. The final game was away to St Ellen’s in Cahertymore; had St Ellen’s won, the cup was theirs. Mac Dara took the day 4–1 — Micheal Ó Loideáin superb in defence, Micheal Antaine Ó Loideáin a master in midfield, and Brian JJ Mac Donnacha and Peter Beag Connolly among the goals that day. The celebrations went on till morning!
The 2008/09 panel
Manager: Diarmuid Ó Céide · Selectors: Peter Midge Flatherty, JB McDonagh · Captain: Micheal Antaine Ó Loideáin
- Colm Toole
- Ciaran Ó Flathartha
- James Mac Donnacha
- Peter Flatherty
- Micheal Ó Loideáin
- Tom Tom Mac Donnacha
- PJ Connolly
- Micheal Antaine Ó Loideáin
- Paraic Mhicael Ó Conghaile
- Brian JJ Mac Donnacha
- Peter Connolly
- Paul Lydon
- Shane Sullivan
- Simon Lydon
- David Ó Conghaile
- Michael Sullivan
- Sean Devaney
- Gary O Donnell
- Tommy Cashen
- Anthony Ó Conghaile
Galway Reserve League champions, 2008/09.
The medal: Reserve League Winners 2008–2009.
Double Champions — Division 2 League and Joe Ryan Cup, 2017/18
Double champions for the first time ever — the league title and the cup within seven days.
2017/18 was a historic season. Mac Dara won Division 2 of the Western Hygiene Supplies League, four points clear of Mervue United B, sealing the title with a 1–1 draw away to Dynamo Blues. A week later, at Eamonn Deacy Park, they won the Joe Ryan Cup for the first time ever — a 4–1 win over Kinvara United.
League results 2017/18
- Mac Dara 1–1 Oughterard — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh
- Mac Dara 3–1 Colga — Ciarán Ó Flathartha 2 (pen), Oisín Ó Gríofa
- Kinvara Utd 1–2 Mac Dara — Ciarán Ó Flathartha 2 (pen)
- Colga 0–2 Mac Dara — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh, Colm Devane
- Mac Dara 6–0 Kinvara Utd — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh 3, Gary O’Donnell, Oisín Ó Gríofa, Maitiú Ó Domhnaill
- Mac Dara 7–1 Galway Bohs — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh 3, Gary O’Donnell 3, Oisín Ó Gríofa
- St Pats 3–2 Mac Dara — Colm Devane, Gary O’Donnell
- Oughterard 2–2 Mac Dara — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh 2
- Mac Dara 5–1 St Pats — Shane Sullivan, Ciarán Ó Flathartha, Eamonn Ó Loinsigh, Mark Dowling, Michael Sullivan
- Mac Dara 2–0 Mervue Utd — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh 2
- Mac Dara 2–1 Dynamo Blues — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh, Colm Devane
- Mervue Utd 0–2 Mac Dara — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh, Anthony Ó Conghaile
- Galway Bohs 2–5 Mac Dara — Gary O’Donnell 2, Mark Dowling, Colm Devane, David Connolly
- Dynamo Blues 1–1 Mac Dara — Michael Sullivan
Cup results 2017/18
- Round 1: Mac Dara 10–1 Colga FC — Gary O’Donnell 4, Eamonn Ó Loinsigh 3, David Ó Conghaile, Maitiú Ó Domhnaill, Shane Sullivan (pen)
- Quarter-final: Mac Dara 10–0 St Pats — Eamonn Ó Loinsigh 4, Gary O’Donnell 2, Mark Dowling, Anthony Ó Conghaile, Joe Gubbins, Dylan Seoighe
- Semi-final: Mac Dara 2–1 Cois Fharraige — Mark Dowling, Eamonn Ó Loinsigh
- Final: Mac Dara 4–1 Kinvara Utd — Gary O’Donnell 3, Anthony Ó Conghaile
Division 2 League champions — the panel celebrating, 2018.
The league trophy being presented, 2018.
The Division 2 trophy in hand, 2018.
The team and their supporters celebrating the Joe Ryan Cup, 2018.
«MacDara on the double» — the newspaper report on the historic double.
U13 Division 5 League Champions — 2021/22
The number of players and underage teams at Cumann Sacar Mac Dara grew significantly at the start of the 2020s, and the results showed when the U13 team won the Division 5 league in 2022. That team had an outstanding year, also reaching the Cup final at Eamonn Deacy Park. They won the league on 16 April 2022 with a 2–1 victory over Tuam Celtic — goals from Éanna Ó Loideáin and Victor Ó Suilleabháin, with Harry Ó Suilleabháin as captain.
The U13 squad, 2021/22
Panel:
- Aaron Seoighe
- Cathal Ó Flatharta
- Cóil Mac Con Iomaire
- Colin Ó Conaire
- Colm Ó Conaire
- Corey Ó Cuanaigh
- Éanna Ó Loideáin
- Eoin Ó Loideáin
- Eoin Ó Neachtain
- Harry Ó Suilleabháin
- Luca Mac Con Iomaire
- Oisín Ó Conghaile
- Otto Mac Con Iomaire
- Rian Ó Flanagáin
- Stiofán Ó Loideáin
- Tomás Hehir Gannon
- Tomás Ó hIarnáin
- Victor Ó Suilleabháin
Management team: Chris Ó Flatharta (Manager), Rónán Mac Con Iomaire, Micheál Antaine Ó Loideáin
The U13 team — Division 5 League champions, 2022.
The captain, Harry Ó Suilleabháin, accepting the cup, 2022.
U15 Division 2 League Champions — 2023/24
The U15 champions of 2024 were the Invincibles — they didn’t lose a single league game all season. Goals came from right across the team, but Oisín Mahon stood out in particular, with 23 goals!
League results 2023/24
- Colga 10–0 — Rian 5, Oisín 3, Oliver 1, Fionn 1
- Colmanstown 10–1 — Oisín 4, Cillian 2, Joe 2, Oliver 1, Rian 1
- Oranmore 4–1 — Oliver 2, Joe 1, Oisín 1
- Craughwell 3–3 — Oisín 2, Cillian 1
- East Galway 8–1 — Oliver 3, Rian 3, Oisín 2
- Colga 5–0 — Rian 2, Cillian 1, Fionn 1, Tomás 1
- Colmanstown 7–2 — Oliver 3, Oisín 3, Joe 1
- Craughwell 5–2 — Oisín 2, Oliver 1, Joe 1, Fionn 1
- Oranmore 8–2 — Oisín 5, Rian 2, Oliver 1
- East Galway Utd 3–1 — Tadhg, Oliver, Oisín
Scorers’ table
- Oisín Mahon — 23
- Rian Ó Conaire — 13
- Oliver Ó Suilleabháin — 13
- Joe Cooney — 5
- Cillian Smith — 4
- Fionn Ó Flátharta — 3
- Tomás Hehir Gannon — 1
- Tadhg Ó Maoileoin — 1
Management team: Diarmuid Ó Céidigh (Manager), Stiofán de Bhailís, Tommy Gannon, Rónán Mac Con Iomaire, Des Mac Donncha
The Invincibles — the U15 team, Division 2 League champions, 2023/24.
U16 Division 1/2 Cup Champions — 2023/24
The U15s weren’t the only ones celebrating in 2024 — the club’s U16 team won the Galway FA Division 1/2 Cup the same season, beating Kiltullagh Pioneers 2–0 in the final and collecting their medals on the pitch at Eamonn Deacy Park in Terryland.
U16 Cup champions — the team with the trophy at Eamonn Deacy Park, 2024.
U12 Double Champions — Division 3 League and Cup, 2023/24
A double win, and another Invincibles team for the club — the league and the cup for the one U12 team, without losing a game.
The U12 team of 2023/24 capped a big year for the club with a double of their own. In the Division 3 league they went the whole season unbeaten — eleven wins and a single draw — finishing comfortably top of the table. Then, in the Division 2/3 Cup final, they beat Craughwell United 4–0, with Éanna Ó Loideáin scoring all four goals. Luca Mac Con Iomaire captained the team.
The U12 panel and management team, 2023/24 season.
Cup champions — Mac Dara 4–0 Craughwell United in the final, 2024.
The table: Mac Dara well clear at the top of Division 3, unbeaten.
The captain, Luca Mac Con Iomaire.
CS Mac Dara & Galway United
There is a close bond between CS Mac Dara and Galway United going back almost 40 years. In October 1986, the local club came to Galway United’s aid when they needed a pitch for their UEFA Cup tie against FC Groningen of the Netherlands — a historic occasion, with a European game played at Páirc an Chathánaigh.
In 1992 Galway United, FAI Cup champions at the time, brought a team to the same ground to play a Conamara Selection. Páid Mac Donnacha, Gary Mac Donnacha, Myles Mac Donnacha (RIP), Declan Ó Flathartha, Edward Ó Sé and Michael Ó Flathartha were among the Mac Dara lads who played that day. For years, too, Galway Utd ran summer camps in An Cheathrú Rua, and many a well-known player and manager came through.
Bernie O’Connell, Vice-President of Galway Utd, also spent a successful spell with the club, in charge when Mac Dara won the league in 1988/89. In recent years, Mac Dara underage teams are often to be seen at Eamonn Deacy Park in Terryland as mascots and playing at half-time in Galway Utd games.
And it isn’t only the youngsters who have played there. In 2006, Michael Kennedy played and scored on his debut for the Galway Utd senior team against Finn Harps — Michael had scored more than 50 goals in the previous two seasons for Mac Dara, and later spent time with Longford Town. Very recently, Joe Gubbins played for the Galway Utd U17 team, and he found the net often during his spell with them. He is now back with the Mac Dara senior team as a key player.
The UEFA Cup at Páirc an Chathánaigh: Galway United v FC Groningen, October 1986.
Michael Kennedy playing for Galway United — more than 50 goals for Mac Dara in the two seasons before.
Joe Gubbins in the Galway United jersey — now a key player for the Mac Dara senior team.