CLG Chill Chartha

Donegal-based Gaelic games club From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CLG Chill Chartha^[1] is a GAA club based in Kilcar, County Donegal, in Ulster, Ireland.^[2] They have won the Donegal Senior Football Championship on six occasions, the last in 2017, they won the Division One title on 14 occasions and are current All Ireland Comórtas Peile champions.

Founded:1924

County:Donegal

Colours:Blue and Gold

Grounds:Towney Park

Quick facts Founded:, County: ...

CLG Chill Chartha

CLG Chill Chartha

Founded:

1924

County:

Donegal

Colours:

Blue and Gold

Grounds:

Towney Park

Coordinates:

54°37′32.97″N 8°36′06.64″W

Playing kits

Standard colours

Senior Club Championships

	All Ireland	Ulster champions	Donegal champions
Football:	-	-	6

History

The first recorded game was played on the beach in 1921, which was an inter-townland match between “Up the Glen” and Muckross.

The first official match played in Towney was between Ard na Ratha and “South of the County”. The first club match was played on November 9, 1924 against Ballyshannon in Towney, with the visitors winning 1-03 to 0-02. Over the following decades the club achieved success at all age levels and took part in the senior championships until 1967-69 when the club had to join forces with neighbouring parishes in order to field senior teams. The revival started when the club dropped to junior football in 1968 and three years later they won that championship and were back in the senior football championship in 1972. They have remained in the senior football championship ever since winning it five times, and with the under 21s winning three in a row in the early 1970s this was an indication of things that were to come, the success of the 1980s where they had three strong senior sides competing in all competitions. They were actually the first club in the county to have a third team.

In ten years after winning the junior championship their second team reached the junior championship final in 1981 and three years later they reached the intermediate final where they were narrowly defeated such was the strength of football in the parish.

In 1993 a team for the ladies was formed and in 2023 they picked up the Junior B championship and the Division Three league title.

They have provided players to the county teams over the course of their history with 20 different players making county Ulster championship appearances. That is not counting players who represented the county at league and underage level, a remarkable achievement when considering the size of the parish.

John McNulty, a former candidate for the Seanad,^[3] managed the club to Junior "B", Minor and Under-21 Championships and the 2014 Division 1 league title, though he did not win the Senior Football Championship.^[4]

The club celebrated their centenary in 2024.

They will host the Comortas Peile na Gaeltacht in 2026 (delayed two years due to COVID), which will be the second time in the club's history, with the last one held in 2004.

Rivalries

The club has an intense rivalry with Na Cealla Beaga.^[5] The club also maintains a strong rivalry with their neighbours, Naomh Columba.

Competitive record

Championship

The club won the Senior Championship for the first time in 1925 and the most recent was in 2017, following a 0–07 to 0–04 win over Naomh Conaill, the club's first win since 1993 (and sixth overall). In 2016, the club made its first final appearance since 1993 but lost to Glenswilly by a point. The club faced Naomh Conaill in the 2020 final, which was put on hold due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.

League

CLG Chill Chartha play in Division 1 of the Donegal All County league and are a record 14 times league champions (1933, 1935, 1959, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022). The club was relegated in 2009; despite finishing a point off a league semi place, the club went down after a number of play-offs. The club made its return to the top flight after winning the Division 2 title in 2011.

In 2014, the club won the senior Division One League title for the first time since 1987, following a 5–17 to 0–10 win away to Gaoth Dobhair.^[6]

Comórtas Peile

The club won the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta on seven occasions, the most recent being in 2024, and won the county Gaeltacht on ten occasions, the last being in 2024. The club also won the Junior Gaeltacht on two occasions, most famously in 1989, when it won both national titles at Naomh Columba.

Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta , Sinsir, Buaiteoirí, (Na hEireann) (7)

1987 Cill Chartha 0–11 An Fhairche 0–10 (Béal an Mhuirthid)
1989 Cill Chartha 1–9 Naomh Columba 0–9 (Naomh Columba)
1990 Cill Chartha 2–13 Corca Dhuibhne 0–8 (Gallarus)
1991 Cill Chartha 1–12 Maigh Cuilinn 0–10 (Beal Átha Ghaothaigh)
2008 Cill Chartha 0–10 Naomh Columba 1–5 (Naomh Columba)
2014 Cill Chartha 3–14 Micheal Breathanach 0–13 (Maigh Cuilinn)
2024 Cill Chartha 0–20 Naomh Anna 1–8 (Cill na Martra)^[7]^[8]

Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta , Sinsir, Buaiteoirí, (Dun na nGall) (10)

1970 Na Piarsaigh
1975 Cill Chartha 1–16 Ruagairí na Rosann 2–5 (Gaoth Dobhair)
1982 Cill Chartha 1–7 Ard a’ Rátha 0–3 (Gaoth Dobhair)
1987 Cill Chartha 0–8 Ard a’ Rátha 0–3 (Cloich Cheann Fhaola)
1989 Cill Chartha 0–15 Gleann Fhinne 0–5 (Cill Chartha)
1999 Cill Chartha 1–9 An Clochán Liath 0–10 (Naomh Mhuire)
2000 Cill Chartha 0–11 Ard A’ Ratha 0–9 (Cill Chartha)
2014 Cill Chartha 1–9 Gleann tSúilí 0–8 (Naomh Mhuire)
2019 Cill Chartha 1–9 Gaoth Dobhair 0–9 (Gaoth Dobhair)
2024 Cill Chartha 0–12 Gaoth Dobhair 0–10 (Cloich Cheann Fahola)

Underage

At underage level, the club has won the County Under 21 Championship on six occasions (1972, 1973, 1974, 2011, 2013 and 2015). The club won the Minor title on four occasions (1964, 1998, 2010 and 2012), along with a lot of underage honours.^[9]

Notable players

Michael Carr — 1983 Ulster Senior Football Championship final man of the match; 1980 Donegal Senior Football Championship final man of the match^[10]
Michael Hegarty — 2011 Ulster SFC winner
Patrick McBrearty — 2012 All-Ireland SFC winner and Stephen's brother
Stephen McBrearty — Patrick's brother
Andrew McClean^[11]
Ciaran McGinley — Kilcar captain^{[citation needed]}
Eoin McHugh — James's son^[12]
James McHugh — 1992 All-Ireland SFC winner and Martin's brother
Mark McHugh — Martin's son and 2012 All-Ireland SFC winner
Martin McHugh — 1992 All-Ireland SFC winner and James's brother
Ryan McHugh — Martin's son and Mark's younger brother^[13]

Managers

More information Years, Manager ...

Years	Manager
1924–19??	N/a
c. 1999	Michael Molloy^[14]
c. 1999–20??	N/a
2007-2009	John McNulty^[3]^[15]
2010-2012	Seamus Cunningham
2013–2014	Rory Gallagher^[14]
2015	Michael Molloy^[14]
2016	Martin McHugh^[16]^[17]
2017–19	Barry Doherty^[18]^[19]
2019–2021	John McNulty^[5]^[3]^[15]^[20]
2022–2023	Conor Cunningham^[21]^[22]
2024	Michael Hegarty^[23]^[24]
2025–	Paul Devlin & Mark Sweeney^[25]

Chairmen

The following men have been chairman of the club.

More information Years, Chairman ...

Years	Chairman
1976-77	Donnie Doherty
1978	Packie Haughey
1979-80	Seamus Doogan
1981	John Hegarty
1982	Seamus Doogan
1983-87	Charlie McDevitt
1988-89	Sean McGinley
1990	Michael Gillespie
1991	Seamus Gallagher
1992-94	Sean McGinley
1995-00	Charlie Ó Dónaill
2001-02	Charlie McDevitt
2003	Sean McGinley
2004	Paddy Sweeney
2005	Kevin Doogan
2006	Michael Doherty
2007	Kevin Doogan
2008-10	John Carr
2012-13	Kevin Doogan
2014-15	Michael McShane
2016	Declan Gallagher
2017-21	John Carr^{[additional citation(s) needed]}^[26]
2022	James Hegarty
2023-	Michael McShane

Honours

Donegal Senior Football Championship: 1925, 1980, 1985, 1989, 1993, 2017
Donegal Senior League Winners (14): 1933, 1935, 1959, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
Donegal Senior Football League Shield Championship: 1982, 1983, 1985
Donegal Senior B Football Championship: 1991, 1994, 2011
Donegal Senior Reserve Football League Championship: 1991, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2017
Donegal Junior Football Championship: 1971, 1993
Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Senior All Ireland Championship: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2008, 2014, 2024
Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Senior Donegal Football Championship: 1970, 1975, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1999, 2000, 2014, 2019, 2024
Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Junior All Ireland Championship: 1975, 1989
Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Junior Donegal Championship: 1990, 2008
Donegal Under-21 Football Championship: 1972, 1973, 1974, 2011, 2013, 2015
Donegal Minor Football Championship: 1964, 1998, 2010, 2012

References

[1]
"Mark McHugh rejoins the Donegal football squad". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014. The Chíll Chartha club man has been named in Rory Gallagher's first panel as county manager
[2]
"Kilcar gear up for car draw". Hoganstand.com. 14 March 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
[3]
Crawford, Caroline (26 September 2014). "Donegal links both Enda Kenny and John McNulty". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 September 2014. Mr McNulty comes from Kilcar, and is a popular businessman who has managed the town's GAA clubs teams for many years. He brought the U-21 team to victory in the Championship last year and has managed the senior Kilcar GAA team for a number of years. He also manages a thriving Mace shop in Stranorlar about an hour from his hometown.
[4]
Ferry, Ryan (12 August 2021). "McNulty hunts the coveted Doctor". Donegal News. p. 68. McNulty has been at the helm for Kilcar as they have won Junior 'B', Minor and Under 21 Championships, while he has also enjoyed success in the Gaeltacht competitions as well as winning a Division 1 league title in 2014
[5]
Craig, Frank (16 July 2020). "Kilcar host fierce rivals Killybegs". Donegal News. p. 85. There is a change of manager this term 'in through' with John McNulty taking over the reins from 2017 SFC winning boss Barry Doherty.
[6]
Forker, Mark (29 October 2014). "GAA News: Kilcar win Division One title for the first time since 1989". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
[7]
"Reaction: Kilcar manager Michael Hegarty delighted with All-Ireland Gaeltacht title". Highland Radio. 3 June 2024.
[8]
Cormican, Eoghan (3 June 2024). "Chill Chartha seal first title in a decade with midfield titans to the fore". Irish Examiner.
[9]
CLG Chill Chartha Club honours
[10]
Campbell, Peter (15 July 2008). "Donegal heroes of 1983". Donegal Democrat. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2008. Without Mulgrew, Padraig Carr got the chance with Martin McHugh, wearing 13, but filling the centre-forward role in Mulgrew's absence. The Kilcar man put in a storming display, notching 0–7 in the 1–14 to 1–11 victory, but just like the Donegal club final of 1980, his clubmate Michael Carr won the man of the match award.
[11]
McLaughlin, Gerry (4 January 2020). "McGee urges new players to take their chance". The Irish News. Retrieved 4 January 2020. Aaron Deeney, Conor O'Donnell, Brian O'Donnell, Andrew McClean, Ciaran Diver, Jeaic MacCeallbhui, Enda McCormick and Ethan O'Donnell are some of the new boys who will be hoping for some game-time.
[12]
"Dr McKenna Cup semi-final line-up confirmed while Mayo win in FBD League". The42.ie. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013. Donegal finally claimed their first win of the season by 1–14 to 2–10 against St Mary's in Ballybofey tonight. Manager Jim McGuinness continued to experiment with Eoin McHugh, son of former All-Ireland winner James, amongst those handed a debut.
[13]
Keys, Colm (30 January 2013). "Ten young guns aiming to fire in the league". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
[14]
McNulty, Chris (5 January 2015). "Liam Bradley to be new Malin manager". Donegal News. Retrieved 5 January 2015. Meanwhile, Michael Molloy has been confirmed as Kilcar's new manager, 16 years after his last stint in charge at Towney. With Rory Gallagher leaving the post to become the new Donegal manager, Kilcar man Molloy will fill the void.
[15]
McNulty, Chris (7 March 2021). "John McNulty ratified again as Kilcar manager". Retrieved 7 March 2021. McNulty returned for another stint when he succeeded Barry Doherty in December 2019.
[16]
Walsh, Harry (5 November 2016). "McHugh was in library when heard he had won an All Star". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016. 'Mum and dad will come up to the All Stars with me and dad will be driving back down home on Saturday morning as he's the manager of the Kilcar senior team', he said.
[17]
McNulty, Chris (26 February 2017). "Martin McHugh steps down as Kilcar manager — new league season just two weeks away". Retrieved 26 February 2017.
[18]
McNulty, Chris (6 January 2018). "Barry Doherty returned as Kilcar manager". Retrieved 6 January 2018.
[19]
McNulty, Chris (26 November 2018). "Barry Doherty returned to Kilcar hotseat for 2019". Retrieved 26 November 2018.
[20]
"John McNulty appointed as new Aodh Ruadh manager". Donegal News. 10 February 2022. p. 65. McNulty takes over from Barry Ward who had three years at the helm. McNulty managed his native Kilcar for the last two seasons. He also had a stint as bainisteoir of St Naul's and the Donegal Masters team… Aran McGowan will work with the senior team as a coach. Matthew Neeson has been appointed as their senior development team [sic]
[21]
Gartland, Niall (17 March 2022). "New Kilcar boss Cunningham has his eyes on the road ahead". Donegal News. p. 67. New Kilcar boss Conor Cunningham says he's keen to wipe the slate clean after the controversy surrounding the delayed 2020 Donegal Senior Championship final… Their new manager is Kilcar through and through — he played for the team before managing the reserves and Under 21s in recent years — but he says there's no point moping around feeling sorry for themselves… Still only 37 years old, Cunningham developed an interest in coaching whilst still a player and admits that he aspired to managing the Kilcar senior team… Appointed to the position in early February, Cunningham says he won't ask too much from his players in the early part of the season.
[22]
"FT Report & Reaction: Kilcar beat rivals Killybegs to seal Donegal SFC semi final spot". Highland Radio. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022. After the game Kilcar boss Conor Cunningham told Ryan Ferry there are still some improvements that his side can make…
[23]
"Michael Hegarty confirmed as Kilcar senior manager". Ocean FM. 23 January 2024.
[24]
Bonnar, Dáire. "[Ryan] McHugh missing for opening Kilcar games". Breaking Ball: Team-by-team guide to the Donegal Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championships (Donegal News). 8 August 2024. page 52.
[25]
Campbell, Peter (5 March 2025). "Kilcar appoint new duo as joint managers for the 2025 season: Mark Sweeney and Paul Devlin will take charge of the Towney-based club for the new season". Donegal Live.
[26]
Craig, Frank (24 September 2020). "Situation was avoidable says Kilcar chairman". Donegal News. p. 64. Kilcar chairman John Carr says that while the right decision to postpone the Donegal SFC final was eventually reached on Tuesday, he insists that the situation should never have reached the point it did…

CLG Chill Chartha

History

Rivalries

Competitive record

Championship

League

Comórtas Peile

Underage

Notable players

Managers

Chairmen

Honours

References

External links

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