2.

Before the “Belleek Young Emmetts”

 The Mesolithic hunter gatherers, probably the first inhabitants of Ireland, undoubtedly passed this way and crossed the might Erne at Belleek in the dim and distant past. The ability to cross the Erne here ensured Belleek would have an important place in history. The porous limestone rock which comprised the ford here kept silent watch over an unfolding history and witnessed many significant historical events right up to modern times.

Just a few days before Peggy Daly passed to her eternal reward I visited her in the company of my cousin Tom Daly from Ballyshannon who was President of the Ulster Council of the GAA at the time. Peggy made every effort to remain cheerful but it was obvious to us almost immediately that she would soon face the final hurdle of her sojourn here on earth. Peggy would shortly meet her husband Eddie Daly again in the eternal kingdom.

 Peggy insisted however that both of us should take some mementos with us of the material she had gathered over many years. She gave instruction to her carers and soon I received some historical information regarding Erne Gaels and other local teams and Tom Daly was presented with data on Ballyshannon from the “Corry Archives”. Towards the end of that week Tom and I would follow that sad cortege for

one of the great stalwarts. The emblem of the local association rested gently on her coffin.

Belleek Pottery of course achieved fame throughout the world and served to keep the Belleek name on the map when many other villages struggled for recognition outside their own areas. Pottery workers therefore and management on occasions have made a formidable contribution to the story of the GAA at local level. The “Belleek Rose Isles” was one of the very earliest names for the local club in Belleek. The name itself is of course associated with the location of the local pottery.

A definitive history of the association in this area has not yet been completed but some records trace the origins of the GAA in the area as far back as about 1912. It is likely that local teams competed prior to this and it is also probable that players played both Gaelic and Association Football in the early years. Opposing teams

appear to have been drawn from the local area and many came from Donegal. Later of course the Corlea “Eire Óg” which achieved much success was made up in the main of Belleek players. This team was both talented and successful and perhaps in the end it was its success more than anything else that led to its demise as a footballing force.

“Belleek Rose Isles” were top the South Donegal league on 1st October in 1920 after beating Bundoran. This club also competed in a county final against Donegal town prior to 1920. Townland teams were a feature of the times. Teams might appear and disappear on a regular basis. There were teams in Belleek, Clyhore, Drumavanty, Cashelard, Mulleek, Doobally, Ednagor and elsewhere. Apparently players did not adhere strictly to the membership rules which were in vogue at that time. The early twenties were of course troublesome times and much of the activity of the association was disrupted. Belleek and Clyhore continued a sporadic liaison with Corlea players also in the mix. These teams played each other on various occasions with recorded fixtures in1925 and 1926.

Corlea first formed a club in 1926. This club Corlea Éire Óg did not become officially registered with Donegal County Board until the late thirties and subsequently proved very successful. Kevin Mc Cann recalls a game between Cashelard and Corlea in a field belonging to John Kelm near Henry Boyles in the late twenties. Corlea became the powerhouse of the GAA in the Belleek area in the late thirties and forties attracting the allegiance of Belleek and Clyhore players. It must be remembered of course that Corlea, Clyhore and Belleek drew largely from the same area and the same panel of players. Hugh Daly was secretary of this club and also reported regularly in the Donegal Democrat under various pen names.

Belleek players of the late twenties and early thirties included Willie Mc Cauley, Patk. Mc Cauley, Jimmy Mc Cauley, Michael Boyle, Wm Harrigan, Joe Daly, Jimmy Mc Grath, Tommy Campbell, James Gilfedder, Paddy Mc Cauley, Tony Bannigan and Barney Daly.

These players played mostly 7 A-side and tournaments in Pettigo and Garrison. The team also played in The Corlea Cup with Mulleek, Corlea, and Cashelard from about 1932. Many of these players later became associated with Corlea.

Corlea players about this time included Billy Moore, Eddie Moore, Paddy Dorrian, Johnny Ward, Tommy Smith, Eddie Smith, James Gonigle, Paddy Ward, Harry Carey ( later became president of Ulster Council GAA), Jack Carey, Joe Daly, Patsy Gonigle, Pat Quinn, Jimmy Quinn, Michael Quinn, Patrick Mc Gee, Willie John Mc Cann, John Patrick Mc Gee and Tommy Mc Gee , Jimmy O Rourke and Mickey Ward, Hugh Daly, Mickey Morrow, Eddie Muldoon, Danny Mc Grath, Paddy Donagher, Willie Harrigan, Paddy Harrigan, Paddy Ward, Barney Daly, Joe Sheerin, Francie Campbell, Pat Mc Cann, Eddie Roddy, Neil Doherty, Francie Mc Gee, Matt Rooney, Gerry Gallagher, Cecil Gormley, Leo Gallagher. Some of these players featured a little later than others and it wasn’t unknown for players to play a number of teams. All of the players were local with the border regarded as an unnecessary incumbency.

Mulleek formed a club in 1932. Some of those who played about that time were: Hugh Mc Gauran, Pat Mc Gauran, Thomas Mc Gauran, James Mc Keaney, John Mc Goldrick, Pat Mc Grath, John O Connor, Michael Mc Namara (Sen.), Frank O Shea, Philip Breen, Tommy Flanagan, James Curran, Paddy Keown, Andy Flanagan, Billy Flanagan, Mickey Mc Gauran, Johnny Mc Goldrick and Frank Mc Goldrick,

Tommy O Connor, James O Connor, Dan Ó Connor, Michael Mc Namara, James Mc Namara. Once again some of these players played later than others. A branch of The Gaelic League was also active in Mulleek for some time.

Corlea appeared in Donegal Junior finals against Convoy (1942), Castlefin (1945), Killygordon (1946), and Downings (1947) winning the latter. Corlea had also won The Democrat Cup competition which was equivalent to The Senior Football League. Corlea were at this stage competing with the best and were not found wanting.

Initially the Corlea / Belleek combination won very little but was very active on the cultural front with Irish Language classes taken by Mr. Curran and Mr. P. Mc Gonigle, Irish Dancing classes taken by Maureen Sheerin and lectures on cultural affairs given by Mr. Curran, Mr. Seán Nethercott and John De Coursey Ireland. Many of these were held in Corlea Hall which was opened on December 26th 1933. During the 30’s Fr. Ó Ciarán P.P. Magherameena gave lectures in the Commons School on Irish History, and Mr. Coyle lectured in Fassagh School.

Mulleek played in the Fermanagh Junior Competition in the thirties winning The Fermanagh Junior Competition of 1933. The final was played in 1934 against Newtownbutler in Magherameena. This team also played in the Father Traynor Cup. Mulleek also won a break-away competition in the late thirties called the Red League in which Mulleek, Cavanacross, Ederney, Pettigo, Drumavanty and Belleek participated. Mulleek won “The Mc Caffrey Cup in 1939”. In 1940 Mulleek won the Fermanagh Junior Championship. Mulleek produced many players for Fermanagh including Hugh Mc Gauran, Sean Mc Caffrey, Paddy Mc Caffrey, Hugh O Connor, Mick Mc Gauran and John O Connor. Mulleek had a number of players on

Fermanagh’s first Ulster Junior win of 1943. Malachy Mahon mentions Paddy Mc Caffrey as one of the finest players in Ireland.

Both Belleek and Mulleek had relatively successful camogie teams in this era. Belleek are particularly remembered for the part played by the Bannigan sisters. Mulleek had many good players amongst whom were Annie Mc Gauran, Mary Ellen Ó Connor, Maureen Lunny, Brigid Tunny, Phyllis Tunney, Greta Gormley, Bernadette Lunny, Sarah Leonard, Molly Doogan, Maggie Doogan, Minnie Mc Gurl, Aggie Keown, Peggy Gormley and Sarah Lannon.

Drumavanty club was active in the forties. I have not as yet received any club documentation but the activities and achievements of the club are noted in various papers and other sources. Gabriel Brock in his book mentions J.Slevin, V.Duffy, G.Campbell and P. Greene as important workers. In the same context Kevin Mc Cann and Tommy Campbell are mentioned from Belleek and Hugh Mc Gauran and Paddy Mc Caffrey (Mulleek). Drumavanty Played in the Fermanagh league and championship and also took part in The Red League. John Doogan regularly played for Fermanagh. A Drumavanty team listed at Drumavanty Gaelic Park in a game against Corlea in the forties is as follows. F. Mc Garrigle, P. Keown, P.J. Gourty, J.J. Moohan, J. Doogan, B. Mc Auley, J. Mc Gee, F. O. Reilly, F. Mc Guire, P. Green, P. Quinn, W. Rodgers and F. Ferguson. This was a challenge match played under a scorching sun and with a large crowd in attendance. The Corlea team was H. Daly, M.Ward, P.Ward, J. O Rourke, M. Morrow, D. Quinn, P.Quinn, J.Mc Loughlin, P. Gonigle, W.J. Dolan, M.Dolan, F.Mc Cauley and P.Daly. Drumavanty won.

The watershed

was approaching

in the late forties

however. A number of

Corlea players were featuring for

Donegal including of course Patsy Rooney who went on to a

further

distinguished career with Fermanagh. Members of this Corlea team would play a significant role in the Belleek GAA story.

A meeting of the Mulleek and Belleek clubs took place in Mulleek School on Sunday 6th February 1949 and The Belleek Young Emmets club which was the forerunner of Erne Gaels was formed. This team swept the decks in Fermanagh in 1949 winning both The Senior Football League and Championship. The Young Emmett’s smashed the attendance records at Fermanagh games and gave a new impetus to the GAA in the county.

“Erne Gaels Belleek” Senior Team and Mentors 22nd April 2011. Páirc na hÉirne Belleek.

Back Row: Arthur Mc Caffrey (manager), Damien Lyons, Mark Duffy, Paul Mc Guinness, Gregory Mc Glone, Daniel Mc Gullion, Brian Mullins, Seamus Ryder, Stephen Ryder, Dara Keown, Paul Keown, Liam Mc Cauley (Coach), Ciarán Mc Mahon (Coach), Eimear Mc Mahon. Front: Colin Ferguson, Ryan Mc Gullion, Paul Mc Caffrey, Paul Ó Shea, Conleth Cullen, Paul Kiernan, Daniel Kelm, Mark Lyons.

Teams:

A Mulleek Team of 1930's:

Back Row : Andy Flanagan, Hughie Mc Gauran, Thomas Mc Gauran, J. Keaney, Philip Breen, Pat Mc Gauran, Billy Flanagan.

Front Row: John O'Connor, Jack Gormley, Frank o' Shea, F. Mc Goldrick, Michael Mc Namara and Tommy Flanagan

A Belleek Team 1928

Back Row (L to R): Michael (Mickey) Knox, T.Daly, D. Cleary, P.Mc Cauley, J. Brannigan, T. Brannigan, B. Daly, J.Slevin

Front (L to R): Robbie Daly, M. Boyle, W. Harrigan, J. Gilfedder, J. Daly, J. Mc Grath.

Note: Some surnames may not appear correctly spelt. I have left those as in original material. Please advise for further clarification.

Material has been taken from various sources. Much of this material was gathered for a variety of publications. Thanks also to Paddy Gormley. Mary Heron, Patricia Heron and others for additional material. Further material welcome secretary.gaeilge.fermanagh@gaa.ie