Club History

Although soccer has been played in the Killygordon area since the early 1900's, the present club Curragh Athletic was founded in 1971.The first official meeting was held in Joe Sweeney's house in the Curragh Estate on the 18 th.October 1971. It appears that no Chairman was elected at that meeting but Paddy Sweeney was elected Secretary ,Brian Doherty, Treasurer and Henry Bradley as Team Manager.

The clubs first match was against ''The Alt'' Castlefin and the team that day was ;A. Hannigan, B.Ewing, S.Ewing, M.Doherty, B.Patton, J.Kelly, J.Sweeney, E.Hannigan, P.Sweeney, D.Sweeney, B.Doherty, sub. J O Loughlin. ref. M.Timony.

The clubs first trophy was won in 1974, clinching the Div.2 title with a 3-2 Away win in Letterkenny against Arcade now known as Bonagee United. The team on duty that day was: S.Mc Kelvey, H.O Donnell, D Mc Bride, A Kelly, E.O Reilly, D.Mahaffy, K.Bradley, B.Patton, E.Hannigan, D.Sweeney, D.Rouse, H.Gillespie, S.Ewing. Team Manager Joe Sweeney. The Goalkeeper on that day, Seamus Mc Kelvey who is now President of our club, was to take an active part in the club affairs ever since including managing the team from 1977 to 1981 when the club won their first Curragh Summer Cup. Also that day Danny Rouse who scored 35 goals that year still holds the overall goals record scored for the club with 130 goals. He later managed the Team from 74 to '77 and later for one season when the club played in the Ulster Senior League.

Curragh Athletic annual Club Presentation in the Bakers Corner 1983.

Back row: Plunket O Loughlin, Seamus Mc Kelvey, Alfie Coyle, Pat Lafferty, Helen O Loughlin. Front row: John O Loughlin, Frank Kelly, Ian Maxwell, Bertie Ewing, Marty Gamble.

In 1981 John O laughlin took over as team manager and in the mid eightie's Frank Kelly who played his first game for Curragh in 1976, resurrected underage football at the club competing at under 12, 14 and 16 levels in the Lifford and District League. It would be fair to say that both these two men's life's have revolved around the club since the early 1980's.

In 1988 the committee decided after an invitation from the Ulster Senior League, that they should try and play in a higher grade of football. Their first game was away to ''Derry City Reserves'' who included four senior players In their team. The final score was Derry City 6. Curragh 1. Marty Carlin scoring from the spot. The team that day was; H.McGowan, (who was later tragically killed in a car accident), P.Mc Laughlin, L.Mc Colgan, J.Browne, L.Gillespie, A.Mc Daid, M.Carlin [capt)], F.Kelly, H.Gillespie, S Roarty, M.Mc Annaney, C.Gillespie, L.Browne. Team Manager, J.O'Loughlin. The panel was strengthened and gave a fair account of themselves for the following two seasons.

By 1990, the committee felt that the finance and resources required to compete successfully in this grade was almost impossible for the club considering that our long term plan was to develop our own grounds. After a long committee meeting, it was decided to that all available resources should gear towards the club developing and owning their own grounds and revert back to the Donegal Junior League.

The club went back to the ''Donegal Football League at the start of the 1990/91 season and were crowned champions again at the end of the season, The league was finally won oddly enough again away to Bonagee United on a 3 - 1 scoreline ,M Carlin, D Carlin and J Browne scoring the goals. Team; B O Meara, O Reid, A Mc Daid, , P Devine, T Gallagher, E Hannigan, J Browne, M Carlin [capt], L Gillespie S Browne, D Carlin, C Gillespie , K O Toole. Eunan Hannigan collected his second medal that year as he played on the winning 1974 team. Eunan was also on the first 1971 team.

The next few years the club continued in the Donegal Football League and participating in the Lifford & District Schoolboy League. The committee continued their quest to find a suitable site for the club’s future home and in 1994, they succeeded when, after several attempts to acquire land, the finally agreed terms with local farmer Herby Patterson. Although, the land was far from suitable for playing football, plans were drawn and planning permission for the new development was granted for the complex.

Fundraising

Several fundraising events were organised in order to secure the necessary funding required for the development. As funding was scarce, the club managed to phase parts of the project and as the funding became available, another phase of the project would commence. Among the many events organised was the very popular talent competition which was organised in the famous “Bakers Corner” in Killygordon and later in the Lantern Inn at the Cross. It would be fair to say that these social nights will be remembered well especially for some of the characters who performed there. Star of most of the shows himself was M.C. Jimmy Liddy from Derry City, the Knoxville Showband and Larry Doherty and Danny Sweeney who provided backing for the artists.

Another fundraising event which the club will be remembered for nationally, was the famous first draw in Ireland for 20 trips to the European Championships in Germany. The republic had qualified for the first time and the club secured 20 tickets and the flight and accommodation was arranged. This final draw night, again held in the Bakers Corner, where Finn Harps leading scorer, the great Brendan Bradley drew the winning tickets.

Grants

Many grant applications were submitted to the relevant bodies as well to the local authorities.