Cleggan/Claddaghduff
Gaelic football was active in Cleggan from the beginning of the 1900s but was mainly based on local matches between the town-lands. Cleggan were active as a club for many years with recorded statistics dating back to the 1930s. Their main success was winning the West Final of 1947 but they were defeated by Athenry in the county semi-final on a score of 3-4 to 0-3. The captain was Páidín Walsh from Cleggan. Some players from Tully Cross played with Cleggan but that was before the parish rule was introduced. This game was marred by a brawl between the two teams and spectators on the sideline and also a mêlée between two players from the Cleggan team. Cleggan won the Mongan Cup on a number of occasions. The Tank Field was the main venue for Gaelic football matches and training in the latter years.
Players from Cleggan that represented Galway or other counties: Senior: Jack and Michael Gordan (ch. for Meath), Jack Cosgrove (ch. Minor, Under 21, Junior and Senior, first All-Star full-back), Frank King, Aidan Cosgrove (ch. Minor), Sean O’Toole Toole ( Matt) (Minor), Macdara Bermingham (Under 21), Sean O’Toole (ch. Under 21), Eamon King, Michael H. Acton and Aidan Cosgrove were on Hogan Cup winning teams with St. Jarlath’s. Patrick O’Malley was on Sigerson Cup winning team with U.C.G.
(ch. = championship)
To listen to Jack Cosgrove tell the story of his time with the Galway senior football team, click on track 23.
To listen to Feichin Mulkerrin’s memories, click on track 24.
To listen to Brian Courcey’s memories, click on track 25.
To listen to the John Creedon story about the man from Claddaghduff who scored a point and a goal, with one kick of the ball, click on track 26.
Claddaghduff Church
