Founding of Drumnaquoile GFC 1924

When Drumnaquoile GFC was formed back in 1924, there was great enthusiasm among the youth of the parish, and at the first meeting quite a large crowd gathered at Clanvaraghan School to give the project a good send-off.

Having resolved unanimously "that a football club get going" the following officers were elected:- Chairman: Rev. Joseph Ivory C.C., of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan Parish, Treasurer: Mr. Hugh Friel who was also a teacher and Principal in Drumaroad Primary School, and Secretary: Mr. Gerry. O'Donoghue. They were well chosen and soon the club began to hum with expectation. Tom Jennings was appointed captain of the team, and he also was a fine athlete, winning the half-mile championship of Ulster in 1925.

Other players who attended the first meeting in back in 1924 were brothers Hugh and Pat Murray; the Toman brothers of Drumaroad; James Keenan, James McGrady, Mick McGee, James Henry Murray, Pat Murray (who had previously played for the Leitrim Fontenoys), and James McGrady, home from St. Malachy's College where he won the Dr. McCrory Cup. Mick McGee hailed from South Armagh and was employed at McElroy's shop in Drumnaquoile. Eddie Toman joined the club later, was a former Leitrim Fontenoys player. A Local poet sang the praises of the Drumnaquoile team thus: "The Owens and the Tomans were first on the field, and the mountains would shift before they would yield".

The second meeting of the Drumnaquoile GFC devised means of raising funds and selecting a suitable ground. The committee received two offers of halls for dancing, and at Sam Dornan's barn in Slieveniskey they held their first venture into the money market. This was followed by another dance in the same townland, where the patrons had the run of the whole buildings, inside and outside and there was quite a good receipt from both houses. Music was always free and voluntary workers smoothed out everything after the entertainment.

For grounds they had the use of Warnock's meadow in Drumnaquoile, and Harry Warnock's two sons later became members of the Drumnaquoile GFC. Drumnaquoile GFC's application to play in the East Down league was accepted, and a team was fielded to play on the second Sunday in November 1924. The match was against Tyrella (now known as Ballykinlar) on their home ground. Some of the players that played for Drumnaquoile in 1924 were: Sam Toman, Pat Murray, Tom Jennings (Captain), Mick Toman, Mick McGee, Jim McGrady, G. O'Donoghue, and Mick McCormack, James H. Murray, H. Murray, James Keenan, Eddie McGuigan and P. Kelly. Drumnaquoile were unfortunately beaten that Sunday back in November 1924, but the seeds were sown, and as football experience grew, so did the wins.

Drumnaquoile club was in existence for over fifty years until the formation of St. Johns GAC of Drumnaquoile in 1977, when the neighbouring townland teams of Drumaroad and Drumnaquoile amalgamated to form the parish club of St. Johns GAC of Drumnaquoile or as they are widely known across the land as the 'Mighty Johnnies'.

No doubt the 1924 Drumnaquoile team would be very proud in the fact that from simple beginnings the Gaelic tradition in the parish of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan has continued to grow and prosper through the present day club of St. Johns GAC of Drumnaquoile.

Back Row (from left): D. McCullough, P. Murray, B. McCann, S. Lennon, C. Burne, P. F. McCann, S. Savage.
Middle Row: S. McKay (P.R.O.), M. Savage, J. McClements, (Manager), G. Burns (Chairman), J. McElroy, G. McElroy, E. Murphy, M. Rice, J. McElroy, Dr. Joseph Maguire P.P., S. Kennedy (Secretary).
Front Row: W. Rice, B. Murphy, E. McKinney, J. Rice (Captain), M. Burns, E. Quinn, B. Crawford.

Photographs and press archives courtesy of the Central Library Newspaper Collections Department, Belfast, and the Mourne Observer, Newcastle.