CLG Réalt na Mara

CLG Réalt na Mara,[1] or, in the English language, Star of the Sea GAA, is a Gaelic football-only GAA club based in Bundoran, County Donegal, Ireland. The club fields both men's and ladies' teams at underage to senior level.

Bundoran GAA
CLG Réalt na Mara
Founded:1916
County:Donegal
Colours:Amber and Black
Coordinates:54°57′08.48″N 8°21′07.55″W
Playing kits
Standard colours
Senior Club Championships
All Ireland Ulster
champions		 Donegal
champions
Football: - - 3

As of 2022, Brian McEniff remains chairman of the club.[2]

History

In the 1920s, the location of Bundoran on the railway line made the Bundoran local ground a convenient venue for many big games. The GAA club grounds were purchased in 1938. The club was reorganised and renamed 'The Star of the Sea'. The football park has undergone many developments throughout the years. The ground was levelled in 1947 and enclosed in 1951. The club changing rooms were constructed in 1972.[3]

The juniors were successful in both the 1956 and 1960 Championships. In 1963, "Star of the Sea" joined with Ballyshannon team, Aodh Ruadh to become St Joseph's. That team included many players that contributed to the Donegal county team, including Brian McEniff and the former Donegal County Council Manager Michael McLoone. In 1977, the club was again divided into two clubs, one each for the towns of Bundoran and Ballyshannon.

Bundoran won the first even Donegal senior championship title when they defeated Red Hughs of Killygordon in a replayed final in the Brandywell in Derry. It was in fact the 2019 championship but a series of delays ensured the replay was in March 1920. The club were again senior champions in 1934 and along with Ballyshannon were part of the phenomenally successful St Josephs side that dominated Donegal club football in the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s winning eight titles as well as the first, though unofficial, All-Ireland club championship in 1968 defeating Dunmore McHales in the final. St Josephs broke up in the 1976 and in 1977 Réalt na Mara went on to win the first ever Intermediate title following this up with Senior Championship success in 1979, overcoming Seán MacCumhaill's in a nail-biting one-point victory to win the Senior Championship.

Local man Brian McEniff led Donegal to their first ever Ulster title in 1972 and won managed the County to four more Ulster successes before managing Donegal to their first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1992,[4] in which they defeated Dublin in the final 0–18 to 0–14. Bundoran was the scene of enormous celebrations for almost a month afterwards.[3]

In 2010, Réalt na Mara won the Donegal Intermediate Football Championship. They again won the Donegal Intermediate Football Championship in 2015 and advanced the same year to the Ulster Intermediate Club Football Championship final, where they lost to Loughinisland.

Notable players

Managers
Years Manager
1916–?—
?–2013Joe Keeney
2013–201?Brian McEniff[5]
2016–18/19?Francie Martin[6]
2019Niall Dunne[7]
2020Terry McCann[8]
2021–presentCathal Corey[9]

Honours

References
  1. Craig, Frank (19 July 2019). "Brennan comfortable in at the deep end". Donegal News. p. 72. The Realt na Mara man is a commercial diver by trade…
  2. "Brian McEniff honoured by the Gaelic Writers' Association". Now well beyond the age most GAA stalwarts retire he still serves as Chairman of Realt na Mara and can be found almost every Saturday outside SuperValu, Bundoran selling Bunotto.
  3. Geagan, M. (2011). Dancing by the sea: A journey through time in the Bundoran area. Bundoran: Stracomer Press. ISBN 978-0-9568847-0-1
  4. "Donegal Sport Star Hall of Fame Award for Brian McEniff". Highland Radio. 17 January 2018.
  5. "McEniff to manage Bundoran seniors in Championship". Donegal News. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013. Joe Keeney had stepped down as the team manager…
  6. Campbell, Peter (26 December 2016). "Francie Martin appointed manager of Bundoran". Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  7. Comack, Tom (19 February 2019). "Niall Dunne has been appointed new Bundoran GAA team manager". Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  8. McNulty, Chris (6 January 2020). "Bundoran confirm new manager for 2020". Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. "Former Sligo boss is new Bundoran manager". Ocean FM. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
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