History of the club
Aodh Ruadh Club was established in 1909 after a public meeting which was inspired by a call from the local branch of the Gaelic League: "to consider the advisability of having some Irish games started in the town".
The club was founded on Sunday, 24th October and at the meeting the admission fee to the games was fixed at one shilling and a membership fee of one penny per week was levied.
The first hurling and football practices took place in the 'Workhouse Meadow', latterly known as Munday's Field and now Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh at the West Rock on Sunday, October 31st 1909.
Capitalising in the local talent available and particularly on an established hurling tradition, the club since its inception has met with significant success in both hurling and football and has had many successes. These are detailed on our Roll of Honour
Over the years numerous players from the club have represented the county at all levels while at administration level, the club also has a very high level of involvement.
Other features in this section
- In 2009 Aodh Ruadh celebrated its centenary with a year long programme of events. Part of the commemorative celebrations was a programme to scan historic images related to the club for presentation on the evening of the club's official centenary celebrations. These presentations are listed below, just click to browse.
- In early 2009 Tom Daly wrote a year by year time line history of the club. This detailed some of the main highlights of the club's history over the past one hundred years.
More - An archive of club notes from the start of January 2006 onwards.
More - In 1983 and 1984 a considerable amount of work was done trawling through the Donegal Democrat archive for references to Aodh Ruadh. These references were typed up in hard copy and begin in 1919. These archives are progressively being made available on aodhruadh.org and are ordered by year in this section.
More - For many a year Billy Finn's camera captured the comings and goings of Ballyshannon GAA. The fascinating range of videos in this section are part of a collection Billy made available to the club.
More - A history of the Ballyshannon/Bundoran combination, Saint Joseph's.
More - A scanned reproduction of a club minute book covering 1946 to 1950 donated to the club by Peggy Slevin, widow of club stalwart, Sean Slevin.
More - Legendary players who have been inaugurated into the Aodh Ruadh Hall of Fame.
More - Three Aodh Ruadh players make it on to the Donegal team of the Millenium.
More - Aodh Ruadh Chairs, Secretaries and Treasurers down the years.
More - A history of ladies football in Aodh Ruadh.
More - A history of camogie in Aodh Ruadh.
More - March 2020 marked the centenary of the birth of Red Jack Gallagher, an iconic Aodh Ruadh, Donegal and Ulster footballer. His son Sean, who captained Aodh Ruadh seniors, wore the county jersey and was also a talented hurler and handball player, has penned a personal tribute to his late father. It captures well the times during which Red Jack lived, the importance of football to him and the contribution which he made to the game.
More - A history of the Aodh Ruadh Sponsored Cycle fund-raising trips: 1991-1995.
More - Corlea resurfaces as Assaroe Lake reveals its secrets.
More - Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill - The man and his times
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