The Early Days

Dungannon has changed a lot in the past 1oo years and more.

Dramatic progress has occurred socially, economically, politically and where we were concerned in our love for hurling.

It wasn’t always this way.

Housing was difficult to obtain, jobs were scarce and as a result money was even harder to come by.

Big families were housed in crowded conditions.

The Education Act of 1947 was to change everything.

The minority were given a great opportunity. A chance they never had before and by God we took it.

Something else was happening during this period, hurling was making a comeback in our great town.

Hurling in general had fallen into severe decline all over the Country following the Great Famine of the 19th Century.

Tyrone was no different. Gaelic games were discouraged and openly prohibited by foreign and local interference.

Prior to the formation of Eoghan Ruadh in 1946, there had been numerous unsuccessful attempts to set up a club in Dungannon.

Firstly, Dungannon Lamh Dhearg emerged at the start of the 20th Century. This was then replaced by Dungannon Emmets which was then replaced by Craobh Ruadh. Unfortunately, there were few other teams in Tyrone at this time other than Killyclogher and hurling fell into severe decline.

1946 – New Beginnings.

In 1946, two young Dungannon men Harry McBride and John Devlin had been attending the Gaeltacht.

It was there that they had met other likeminded men from all over Ulster. Men with a shared vision of Irish traditions. From Irish language to music and dance and to sport.

Harry and John discussed the possibility of organising a hurling team in Dungannon and on returning home quickly discovered they were not the only ones thinking the same. With the assistance of members of the Gaelic League an inaugural meeting took place on the 5th of May 1946 in the old Gaelic League rooms in Ann Street.

A large attendance was present and the following committee was elected.

President – Rev T Mac Domhail

Chairman – Fr Mc Avinchey

V Chairman – F McGonagle

Treasurer – A Kelly

Secretary – Brother Celsus

Committee members – H McBride Sen, J Harte, J Devlin, P Stewart, P McCrea, J Comac, D Cullen, C Murray, H McBride, B Ritchie, P Kelly.

The committee was given the task of identifying players and strips and arranging matches. Not an easy task.

forwarded by Kevin Arthurs – Joe Arthurs 1st on bottom right.

John Devlin Senior – 1924 to 1994.

Our First Club Colours.

The first strip the club played in were made of white shirts with a red hand sewn on the breast pocket and black togs sewn together from blackout material used in the war courtesy of F McGonagle ( a tailor ) and Nellie Goodwin ( a Seamstress ).

Training took place at the Old Academy playing fields on the Killyman Road.

On the 6th of June 1946, our Club played its first game v a strong Coleraine team in an away fixture. The lack of experience was reflected in the scoreline.

Eoghan Ruadh 1:0

Coleraine 6:2

The return game in Coalisland was a much tighter affair.

Eoghan Ruadh 3:2

Coleraine 4:4

What an improvement from the away result. This gave everyone great hope for the future with the knowledge that their training was beginning to show promise.

Frank Kavanagh, Joe Arthurs and Harry McBride.

The Eoghan Ruadh Team of 1946 was,

F McGonagle, F Lonergan, F Quinn, J Harte, P Stewart, P Daly, J Devlin, Paddy McCrea, P Fox, S McNellis, Bro Celsus, J Harte, B Ritchie, P McCool, Fr Campbell.

By 1947 things were beginning to happen for hurling in Tyrone.

4 teams took part in the County Senior Championship that year.

Cappagh, Dromore, Omagh and Dungannon,

Unfortunately, we were beat in the semi final by a strong Cappagh team who went on to win the title.

As 1948 came upon us, nobody could envisage the success that was to come.

The 1948 Committee was elected at a convention in St Patrick’s Hall.

Chairman – Dean Mc Larnon

V Chairman – Harry McBride

Treasurer – Stephen O Donnell

Secretary – Frank Cavanagh.

Team Captain – John Devlin

Committee Members – J Comac, H McBride Jnr, P McCrea, J ODonnell, B Ritchie, D Cullen.

Success needed equipment and funding was required.

A Ceili Dance was held in St Patrick’s Hall on 15th of May 1948 with an admission fee of 3 shillings and sixpence.

The profit made for the evening was a tremendous total of £96 or £4600 in today’s money.

As a result they could now purchase hurls and sliotars to allow future development to take place.

A minor championship was introduced and in 1948 Dungannon won beating Cappagh in the final. Also the seniors were not to be overlooked as we won our first Benburb Cup title beating Knockmoyle in the County Final.