C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair 3.82

C.L.G. Ghaoth Dobhair is a GAA club based in the parish of Gweedore in northwest County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. They are one of the strongholds of Gaelic football in County Donegal.Their home ground is at Machaire Gathlán, and they are currently the most successful club in both the Donegal Senior Football Championship and Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta.HistoryThe first records of Gaelic football being played in Gaoth Dobhair date back to 1918. Up until the late 1920s, there was no official club, but two teams in the parish. (One consisting of players from the east of Derrybeg church, and the other comprising players from the west of the church.) Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Ghaoth Dobhair would later be founded in 1931. Their traditional local rivals are Dungloe and Falcarragh but their biggest rivals are St Eunans of Letterkenny. The two clubs are Donegal's most successful clubs and usually have feisty and tough matches that are full of drama and great football skill from under 12 level right up to senior level. Ghaoth Dobhair are known for their physical,handpassing and 'never say die attitude' style of play. The club is also famous for its Thursday night discos during the summer which has been running since the 70s. This is a massive income provider for the club and people travel from as far as Downings and Killybegs to attend due to its good reputation and unique setting.Gaoth Dobhair has produced many county footballers over the years and the club's players have been awarded All Stars on 5 occasions: Kevin Cassidy in 2002, and him again in 2011 alongside full-back Neil McGee, who received another one in 2012 and 2014 when Donegal reached All-Ireland Finals winning one and losing the other to Mayo and Kerry respectively. Underage development has improved in recent times with successes in the under-14, under-15, under-16 and under-21 levels after a long drought. This success is largely down to the coaching plans and underage structure put in place by a number of members in the early noughties. In the summer of 2012, after years of planning and development, a new pitch was built beside the clubhouse. In 2016 plans were laid down to replace the old pitch with a brand new one featuring a small stand opposite the clubhouse.