Tradition has it, that in 1917, a few townlands in the Garrison area, had Gaelic football teams, that played each other.
‘ It was in August 1917, that the new Devenish West GAA club was born in Garrison. Its officers were J. Robinson (captain), President, F.Flanagan, Vice President, B.Neilan, Treasurer, D.McGuinness and Secretary, T.Feely ’. (*1) The club team played Derrygonnelly in its first match.
Devenish was officially registered as a Fermanagh GAA club in 1926.
There are photographs of Devenish teams that won Fermanagh Junior titles in 1926 and 1946.
Prior to 1948, the club played its home matches, in a field kindly given by Dan Neilan. This pitch was off the Corramore Lane, a short distance from the village and to the left off the Derrygonnelly road. In 1947 the club purchased land for a pitch, approximately half a mile from the village on the Belcoo Road. Canon Eugene Coyle, P.P. was instrumental in the fundraising, as well as organising the monumental amount of voluntary work required to change the course of a river, 150 yards approximately, with spades, shovels, horse and cart. The new pitch was opened on 22nd August 1948, by the then President of the GAAA, Dan O’Rourke.
The Sixties History In Detail - see below:
In 1960 a team from Devenish and Mulleek junior clubs won the Fermanagh senior championship. It was amicably agreed in 1961, that a team from these two clubs would compete in senior competitions, under the name Devenish. This was a formidable team that won four senior championships and six league titles. They were also West Ulster Champions in 1964.
Since 1950 Devenish have been very fortunate to have had club members committed to the nurturing of players from a young age. The local schools too have been nurseries for players.
The club has, without doubt, reaped the rewards of all this coaching at underage level:
Senior Championship titles 1960 ( Devenish / Mulleek ) 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1996. Club Honorary President, Canon Patrick Lonergan scored three goals in the 1963 Championship Final – still a record.
Senior League: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993 and 1997.
Junior Football Championship: 1946, 1960, 1975, 1991, 2001.
Junior League: 1926, 1937, 1946, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997.
Many titles have also been won at underage, most notable the Minor double in 1981 when the club competed as a single unit against combined teams.
Railway Cup players: P.T.Treacy, 1963 – 1967 and Paddy McGuinness 1998 – 99.
Pat O’Loughlin, P.T.Treacy and J.J.Treacy won All Ireland Junior medals with Fermanagh in 1959.
The club has taken part in Scor every year since its inception. The present club Chairman, Peter Carty, has served as Chairman of the Ulster Scor Committee for many years.
Devenish was instrumental in organising Ladies football in the County in 1993 and are the First Fermanagh’s of the Ladies game.
On Saturday 4th August 1990, a development committee with immense vision, drew up a long term plan to build dressing rooms, to purchase additional land for a training pitch, to make a full size match pitch with a stand, to erect floodlighting for both pitches, and to provide toilet facilities for spectators. The building with four dressing rooms, meeting room and kitchen was officially opened on 21st August 1994 by the GAA President, Jack Boothman. The new state of the art complex as envisioned in the 1990 plan was officially opened on 27th August 2000 by former GAA President, Peter Quinn, with Sean McCague the then President in attendance.
This pinnacle of achievement could not have been reached without the continued support of the local community. Their voluntary financial subscriptions, together with those of many GAA followers outside the Club’s area ensured that the vision of 1990 became a reality in the new millennium.
This is a history of a club that has moved with the times, a history of members totally dedicated to their club, who have given generously of their time and energy, a history to be proud of.
(*1) Reference: The Gaelic Athletic Association in Fermanagh. ‘ A Stormy Decade ’ Page 41, Gabriel M Brock
The Sixties History In Detail
• How it all began
• 1960 The first success
• The first set of medals
• 1962 The first senior league
• 1963 The senior double
• 1964 A very memorable year
• 1965 Another senior double
• 1966 The double double
• 1967 Three in a row
• Lost in the fog
• Facts and figures
Roll of honour
Fermanagh Senior Football Championship
1960 (Devenish / Mulleek)
1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1996
Fermanagh Senior Football League
1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1997
Fermanagh Junior Football Champions
1946, 1960, 1975, 1991, 2001
Fermanagh Junior Football League
1926 ( Garrison Swifts ), 1937, 1946, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997
Ladies
Fermanagh Junior Championship
2002
