By Tommy Curran
A POPULAR Gaoth Dobhair couple celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Monday .
Neily Jimmy John Gallagher, Upper Cotteen, Derrybeg and Nellie (née McFadden), originally from Cnoc Fola were married in St Colmcille Church, Cnoc Fola on Easter Tuesday, April 20, 1976. The bridesmaid was Nellie’s sister, Anna Barry while the best man was Neily’s late brother, Pat Jimmy John. The celebrant of the mass was the late Fr Eoghan Ó Frighil, who was a neighbour of Neily’s. The reception was held in the nearby Ostán Radharc an Earagail, Barr an Lane. They spent their honeymoon in Kildare.
After their marriage they resided in Neily’s home before building their new home a short distance away. They have two sons, James married to Caitríona and Manny married to Marie and a daughter Carina married to Mark Byrne. They also have seven grand-children: Jamie, Dylan, Niall, Caylen, Orlaith, Brayden and Niamh.
The happy couple pictured with a copper image of St. Colmcille Church where they were married 50 years ago.
Neily and his late brothers, Pat and John Gallagher were outstanding Gaelic footballers. Neily made his debut for Donegal Senior team in a match against Derry in 1961 and he played his final game for the county in 1967. He won a Dr Lagan Cup medal and collected a Dr McKenna Cup medal with Donegal in 1967. In 1974 he won an Ulster Senior Football Championship medal with his county. He managed to score 22 points in the Championship campaign that year including eight points in the All Ireland semi final against Galway at Croke Park. He scored a vital goal in the final of the 1968 Railway Cup against Leinster at Croke Park.
Neily and Nellie with their seven grand-children: Jamie, Dylan, Niall, Caylen, Orlaith, Brayden and Niamh.
At local level with the Gaoth Dobhair squad he won a Juvenile Championship medal in 1957 and in 1958-59 he collected two Minor Championship medals. In 1961 he played half forward in the Senior Championship Final against Dungloe. He scored Gaoth Dobhair’s first point in that historic triumph over their rivals. He also won two League medals, one in 1970 and again in 1973. He retired from football in 1975 after losing to Cavan in the first round. He continued to play on for Gaoth Dobhair for years afterwards.
His last game at the age of 40 in the famous green and wite jersey was for Gaoth Dobhair’s B team in the Junior Football Championship final of 1982 against Na Rossa.
After retiring he remained involved with the Gaoth Dobhair club and took on various roles from coaching and managing at underage level and was also involved in a number of other roles with the club seniors down through the years.