Brian McGilligan
Encyclopedia
Brian McGilligan is a former dual GAA player
, who is most notable for being a Gaelic football
er for the Derry senior football team
in the 1980s and 1990s, especially the 1993 team. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
winning side and also won two Ulster Championships
with the side. For his performances in the 1987 and 1993 Championships he won two All Star
awards.
In addition to Gaelic football
, McGilligan also played hurling
for Derry. He played club football for St. Canice's GAC Dungiven
and hurling for Kevin Lynchs
. After being part of the backroom staff for 2007, he was appointed Derry Senior and Under 21 hurling manager for 2008. In September 2008 he announced his interest in the vacant Derry Senior football manager's job. He was also a selector on the Derry Under 21 team which won the Ulster Under 21
and All-Ireland Under 21 Championship
s in 1997.
and attended Dernaflaw National School. He went to St. Patrick's College, Dungiven. McGilligan works as a site manager.
, despite the fact Derry were defeated. He added a second All-Star and Ulster medal in 1993 in addition to winning All-Ireland with Derry, defeating Cork in the final.
He won National Football League
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995 and 1996 and also holds Railway Cup medals. McGilligan won Personality of the Year at the 1996 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards.
, manager of the Ireland international rules football team
at the time, noticed McGilligan in a hurling match for Derry against Dublin
in Parnell Park
. He was so impressed with McGilligan's performance, that he asked him to play for Ireland in the 1986 International Rules series
– despite the fact hurling bears no resemblance to the hybrid game.
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
, who is most notable for being a Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er for the Derry senior football team
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the 1980s and 1990s, especially the 1993 team. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning side and also won two Ulster Championships
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
with the side. For his performances in the 1987 and 1993 Championships he won two All Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards.
In addition to Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, McGilligan also played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
for Derry. He played club football for St. Canice's GAC Dungiven
Dungiven GAC
St. Canice's GAC Dungiven is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football. The hurling club in the town is Kevin Lynch's....
and hurling for Kevin Lynchs
Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club
Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for hurling. The Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football team in the town is St...
. After being part of the backroom staff for 2007, he was appointed Derry Senior and Under 21 hurling manager for 2008. In September 2008 he announced his interest in the vacant Derry Senior football manager's job. He was also a selector on the Derry Under 21 team which won the Ulster Under 21
Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
For the Senior equivalent see: Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Under-21 Football Championship known for sponsorship reasons as the Cadbury Ulster Under-21 Football Championship is a Gaelic football tournament for players under the age of 21, contested by the nine counties of Ulster in...
and All-Ireland Under 21 Championship
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
s in 1997.
Personal life
McGilligan was born in Benedy outside DungivenDungiven
Dungiven is a small town and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A6 Belfast to Derry road. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over...
and attended Dernaflaw National School. He went to St. Patrick's College, Dungiven. McGilligan works as a site manager.
Inter-county career
McGilligan was part of Derry's 1987 Ulster Championship winning team and won an All Star for his performances that year, which included a man of the match display against MeathMeath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
, despite the fact Derry were defeated. He added a second All-Star and Ulster medal in 1993 in addition to winning All-Ireland with Derry, defeating Cork in the final.
He won National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995 and 1996 and also holds Railway Cup medals. McGilligan won Personality of the Year at the 1996 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards.
International Rules career
Kevin HeffernanKevin Heffernan (Gaelic footballer)
-See also :* List of people on stamps of Ireland*Dublin GAA*Dublin GAA Honours*Dublin Senior Club Football Championship...
, manager of the Ireland international rules football team
Ireland international rules football team
The Ireland International rules football team is the representative team for Ireland in international rules football, a compromise between Gaelic football and Australian rules football...
at the time, noticed McGilligan in a hurling match for Derry against Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in Parnell Park
Parnell Park
Parnell Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Donnycarney, Dublin, Ireland with a capacity of about 11,500. It is the home of the Dublin GAA hurling, football, camogie and ladies' football teams at all levels of competition...
. He was so impressed with McGilligan's performance, that he asked him to play for Ireland in the 1986 International Rules series
1986 International Rules series
The 1986 International Rules series took place in Australia and consisted of three Test matches between the Australian and Irish international rules football teams.-Summary:1st Test Venue: WACA Ground, Perth Crowd: Unknown2nd Test...
– despite the fact hurling bears no resemblance to the hybrid game.
External links
- Hoganstand article on McGilligan
- Where are they now? : Brian McGilligan - Video interview
- Cumann Chainnigh Naofa Dún Geimhin official website
- Kevin Lynchs Hurling Clubs official website
- Official Derry GAA Website