John Eddie Mullan
Encyclopedia
John Eddie Mullan was an Irish Gaelic football
er who played for Derry
in the 1940s and 1950s. He was part of the first Derry side to win the National Football League
and also won two Dr. McKenna Cups and three Dr. Lagan Cups with the county.
For most of his career he played club football for St. Canice's Dungiven
and won two Derry Championships with the club.
Mullan has been described as "one of Derry's greatest forwards
" and one of Derry's best ever players.
of Galvin, between Dungiven
and Drumsurn
on the 27th April 1923. In the latter half of his life he was a publican in Portrush
. He died peacefully on 14 December 2008 at his home in Portrush
, County Antrim
at the age of 85.
title in 1947, defeating Clare
in the final at Croke Park
. He scored 1-01 in that game (1 goals and 1 point—each goal equals 3 points; 1 x 3 + 1 = 4 points, see GAA scoring rules).
He also won two Dr. McKenna Cup medals (1947 and 1954) and three Dr. Lagan Cup medals with Derry. A particularly memorable game was a 1951 McKenna Cup game against Fermanagh
able in which he scored 3-05. His last county game was against Tyrone
in the 1955 Ulster Senior Football Championship
.
in 1939, where he played for a couple of years. He played for Glenullin
in 1943 and Magilligan
in 1944, before joining Dungiven
in 1945, where he spent the rest of his career. With Dungiven he won Derry Senior Football Championships in 1947 and 1951. Mullan's last game for the club came in the 1957 North Derry Championship final against Ballerin
.
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er who played for Derry
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 1940s and 1950s. He was part of the first Derry side to win the 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...
and also won two Dr. McKenna Cups and three Dr. Lagan Cups with the county.
For most of his career he played club football for St. Canice's 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 won two Derry Championships with the club.
Mullan has been described as "one of Derry's greatest forwards
Gaelic football and Hurling positions
The following are the positions in the Gaelic sports of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Like rugby and baseball, and unlike soccer, these have set positions which haven't changed in decades...
" and one of Derry's best ever players.
Personal life
Mullan was born in the townlandTownland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Galvin, between Dungiven
Dungiven
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 Drumsurn
Drumsurn
Drumsurn is a small village and townland in the Limavady Borough Council area of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is southeast of Limavady and northeast of Dungiven. It lies in the Roe Valley, at the foot of Donald's Hill and at the edge of the Sperrins...
on the 27th April 1923. In the latter half of his life he was a publican in Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
. He died peacefully on 14 December 2008 at his home in Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
at the age of 85.
Inter-county
John Eddie Mullan was a permanent feature on Derry teams throughout the 1940s and 1950s and was full forward when Derry won the county's first National Football LeagueNational 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...
title in 1947, defeating Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
in the final at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. He scored 1-01 in that game (1 goals and 1 point—each goal equals 3 points; 1 x 3 + 1 = 4 points, see GAA scoring rules).
He also won two Dr. McKenna Cup medals (1947 and 1954) and three Dr. Lagan Cup medals with Derry. A particularly memorable game was a 1951 McKenna Cup game against Fermanagh
Fermanagh GAA
The Fermanagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Fermanagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. The county board is also responsible for the Fermanagh inter-county teams-History:...
able in which he scored 3-05. His last county game was against Tyrone
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
in the 1955 Ulster Senior Football Championship
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...
.
Club
Mullan started out his football career with DrumsurnDrumsurn GAC
St. Matthew's GAC Drumsurn is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Drumsurn, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football and Camogie....
in 1939, where he played for a couple of years. He played for Glenullin
Glenullin GAC
John Mitchel's GAC Glenullin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Glenullin, County Londonderry - a valley near Garvagh, partly coinciding with the parish of Errigal. The club is a member of the Derry GAA. They currently cater for both Gaelic football and Camogie...
in 1943 and Magilligan
Magilligan GAC
St. Aidan's GAC Magilligan is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Magilligan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football....
in 1944, before joining 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....
in 1945, where he spent the rest of his career. With Dungiven he won Derry Senior Football Championships in 1947 and 1951. Mullan's last game for the club came in the 1957 North Derry Championship final against Ballerin
Ballerin GAC
Ballerin Sarfields GAC is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ballerin, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They are a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football, Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie...
.
County
- National Football LeagueNational 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...
:- Winner (1): 1947
- Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipUlster Senior Football ChampionshipFor 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...
:- Runner up: 1955
- Dr. McKenna Cup:
- Winner (2): 1947, 1954
- Dr. Lagan Cup:
- Winner (3): 19xx, 19xx, 19xx
Club
- Derry Senior Football Championship:
- Winner (2): 1947, 1951
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.