Sport
Given it’s status in the community, Dicey Reilly’s inevitably lends it’s support to numerous fund-raising ventures and events. It is also proud to be the main sponsor of a number of sporting organizations in the locality.
Among the teams and competitions with which Dicey Reilly’s is associated is the Aodh Ruadh junior team. Managed by Gerard McGloin, Colman Kerr and Paddy Kelly and coached by Declan “the Grinder” McGloin, the Ballyshannon boys captured the county title last year defeating St. Eunan’s in a nail biting final. Dicey’s wish the Aodh Ruadh lads every success for the season ahead.
Picture and caption
Pictured at the handing over of a new set of jerseys sponsored by Dicey Reilly’s.
From left to right: Conal Gallagher (Aodh Ruadh chairman), Colman Kerr (junior team selector), John O'Reilly (sponsor), Gerard McGloin (selector), Alan Sweeny (club secretary).
Ballyshannon Inter-firms league proudly sponsored by Dicey Reilly’s
Now in it’s fifth year, the annual inter-firms league has certainly captured the public imagination in Ballyshannon and further afield. Large crowds now flock to the Lakeside Centre on the Belleek road for those sultry Summer evenings as the competition continues to draw the big names out of retirement. Expanding waists and wingers that are almost eligible for free travel add a splash of colour to the competition but once the ball is kicked off, the laughing stops. Previous winners include the Abbey Garage and the Forge, with teams coming from as far away as Liberia (no joking, a multinational side based in the North West) to take part.
Given the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, it's no surprise that a very successful surf-lifesaving team exist in Donegal with a particularly strong input from the Ballyshannon area. With financial assistance from Dicey's, the team have been able to compete in competitions all over Ireland and further afield.
The men's team captured the national title five times in the last ten years and among the local representatives on that team coached by Seamus O'Neill and Charlie Kennedy were Dermot Ferguson, James Kennedy, Dermot Lawless, Killian O'Kelly, Patrick O'Donnell, Jonathan Kennedy and Kieran Summerville. These competitions were held all around the Irish coast at venues including Brittas Bay (Wicklow), Tramore and Co. Kerry.
Not to be outdone, the ladies have claimed national honours on two occasions and pivotal to their success have been Aoife Maloney and Mary Summerville.
The Donegal surf-livesaving club has also created waves (excuse the pun) at underage level with the u-16 side having swept the boards at the national championships in Wexford three years ago. This side included local girls, Triona O'Neill, Easkey Britton and Maeve Guilfoyle.