25th JULY 1926 was a pinnacle date in the history of Devenish GAA Club as this was the date of the first ever affiliation to a Fermanagh GAA County Board

Devenish GAA Club was formed in 1917 in Garrison – Devenish West GAA Club.

DEVENISH was the name of the old ecclesiastical parish, established under the Roman system in 1211, which stretched from East of the Irvinestown / Lisnarick area to Ballaghmeehan, Co Leitrim – hence the term ‘Devenish West’.

From 1918 to 1923 a series of political and military events – World War 1, War of Independence, The Fourth Home Rule Act which was known as the Government of Ireland Act 1920 which led to the partition of Ireland on 3rd May 1921 creating two autonomous regions on the island, the activities of the RIC and the Black & Tans. This was followed by a Civil War in the twenty-six counties, a combination of these events caused serious disruption to GAA activities including fixtures.

In 1918 the Government introduced a proclamation requiring RIC permits for Gaelic football, hurling and athletic meetings.

The County Board was unable to meet on a regular basis between 1920 and 1922. Apparently, the Fermanagh County Board was not active in 1922.

There were no Conventions held in Fermanagh or Ulster in 1921.

Fermanagh did not attend the 1919 or 1923 Ulster Conventions.

In the Garrison area, townland teams operated with teams from Brollagh / Loughside, Corramore / Mugglinagrow, Cashel and Rossinver.

Matches were recorded as being played at Ambey’s Hill, Tullymore. Shortlands, Leglehid and Breen’s Moss, Leglehid.

It was reported that a match was played against a Finner / Bundoran team towards the end of World War 1. The game was played at Ambey’s Hill, Tullymore. It is uncertain if this was a Devenish or a townland team or a combination.

The Donegal Democrat dated 26th November 2020 carried a report on a game between Garrison and Derrygonnelly, played at Derrygonnelly.

On Saturday 9th March 1924, following a period on inactivity due to the Civil War , a Fermanagh County Board was reorganised at a meeting in Lisnaskea. In his book, The Gaelic Athletic Association in County Fermanagh, Gabriel Brock stated that ‘dedication to the cause of a Gaelic Ireland and enthusiasm for native games and pastimes motivated the men who founded or reorganised the clubs at this time.’ He highlighted B. Flanagan (Benny) as the chief organiser in the Garrison area.

Gabriel Brock also noted that a team was formed in Cashel in the mid-thirties.

The 50th Anniversary Book, ‘ Gael na Meilge’ Melvin Gaels 1954 to 2024 confirms that Garrison were affiliated to a North Leitrim Board during 1924 and 1925 and possibly into early 1926 – ‘ teams from Manorhamilton, Garrison, Dromahair, Glenfarne and Kiltyclogher affiliated to the Board’.

It is worth noting that the ‘Gael na Meilge’ publication states that clubs from four different counties were associated with a North Leitrim Board which was established in 1917 with hurling the main activity; in addition to the Leitrim clubs, Blacklion represented Cavan, Ballyshannon (Donegal) and Garrison (Fermanagh).

The Donegal Democrat carried a report of a game between Garrison and Kinlough in February 1926; the report seemed to indicate that the game was a league match. This game was highlighted in a letter to the Editor dated 26th February 1926 which stated, ‘ In your article of the 19th ins, under the heading G.A.A. Kinlough v Garrison, it is stated ‘ unfortunately the match had a tendency of rough play, this was due to the fact that Garrison had specially prepared a team to win at all cost on their own ground’.

Garrison had not a team specially prepared. They played with four of their best men absent. Half of their team were recruits at the game and were up against old timers. Garrison player’s motto always was, and is, to play the game and win it. They have kept Gaelic football alive under less favourable conditions than some of the other teams. Had Kinlough backs played more of the ball, and less of the man, the game would have been more in keeping, with the rules of Gaelic football.

Under the heading ‘ Unaffiliated Clubs’ in The Fermanagh Herald, April 1926 it read – ‘ there is still a few clubs in the County not under the control of the Fermanagh Executive and at the same time trading under the name of the GAA. Let us hope that some of them will be represented at the Adjourned Convention on Sunday, for I see no reason they should not be affiliated from such places as Mullaghdun, Belcoo and Garrison where there are already clubs working.’

A report on the Fermanagh Junior County Board meeting held on Sunday 25th July 1926 said GARRISON WAS REPRESENTED with fixtures organised for the team and a date set for the first official match.

Farewell to the first 100 years of affiliation to a Fermanagh County Board.

Failte go dti an chead aois eile.

Credit to our club historian Sean Treacy