Club History

Donacarney Club Formation

Donacarney Football Club was founded in 2002 by Eamonn Murphy and Dave Kelly, in response to the lack of playing facilities and opportunities for children from age 5 upwards in the area surrounding Mornington, Donacarney, Bettystown, and Grange Rath.

The clubs first playing pitch was selected in Blackhills, Little Donacarney, property of Meath County Council. At this time John Rice and Joe Gallagher enlisted to help with the start-up of the club. It was also in these early days that the first Academy was established by Brian Forsythe with the help of  Tony Finnegan.

First Club Meeting Held

The first club meeting took place in the Village Hotel in Bettystown in February 2003. Walsh Western Transport was the first club sponsor, providing the finance for the first club strip, plus footballs, bibs, cones and goalposts.

Packie Bonner named as Club President

In February 2004, Eamonn Murphy approached Packie Bonner to become Club President. The position was formally accepted by the FAI Technical Director and former Irish International. The first Committee was elected at the inaugral AGM at the Glenside Hotel, 27 October 2004.

Club successes lead to League Championship

In 2005/06, the U-9s, the first team to represent the club back in 2003, won the first trophy for Donacarney Celtic with victory in the Under 9 Shield. The following season, the Under 9 Warriors – the first team produced from the Academy in 2003 provided the club with it’s first League Championship.

Club announces the acquisition of land for Pitch Development

On January 30th, 2007, the club announced the acquisition of 6 acres of land in Bettystown for pitch development at the Bettystown Court Hotel. Along with many local politicians and businesses, Republic of Ireland Manager Steve Staunton was on hand to make the announcement to a packed room of 450 members and parents.

Donacarney Official Pitch Launch and Annual Blitz Day.

Saturday the 21^st June 2014 was a very special day for the club as not only was it our annual blitz day which is always a favourite with our players but it was the official opening of our pitches at Castlemartin.

The day kicked off at 10am with each age group from our academy to U11’s playing each other and the theme this year was World Cup so plenty of excitement and tricks to be seen on the pitch.  The official “ribbon cutting” event followed and we were delighted to have ex International and Leeds player Gary Kelly in attendance to do the honours.