Joel McInern assumes the role of chairman at the Tir Chonaill Gaels club in London

Mountcharles native Joel McInern has been appointed chairman of the Tir Chonaill Gaels GAA club in London, taking over from fellow St Nauls man and Frosses native Tom Mohan. 

McInern moved to London in 1995 and started going down to watch Tir Chonaill Gaels during the 1997/’98 season and has been involved since. 

The club was established in 1962 in a pub in Wilsden and since then has had a huge Donegal contingent on their board, with the likes of Paddy Burke, also a St Nauls native, serving as Club President over the last number of years. 

Speaking to DonegalLive, McInern said, “I feel very proud to be appointed chairman of such a renowned and successful GAA club, and it’s a real privilege to follow in the footsteps of some incredible people, none more so than my predecessor Tom Mohan who oversaw 10 League and eight Championship titles during his 17-year stewardship,” said McInern. 

The Donegal man has been involved with the Youth Committee in Tir Chonaill Gaels since 2011 and has seen the club grow dramatically in numbers since then.  

At the minute, the club has underage teams at all age groups from U-7s to U-18s, as well as Junior and Intermediate Ladies teams and Reserve, Junior, and Senior men teams, all based out of Greenford, West London. 

“The one constant thing I have always noticed from my time at Tir Chonaill Gaels is that it is, and always has been blessed with good people at every level of the club,” said McInern.  

“It has a real family and community feel to it, and I genuinely believe that it is this atmosphere that has allowed the club to develop and produce so many successful teams throughout the years. 

“As the new Chairman I want to ensure that we continue to support the club’s current senior teams and management so that they can continue to compete at the highest levels.  

“I am also very conscious of the longer-term success of the club here in London will be reliant upon our current underage home-grown players and their coaches, and it’d important for us at Tir Chonaill Gaels to keep GAA games attractive and modern for them if we are to retain that talent all the way through. 

“Looking ahead into the future, Tir Chonaill Gaels will remain the home of GAA in London and will, as it always has done, ensure that there is a warm welcome for everyone who comes through the door, making it a home from home for each and every person who visits.”