The Gaoth Dobhair man with the Midas touch looking to lead Abbey VS to MacRory glory

It doesn’t matter where you meet Stuart McFadden, it’s likely his top will have a Gaoth Dobhair GAA badge attached. You can take a man out of Gaoth Dobhair but you can’t take Gaoth Dobhair out of the man! 

This Sunday McFadden will become only the third manager of a Donegal school to be part of MacRory Cup final day. Cavan native and former Tanaiste John Wilson was in charge of St Eunan’s College in 1956 and 1959, while Michael Cullen was manager of the Letterkenny College on the last occasion a Donegal team participated in the final. 

Now a Gaoth Dobhair man, ensconced in Ballyshannon, but teaching in Donegal Town will follow in their footsteps as Abbey VS take on St Pat’s, Maghera in Celtic Park, Derry on Sunday at 3pm. 

Then who is Stuart McFadden. Long story short, born in Cnoc Fola in 1990; went to Scoil Bhride, Min a Cladaigh and Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair (2003-2009); started Third Level, didn’t like it and took two years out working in Siopa Mhicí; returned to Galway and graduated with Irish Economics degree in 2015; did Teaching Diploma with stints in Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Ballinamore and Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair before arriving in his first teaching position in Abbey VS, Donegal Town in 2019. 

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There is something of a lucky charm attached to McFadden as in his first year at the Abbey he joined Pauric O’Donnell with the U-14½s and they went on to win the Loch an Iuir Cup 

"It was my first year there in 2019 with Pauric O'Donnell. That was the U-14½s and we won the Loch an Iuir Cup that year. That was the first year we had some of the boys, maybe not as many as we have this year. We had the likes of Seanán Carr, Leo McGowan, Donal Gallagher, a lot of the boys that left last year. 

"I was asked last week did I think then that some of those footballers would play MacRory Cup; it was the stuff of dreams back then. But obviously, Covid came then and shut us down on the football front. 

"When the year the football came back, I said there were enough taking teams and I wasn't needed. Then last year I was asked would I take the senior team and I said I would. Jamie (Brennan) came on board and it has snowballed since.” 

McFadden has two brothers and one sister. His older brother Martin lives and works in London while his younger brother Noel works in Dublin as Operations Controller with Ryanair. 

Younger sister Roisin teaches in Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair and was also recently elected as the new Lady Captain of Gweedore Golf Club. 

His mum is originally from Edinburgh and his dad was born in Glasgow but there are links on all sides to his home place. “Three of my four grandparents were born in Gaoth Dobhair.” 

Naturally, his core subject for teaching is Irish “with a wee bit of business”. 

“Irish comes naturally to me as I was born and raised with it. It is nice to be in a school where you can promote it a wee bit,” says McFadden, who adds that he loves Gaoth Dobhair but it is nice to be in Donegal Town.  

After commuting for a few years, and after some advice from his mother, he opted to live closer to school and chose Ballyshannon. 

"I didn't want to be in the same town that I was teaching.” A laid-back character, he says Ballyshannon has been a very good fit. Among his interests outside football are music and he is now heavily involved with the Ballyshannon Comhaltas community. 

His love of sport has been there from a young age. 

"When I was younger I played a wee bit, played soccer, played Gaelic, played with the school. Never went on and played at senior level, but always had an interest in sport. I could sit and watch sport from one end of the day to the other.

"Be that watching Wimbledon in the summer or Gaelic during the year, I take to all of it. Well golf, not so much. I enjoy some of the big tournaments though. 

"I always had an interest in the tactical side of things and watching games. There were times at home when I was 16 or 17 and saying things like this should have happened or that should have happened. And my mother always laughed, Gary Neville would say something 10 minutes later and she would say 'that's what you were saying'. 

"I enjoy going out and watching games. And then in school, it is always good doing something different.” 

After taking over the senior team at the Abbey VS for the 2023/2024 season, what has transpired is the stuff of legends, winning MacLarnon (Ulster) and Drummond (All-Ireland) in his first year, and now for his encore, he has led the Donegal Town school to the summit of the Ulster college world, the MacRory Cup final. 

"We didn't lose any games last year and we have lost just once this year. Even the one we lost this year, against Bessbrook. It was a game that was moved from Garvaghey to Lurgan but on the day there were no excuses. We didn't click. 

"We have been ahead in every game at half-time. We were five ahead in that game and we ended up losing it by six.  

“We have talked since about those opening games, about going out in the first game against St Pat's, Dungannon and try and put our best foot forward. 

"I think the loss (to Bessbrook) was the best thing that happened. Because when we out in the next game against Abbey CBS we knew we had to win that game to finish top of the group. 

"The boys have grown into it then game by game, especially when it came to knock-out football.” 

He agrees that he has a very talented group of players at his disposal. 

"Some of them are unbelievable. People will talk of Turlough Carr, the man who makes us tick. But he has so many around him like big Tiarnan (McBride), he is very intelligent. Tomás, being the younger of the Carrs, can float in and out of games but when he gets going he can turn a game. 

"We have Conor (McCahill) inside and the likes of Eoghan Gallagher and Oisin Doherty, they can take a score. But at the same time, we have the players who can keep them out at the back. 

"We have Kevin Muldoon, who someone said yesterday is a free spirit. You let Kevin do what Kevin needs to do, don't weigh him down. 

"To be fair, the ones in behind work hard, the half-back line of Cian Gavigan, Patrick McGonagle, and Oisin Brogan, they would run all day for you. The full-back line is strong and has a lot of experience. Daniel (McGinty) is fantastic, even at training Daniel brings that competitive edge to training.” 

Ahead of Sunday’s final the only worry he has is full-back Aidan Quinn, who is nursing a hamstring. 

"He is doing his recovery and we hope he will be okay. With such a big game we will give him every chance to be in there," said McFadden, who added that Ethan McCrea has come in and done a good job when required in the last two games.” 

The manager is also happy to have a goalkeeper in Lewis McCaughan, who has also had a great year. "What's great about Lewis is that he can ping that ball out and he can also get great distance.” 

McFadden is hoping that the short journey to Celtic Park will allow Donegal neutrals to support his team. He was at the other semi-final where St Pat’s defeated St Pat’s, Armagh by 0-5 to 1-0 but feels that little was learned because of the awful playing conditions on the day. 

"I got to see another bit of Maghera when they played Magherafelt in the quarter-final. We're working away at having wee things in place to stop them. But at the end of the day we will go out and back ourselves so we'll not change much. 

"We will not tie our players down because at the end of the day, they all know their job.” 

He knows it's a big occasion for the school. "It's brilliant for the school and for the first and second years to see that's what can be done, that's what we are playing for when we get to our Leaving Cert," said McFadden, who was at pains to point out that Abbey VS would now stay playing MacRory for as long as they can compete. 

"We lost nine of the starting 15 that we had in the MacLarnon last year and this year we will lose six of the 15 and we have boys to come in. The majority of them will have had a year at it." 

Among those who will still be there for the next campaign include Conor McCahill, Eoghan Gallagher, and most of the backline bar Oisin Brogan. 

"There's a good crop coming there from the U-16s. We have the likes of Jack Bennett and Christain Ward who are there with us and want more game time; Alan McHugh is the same. Then we have some good players coming through, the likes of Jack McGroarty, Ben Murphy, and Thomas Lenehan who will push in there. 

"The school is in a good place. Being at that level is good for the school and we'll keep at it for as long as we can.” 

So with such a successful CV, unlike Premiership managers, there is no chance of McFadden being sacked at the end of the season. 

"The manager might retire but he will not be sacked," laughs McFadden. 

He is thankful for the great help from the school community and has been picking the brains of the many experienced managers that are part of the school staff including Donegal senior Jamie Brennan. 

He is helped by Colm Keown, a Belleek native, and they have the chance to create one of the greatest feats ever on Sunday, taking the MacRory Cup to Donegal for the first time.