Na Rossa Podcast - The Helicopter Drop

Monday, June 6th, 2022; A  proud day for all associated with Na Rossa GAA club. From 10am a helicopter flew over our pitch in Madavagh numerous times, dropping 8 footballs in total, to determine the winners of 8 huge cash prizes. This fundraiser also of course is providing vital funds for our new dressing rooms beside the pitch area. During this podcast, I tried to capture the mood that was evident on the day in Madavagh, beside the chapel in Lettermacaward.  From the crowds that gathered to the lively MC Denis Doohan, to Fr Eddie Gallagher who blessed our event beforehand. I also caught up with club chairman Declan Bonner and club secretary Packie McDyre for a chat. On top of that interviews are included with,  Cormac McHugh the current Na Rossa senior manager, former player Daniel Elliot, former club secretary of 40 years Pat Boyle and I interview together Seán Bonner, Felix Melly and Jamsie Melly, Seán and Jamsie among our great players of the past and Felix Melly who played a key role in the initial forming of this fundraiser.  I hope you enjoy the interviews!

Our current chairman Declan Bonner is of course also a club legend. Having won multiple championships with our club, at junior and intermediate level. He won league titles from div 4 to div 2, just missing out on a div 1 medal in the mid 80's. He was player manager of our first intermediate winning side when he was just 23 years old. Declan is currently in his second stint as Donegal boss but he has won the Anglo Celt multiple times, both as a player and a manager. In 1992, he won the top accolade any gaelic footballer can achieve, when he was a member of the Donegal team which won our maiden All Ireland title at senior level, beating a fancied Dublin in the final. I chat with Declan in this podcast about the 'Helicopter Drop' event which is coming up for our club on Oct 24th, and he recalls the great venue Dooey was for Na Rossa while also looking ahead to an exciting future at our new ground in Madavagh.

The countdown is firmly on to 'The Helicopter Drop' on October 24th when a helicopter will head for Madavagh, Lettermacaward in order to determine the destination of eight huge cash prizes.  The other purpose of this fundraiser is of great importance to our club Na Rossa as we aim to secure enough funds to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh. I sat down a few days ago with Packie McDyre; the coordinator of this fundraiser and Felix Melly;  who was among those at the forefront of this idea to raise much needed funds for our club. Amongst the chat we talk about how the fundraiser is progressing with only a few weeks left and much more including the boost the new pitch has given the club both on and off the field.To see more info on how to buy a ticket, please visit go.rallyup.com/narossadrop. Your support would be greatly appreciated. 

Connell Breslin's entrance into the Na Rossa senior side came only a few weeks after Brian McEniff had led Donegal to the promise land of the Sam Maguire for the first time in 1992. Connell was club young player of the year in both 93 and 95 and by the time the summer of 99 came around he had three division medals in his back pocket. Due to work commitments Connell's involvement with the senior side became less and less towards the back end of the 90's but he did make key appearances in our 99 intermediate success. He was called up at the semi final stage v Fanad and played one of the games of his life when Na Rossa needed it most, as we were down to 12 men v Fanad come the second half. Connell was made captain of our senior side in 2001 by manager at the time, Declan Bonner. All the above is touched on plus Connell names his best 1 to 15 of opposition faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit, go.rallyup.com/narossa

Christian Bonner was born into a strong GAA family and his earliest Na Rossa memories include him going to training with his dad Declan. At underage for the club, he had good success at U15 level, winning a 13 a side gaeltacht final v Gweedore and also he was part of 7 a side U15 team which won a county championship at a Féile, beating St Eunans in the final.  Past that point Na Rossa amalgamated with Dungloe due to lack of numbers and the two teams combined just missed out on a county championship to Gweedore. At county level Christian has had experience at numerous levels, including U21 and senior, and in 2014 he won a Ulster Minor Championship medal, when his dad was manager of the team. I chat with Christian about all the above plus much more including the current day Na Rossa senior team which he first lined out for in 2013 as a 16 year old. Christian also names his best 1 to 15 opposition faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit, go.rallyup.com/narossa

Martin Bonner first played for the Na Rossa senior side as he was turning 16 years old in 1989. He was a member of the squad that won our first intermediate that year, although he missed a good chunk of the season having picked up an injury in an U16 match. In 94 & 97 he won two div 2 medals and in 99 playing at midfield, he was a important member of our team that won the div 2 and intermediate double. In 2006 he won a div 3 medal. In 97/98 Martin was called up to the Donegal senior team, having previously lined out for the county at U16 and minor level. All this and more is talked about in our interview plus he names his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he's faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit, go.rallyup.com/narossa

Martin McShane (Snr) was at the first meeting which took place regarding Na Rossa being founded as a club in 1976. As a player he was a regular for years in our senior side. A side which competed with the best club teams in the county. Along with being part of the teams which won both the junior and intermediate championship, he also won numerous league titles. Landing the intermediate in 89 was a double bonus for Martin, as his son Martin Jnr was part of the team too at the age of 16. Martin (Snr) played for our reserve team in his 60's. I chat with Martin about all the above plus he talks of some of the great supporters Na Rossa have had down through the years, including his late mother Sophia. (RIP)This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit, go.rallyup.com/narossa

Daniel Melly joined Na Rossa in the early noughties after moving to live in Dooey. He had previously lined out for Four Masters underage. In 2005 he made his Na Rossa senior debut aged just 15. A year later he was part of the squad which won the Div 3 title. Daniel was also named club junior player of the year in 2006. Four years later he was named senior player of the year. Daniel has played under numerous managers, we talk about this and much more including looking at Na Rossa's positive start to div 4 this season, where Daniel is still very much involved at the heart of our defence. He also names his 1 to 15 of best opposition faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit, go.rallyup.com/narossa

Eamon O'Donnell first came onto the Na Rossa scene in 1983 playing underage football and it wasn't long after that when he was drafted into the senior side. After this he would have also played some reserve football but in 1989 when we won our first Intermediate title, Eamon was then a regular and played at the heart of our midfield alongside Vinny Gallagher. He went on to be a part of our senior sides which  several division 2 titles,  and in 1999 he took on the role of joint manager alongside Michael 'Dan' Bonner in what was probably the greatest year in our club's history as we won the double of div 2 title and Intermediate. I reflect with Eamon on all the above and more, plus Eamon names his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he's faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit, go.rallyup.com/narossa

Odhrán Gallagher's Na Rossa journey started in the mid 90's after a spell with Dungloe U10's. It was also in the mid 90's that Odhrán was part of our 12 side which won an U12 B divisonal final. That squad went onto narrowly lose the county final that year. In successive seasons Odhrán won both our U16 and minor player of the year. In 2011, along with Pat Boyle he won TG4's Ceist GAA Le Hector representing Na Rossa; a quiz which featured teams turning out for clubs from all 4 provinces. As a result of winning the quiz Na Rossa got to experience the magnificent Carton House. Odhrán recalls all these memories and more along with selecting his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he's faced in Donegal GAA. This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa. 

Donal Trimble made his Na Rossa senior debut at the tail end of 1993, and in the 6 years to follow he went on to be part of teams which enjoyed great success, including three div 2 titles and 1 Intermediate. He has played at the heart of our midfield for years. At the turn of the millennium he was part of a senior squad that was mixing it with the best sides in the county in Div 1. Several years ago he also was player manager and today he is still playing in a team rejuvenated by our club's new home pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. I look back with Donal on his Na Rossa journey so far and he lists his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he's faced in Donegal GAA. This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser, and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa. 

Frank McEleney made his Na Rossa debut in the late 70's, several years after our club was formed. In the early days of our history, quite a few players lined out for us that didn't come from the Lettermacaward, Doochary area. Frank hails originally from Loughanure. He played in the 1979 junior shield final v Urris, a close game which we lost. He would go on to play for Na Rossa for a few more years and in that time he was part of the squads which won the div 4 and div 3 league titles , 1980,81.  I chat with Frank on his many great memories with our club and he also lists his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he faced and played with in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa

Trevor Melly made his Na Rossa senior debut in the mid 90's and after establishing himself as a halfback he would go on to be a part of successful sides. In 97, the division two title was won in fine style and two years later the division two title was won again but this time with it, an intermediate title; the second in our clubs history. Trevor also captained Na Rossa in 2006 to the Div 3 title. I reflect with him on a lot of his memories including a famous Na Rossa win up in Donegal town v Four Masters in the 01 Senior Championship. Trevor also names his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa

In the early 80's Michael Bonner's arrival onto the Na Rossa scene alongside his brothers Declan, Sean and Donal coincided with the beginning of good times ahead for the club. Prior to their arrival the earliest Na Rossa sides had shown promise, but with limited numbers available the addition of 4 young  talented players helped the cause no end. Michael was part of the 82 junior championship winning team, he also lined out in 89 when Na Rossa won our first intermediate title. A bad injury sustained in late 89 lingered several years and in the early 90's Michael sadly realised his playing days were over. In 99 Michael was joint manager alongside Eamon O'Donnell when we got our hands on the intermediate title for the 2nd time. I talk with Michael about his time in the black and white jersey plus much more including the great influence his late father Dan had on both he and his brothers. Michael also names his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our club's current fundraiser and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the club's new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa 

Patrick Caulfield came into the Na Rossa senior side in the early 90s.  Despite the disappointment of losing the 93 Intermediate final to Downings, silverware followed in 94 and 97 when division 2 was won. Patrick was made captain of the Na Rossa squad in 1999 and that year division 2 was won again alongside the intermediate title; the second in the clubs history.  He was an important player in great Na Rossa teams and could kick scores too, most notably, scoring a goal in the 99 intermediate final v Malin. Along with hearing Patrick's reflections, he also names his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our clubs current fundraiser and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the clubs new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this, please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa 

Charlie Bonner joined the Na Rossa senior ranks in 1983 and was part of the team that won the div 2 title that year.  He was captain of the side that won our first intermediate title in 1989 and he was also a member of the team that won our second intermediate in 99. Charlie won numerous other league titles with Na Rossa and played a key role in our defence.  Along with reflecting on many memories with him, Charlie also selects his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he faced in Donegal GAA.This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting our clubs current fundraiser and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the clubs new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward. For more info on how to support this please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa

Vinny Gallagher's story with Na Rossa dates way back to the club's beginning in 1976. As captain he played an important role at midfield. He won quite a few honours with the Lettermacaward club, and I speak to him about this and much more during my interview with him. Vinny also names his 1 to 15 of the best opposition he faced in Donegal GAA. This episode and the forthcoming episodes of this Na Rossa podcast is aimed at promoting the clubs current fundraiser and the hope is to get enough funds on board to build new dressing rooms at the clubs new pitch in Madavagh, Lettermacaward.  For more info on how to support this please visit go.rallyup.com/narossa