Wikipedia

Kevin Cassidy

Kevin Cassidy (born 1981) is an Irish-Scottish[2] Gaelic footballer, businessperson, columnist and commentator. Though born in Glasgow, Scotland, he has been living in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal from a young age.

Kevin Cassidy
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Position Wing Back
Born 1981 (age 42–43)
Glasgow, Scotland
Nickname Cass[1]
Club(s)
Years Club
1999–
 Gaoth Dobhair
Club titles
Donegal titles 3
Ulster titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
2002–2011
 Donegal
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 1
NFL 1
All Stars 2

Cassidy plays his club football for Gaoth Dobhair, with whom he has won three Donegal Senior Football Championships and one Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. Regarded as one of the best attacking wing half-backs of his generation, Cassidy has also played in midfield and even been his club's leading target man at the edge of the square during their successful Ulster Senior Club Football Championship campaign.[3] A former member of the Donegal county team, Cassidy was twice an All Star — in his maiden season and in his last. He won the 2007 National Football League and the 2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship, before an enforced — and, subsequently, permanent — absence from the inter-county scene after Cassidy became involved in a dispute about a book with manager Jim McGuinness. In May 2012, the Irish Independent named him in its selection of Donegal's "greatest team" spanning the previous 50 years.[4]

A qualified schoolteacher and fluent Gaeilgeoir, Cassidy's business ventures include the pub Teach Mhicí and Coláiste Chú Chulainn — a summer residential Gaelscoil for children of primary school age. He writes a weekly column for Gaelic Life and is often a co-commentator with both TG4 and RTÉ Sport.

Early life

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Cassidy's mother Clionagh is a native of Gweedore, while his father Tommy was from Scotland. His mother emigrated to Scotland where she met his father. Kevin, his brother Stephen and his five sisters were born in Glasgow where they lived until Cassidy was eight years of age. Then they moved to the Gaeltacht and Cassidy learned the Irish language.[5] Stephen, his older brother, also played football for Gaoth Dobhair.[6][7] Cassidy initially played association football but watching his brother playing Gaelic football inspired him to try.[7]

Cassidy's father died in 2013.[7]

Playing career

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Club

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Cassidy won his first Donegal Senior Football Championship medal with Gaoth Dobhair in 2002.[8] While in the United States in 2006, he played in the Boston Championship. He returned later in the summer to win a second Donegal Senior Football Championship with Gaoth Dobhair, beating St Eunan's in the 2006 final.[8]

Cassidy retired from Gaelic football after Naomh Conaill defeated Gaoth Dobhair in the Donegal Senior Football Championship.[7] However, he was persuaded to return[3][7] and he went on to win a third Donegal Senior Football Championship medal with his club in 2018.[9] He was then instrumental in Gaoth Dobhair's first ever Ulster Senior Club Football Championship success later in 2018, a run which involved a quarter final defeat of Cargin (a game in which Cassidy scored a goal and three points),[10] a semi-final defeat of eleven-time winners Crossmaglen Rangers (a game in which Cassidy scored a goal and two points),[11] and culminated in the club defeating Scotstown (who had won the competition on four previous occasions), the last two of these games occurring at Healy Park in Omagh.[3][7] Thus, Cassidy added a provincial club title to his three county championships, and, afterwards, he described it as "the proudest moment" of his life.[12] Cassidy earned praise both for his performance and, also, his efforts to control his fellow players and management team when tensions threatened to escalate on the pitch.[3] Afterwards, he reflected on his expulsion from the county team by Jim McGuinness (see below) and admitted that if this had not occurred, and taking into consideration his then age of 37, he would most likely have been a spectator instead of a player on the day.[13]

He spent two summers with Donegal Boston, the first when he was aged "23 or 24" and the second later with his family.[14] In June 2018, he said he had spent four years in the United States.[14]

Inter-county

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Cassidy made his Championship debut against Cavan at Breffni Park on 12 May 2002.[15] In his first season with Donegal, the team reached the 2002 Ulster Senior Football Championship final, but were defeated.[8] Then he famously went on the lash when Donegal secured a draw against Dublin in their August Bank Holiday Monday All-Ireland quarter-final. Dublin obliterated Donegal in the replay.[16] Nevertheless, Cassidy was awarded an All Star for his performances that year.[17]

The following year, his commitment to the team was called into question again. He made a substitute appearance in the first game of Brian McEniff's last spell as Donegal manager, a league defeat to Galway in Tuam in February 2003.[18] However, with Fermanagh having knocked Donegal out the Ulster Championship, the team entered the All-Ireland Qualifiers, with their first game coming against Longford on a Saturday evening in Ballybofey. Cassidy spent the day before at a wedding in Gweedore. He later recalled:

Things were not going that well and I was at that point a bit fed up with football. I ended up going on the beer that night. After that I stopped messing, cos I'll never forget it. At the time, I thought, 'ah sound, the game is at a quarter past six,' but this is a championship game we're talking about. I woke up at 12.0 (the next day) and there were a couple of missed calls on the phone. And it was just then that I thought, 'what have you done?' I rang John Gildea, he was the most senior player at the time. 'How's things, wee Kevin?' He'd obviously heard. I went up and Brian [McEniff, team manager] said, rightly so, 'you're dropped off the team.'[16]

A Kevin Cassidyless Donegal overcame Longford, and ultimately reached the All-Ireland semi-final where they sustained a narrow loss to Armagh at Croke Park.[8][16] Cassidy played in that semi-final.[19]

In 2004, Cassidy helped Donegal to reach the Ulster Senior Football Championship Final which they lost, again to Armagh.[8][16] Their Championship season ended in defeat to Fermanagh.[16]

In 2006, he and Eamon McGee were suspended from the Donegal football panel over a breach of discipline.[20][21] As a result of his suspension, Cassidy played no part in the 2006 Championship and went to Boston in the United States for the Summer. Cassidy returned to the Donegal team the following year, this time in midfield alongside Neil Gallagher, and went on to play a pivotal role in helping Donegal win the county's first ever National Football League title in 2007.[22] It was the first piece of silverware for the county senior team since 1992.

Cassidy was named Donegal captain for the 2008 season.[23] He savagely criticised the treatment of Brian McIver as a "disgrace", when the County Board famously forced McIver to resign.[24] He quelled a potential players revolt in 2010.[25]

Cassidy made his 100th appearance for Donegal in Ballyshannon against Laois in the 2010 National Football League; in the ninth minute he began a move that led to a Conall Dunne goal.[26]

Cassidy had announced his intention to retire after Donegal's Championship exit in 2010 but new Donegal manager Jim McGuinness called him into the 2011 Dr McKenna Cup panel.[27] Cassidy went on to help Donegal to their first provincial title in 19 years with the defeat of Derry in the 2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final.[28] In the All-Ireland quarter-final against Kildare in Croke Park on 30 July 2011, he scored a long-range winning point in stoppage time at the end of extra-time, a point that sent Donegal on to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Dublin.[29] Brian McEniff described it as "one of the greatest ever".[30] This thrilling end to an "extra-time epic" is to this day regarded as "the finish to a sporting contest normally only imagined inside the heads of Hollywood scriptwriters".[31]

Dispute with Jim McGuinness

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In November 2011, manager Jim McGuinness dropped Cassidy from the Donegal team after he contributed to a book (This Is Our Year).[32][33][34]

He appeared not to understand why this was so.[35][36]

Cassidy would never play for Donegal again.[37]

In what went down as a "surreal moment for the viewer", Mícheál Ó Domhnaill famously interviewed McGuinness following a live 2012 league game on TG4 while Cassidy, in the role of television analyst, stood beside him with his head bowed.[38][39] Cassidy later said:

I am asked about that all the time. I walked away and never thought anything about it until people said it to me. I honestly didn't even feel awkward in that situation.[7]

Cassidy later spent further time in the United States. He watched on from New York as across the Atlantic Ocean his former county teammates defeated Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final.[7] He moved onwards to Boston,[40] where he was when his former teammates defeated Cork in the semi-final.[7] Cassidy would later recall that semi-final victory:

So I was listening to the radio and once they beat Cork I know they had it. Mayo [Donegal's final opponents] weren't going to stop them. So the actual day of the final it didn't affect me because I knew at that stage the game was won.[7]

Ahead of the All-Ireland final defeat of Mayo, Cassidy's Gaoth Dobhair and Donegal teammate Neil McGee told the BBC that he thought about Cassidy after every game.[41]

Cassidy described the team's homecoming, with Gaoth Dobhair's GAA pitch located just across from his house:

I was sitting eating Weetabix about half eleven at night. I could see Sarah [his wife] moving away, she was trying to pull the curtains as the cavalcade was taking the cup there. She was expecting me to be off. But if you are like that in general, then something in life is going to bring you down. If I was going around moping and crying that I didn't have an All-Ireland medal, then I wouldn't have done half the things I did after that.[7]

He attended the Football Tour of New York in 2012, as the 2011 All Star winners were included.[42]

Cassidy spent time in Chicago in 2013.[43]

In 2018, Cassidy sat down for an interview with the writer of the book This Is Our Year, who told him that an acquaintance at social events often introduces him as "the man who cost Kevin Cassidy a Celtic Cross". Cassidy responded by referring to his Glasgow birth and his soccer heritage:

I really loved playing for Donegal and I was really proud to do it… [But] it wasn't a childhood dream to win Sam Maguire, if I am being honest… I was a soccer player and then the first thing that turned me was [my brother] Stephen playing for Gaoth Dobhair and they won a Ghaeltacht Championship. That was my first introduction to it and then I met [my wife] Sarah [Gallagher, whose father Willie played for Donegal]… obviously her history and family was steeped in it. I spent time listening in Teach Mhic to the older boys in the bar. My ambitions were always Gaoth Dobhair. The first time we won the Championship, I was thinking, It doesn't matter what I do now, we have done this.[7]

The writer of the book mentioned that he had suggested to Cassidy to tell McGuinness that "some of those discussions were off the record, blame me and then you wouldn't lose your place" and asked Cassidy, "Why didn't you?" Cassidy said:

I just wouldn't do that. The way I see it, if I do something, I do it. There is no point saying you didn't mean it, or shy away from it.[7]

Cassidy admitted he had never read This Is Our Year, though he also did not read McGuinness's autobiography or former Donegal teammate Rory Kavanagh's account of the All-Ireland win, citing a lack of interest rather than any animosity.[7]

International rules

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Cassidy represented Ireland in the International Rules Series.[8]

Media career

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Cassidy files a column for the weekly publication Gaelic Life.[7] He has worked as a co-commentator with both TG4 and RTÉ Sport.[7]

He was the star of the first episode of Laochra Gael's 2021 season.[44][45][46] Ahead of the broadcast, local politician Pearse Doherty wrote the following: "The night before we buried my father, Kevin Cassidy told me that he played football not for medals or trophies but for people like my father who enjoyed the game so much. Tonight he reveals in Laochra Gael that his 2011 Ulster medal, the only inter-county provincial title he'd win, went with my father to his grave".[47]

Management career

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Cassidy managed Gaoth Dobhair for one year, 2014.[7] He later described the experience as "a bloody nightmare".[48]

In November 2020, Cassidy returned as Gaoth Dobhair manager ahead of the 2021 season (succeeding Mervyn O'Donnell), jointly with Joe Duffy, and with Maxi Curran as team trainer.[48][49]

Personal life

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Cassidy is married to Sarah, the daughter of former Donegal footballer Willie Gallagher, who won five Donegal Senior Football Championships.[7] They, and other members of Sarah's family, run Teach Mhicí, a pub they inherited from her parents.[7]

A fluent Gaeilgeoir, he lives in the Gaeltacht area of Donegal. Cassidy and his wife both teach as a profession.[17] They have three children: twin daughters and a younger son.[7]

In 2011, Cassidy taught handicapped children songs and how to tie their shoelaces at the Little Angels school in Letterkenny.[7]

Cassidy is a fan of the Celtic soccer team, having been born and spent much of his childhood in Glasgow, Scotland. He holds a season ticket for matches at Parkhead.[7]


While young, Cassidy's childhood Gaelic football heroes were Derry's Anthony Tohill, Seán Óg de Paor of Galway and Donegal's Anthony Molloy.[17]

After being assaulted on 24 August 2008, Cassidy and his older brother became involved in a dispute with his attackers. A court case resulted, though the case took almost four years to come before the court. In July 2012, Cassidy was found guilty of affray and sentenced to community service, the judge noting that none of the men involved had appeared in court since that time and none had had any previous offences like it.[6][50][51]

With an associate, Hugh McGinley, Cassidy operates Coláiste Chú Chulainn in Gaoth Dobhair. It is a summer residential Gaelscoil for children of primary school age. Cassidy and McGinley organise Irish language events in the evenings, including Céilí Mórs and water sports, as well as Gaelic football training, which Cassidy oversees.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ O'Brien, Kevin (29 November 2018). "Working in Kevin Cassidy's bar, playing League of Ireland and his hat-trick against Crossmaglen: 21-year-old Gweedore midfielder Daire Ó Baoill is hoping to lift an Ulster club title on Sunday". The42.ie. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Cass kind of liked the idea of that, it took a while for him to come into it but once he found his bearings, listen, as you've all seen the last few weeks, the man is hard to touch at the minute with the two feet on him.
  2. ^ Kevin Cassidy [@KCASS7] (17 November 2019). "When your daughters find your British passport, 'if he's British why doesn't he have a fancy accent' and for the record I'm Scottish not British" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 November 2019 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b c d Brosnan, Maurice (2 December 2018). "Everyone Was Particularly Delighted For One Man After Today's Historic Ulster Final". Balls.ie. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018.
  4. ^ "GAA: Donegal's greatest team of the past 50 years named". 14 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  5. ^ Kimmage, Kevin (31 August 2003). "Cassidy's redemption day". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 31 August 2003.
  6. ^ a b Harkin, Greg (12 July 2012). "GAA star waited outside nightclub for revenge after attack, court told". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Bogue, Declan (17 November 2018). "Missing the medal: Best decision I ever made, says Kevin Cassidy". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f McNulty, Chris (28 August 2008). "Cassidy's ear was not bitten off". Donegal News. Retrieved 21 March 2009. [dead link‍]
  9. ^ Campbell, Peter (21 October 2018). "Gaoth Dobhair end 12 years of pain with dominant display". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018.
  10. ^ Tierney, Paddy (4 November 2018). "Gaoth Dobhair survive fightback to make Ulster SFC last four". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018.
  11. ^ Mooney, Francis (18 November 2018). "Gaoth Dobhair on the goal trail to book maiden Ulster final spot". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Old warrior Cassidy revels in 'proudest moment'". RTÉ Sport. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018.
  13. ^ Bannon, Orla (4 December 2018). "Kevin Cassidy: If I'd carried on with Donegal, I'd be in stands now". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018.
  14. ^ a b Fogarty, John (13 June 2018). "'I hope he's well protected': Diarmuid Connolly will be a target in Boston, warns Cassidy". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Devenney's future in balance". Irish Independent. 10 May 2002. Retrieved 10 May 2002.
  16. ^ a b c d e Crowe, Dermot (25 February 2007). "Former wild child wants football's natural high". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 25 February 2007.
  17. ^ a b c "cul4kidz profile on Cassidy". Cul4kidz website. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
  18. ^ Duggan, Keith (3 February 2003). "Meehan adds spark to Galway attack". The Irish Times.
  19. ^ "Armagh's double still alive". Irish Independent. 1 September 2003.
  20. ^ "Donegal pair dropped from panel". BBC Sport. 20 April 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2006.
  21. ^ "McGee makes Donegal squad return". BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2006.
  22. ^ "Donegal win National League title". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  23. ^ "Cassidy chosen as new Donegal captain". Breakingnews.ie. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  24. ^ Keys, Colm (3 September 2008). "Captain hits out at 'disgraceful' treatment of McIver". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  25. ^ Keys, Colm (4 November 2011). "Cassidy lifts the lid on averting mass revolt". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  26. ^ "Murphy shows the way for Donegal in stroll past depleted Laois". Irish Independent. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  27. ^ "Cassidy and Hegarty in McGuinness' Donegal panel". BBC Sport. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  28. ^ "Cassidy ready for Lilywhite battle". RTÉ Sport. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  29. ^ "Donegal 1–12 Kildare 0–14 (aet)". RTÉ Sport. 30 July 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  30. ^ Forker, Mark (5 September 2016). "Former Donegal manager pays tribute to 'Warrior' Kevin Cassidy". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  31. ^ Bogue, Declan (31 January 2013). "[Rory] Gallagher puts Donegal's Lilies epic into perspective". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  32. ^ Keys, Colm (9 November 2011). "Donegal hero Cassidy axed for breaking code of silence on McGuinness methods". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  33. ^ "Cassidy dropped from Donegal panel". RTÉ Sport. 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  34. ^ "Sometimes it's better when you say nothing at all". Donegal Democrat. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  35. ^ "Cassidy makes statement on removal from panel". RTÉ Sport. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  36. ^ "Cassidy at a loss to explain dismissal". The Irish Times. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  37. ^ "Donegal to shade rematch of last year's Ulster final". Donegal Democrat. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  38. ^ "Donegal weighed down by Cassidy row". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  39. ^ Heneghan, Conor. "Video: We're pretty sure this is why Jim McGuinness snubbed TG4 on Sunday". JOE.ie.
  40. ^ O'Donnell, Rory (16 July 2012). "GAA: Kevin Cassidy joins Boston GFC". Boston. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  41. ^ "Donegal's Neil McGee talks of thoughts for exiled Kevin Cassidy". BBC Sport. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  42. ^ McNulty, Chris (13 November 2012). "Replacement All-Star for Thompson". Donegal News. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  43. ^ "Cassidy U.S bound". Hogan Stand. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  44. ^ "Laochra Gael returns featuring Kevin Cassidy on Thursday". Hogan Stand. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  45. ^ McNulty, Chris (29 December 2020). "Kevin Cassidy to feature as part of new Laochra Gael series". Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  46. ^ "'One of the best Laochra Gaels so far'". Hogan Stand. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  47. ^ "Pearse Doherty shares incredible gesture made by Kevin Cassidy". Hogan Stand. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  48. ^ a b Craig, Frank (7 January 2021). "Candid Cassidy Laochra Gael episode airs tonight on TG4". Donegal News. pp. 51–3. 'Last year we probably took our eye off the ball. Before this, we had a coach in place in Michael Boyle… Then last year we opted to go without a coach, and listen, in the modern-day club game it's just a non-runner. So myself and Joe Duffy came in this year to try and give the club structure… Maxi [Curran] will operate as coach… I honestly thought I wouldn't do any more club management, I took my own club for a year and it was a bloody nightmare!'
  49. ^ "Kevin Cassidy and Joe Duffy take over from Mervyn O'Donnell at Gaoth Dobhair". Highland Radio. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  50. ^ "Former Donegal footballer guilty of affray". The Irish Times. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  51. ^ "Community service for Cassidy over nightclub fight". Donegal Democrat. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Donegal Senior Captain
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Donegal Senior Captain
2010 		Succeeded by
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