Daniel O'Donnell: We're hoping Jimmy and the Donegal players are on song today
We're all on tenterhooks up here in Donegal today, but I have no doubt that Jim McGuinness and his team will be taking home Sam Maguire this afternoon.
Jim has been outstanding as a Donegal manager – and his success in the past has even been immortalised in the now well-known song, Jimmy's Winning Matches.
It was written by Donegal songwriter and singer Rory Gallagher, formerly of a group called The Revs and who now performs under the name Rory & The Island.
Jim McGuinness and Donegal songwriter/singer Rory Gallagher
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th
Rory is now based in Lanzarote where he runs his two bars, The Irish Viking and Rory's Live Lounge in Puerto del Carmen.
He says the song was originally written about the people who sell counterfeit goods – watches, Gucci bags and more - to tourists on the streets and beaches in the Canary Islands.
'It was originally written about a guy from Senegal and was called Jimmy's Selling Watches,' Rory says.
He says the song didn't gain much traction when it first came out. 'It only had 400 views and it wasn't going well,' Rory reveals.
Rory's mother, Mary B, who had been in the bands Luv Bug and Pluto with her husband, Paul, suggested that he should rejig the song and make it about Jim McGuinness.
Mary B said: 'That chorus is so catchy, you should change it around for the Donegal manager and call it Jimmy's Winning Matches.'
Rory says: 'It just clicked after that. I sat down and wrote it and it came out much easier in the space of 10 minutes.
'I put it up online and it just seemed to get bigger and bigger. It's been amazing seeing it come back in the last 18 months.
'I have two sons now, Aidan and Shay, who are six and nine, and it's their first time to experience it
So for them to see all the kids singing it in Donegal, and even Africa now, they're amazed.'
This week there was a lovely video online of children from an orphanage in Tanzania singing and performing Jimmy's Winning Matches.
Two young Donegal women, Eabha Reid from Donegal Town and Anna Gallagher from Termon, taught the children what has now become a famous anthem for the county.
Eabha and Anna are teachers and working as volunteers in the orphanage. You can watch the wonderful video online now.
Rory, who has a new summer single out called Playa Grande, is in Dublin this weekend for the match. He performed on RTE's Up For The Match last night and will be in the Harcourt Hotel this evening from 7pm celebrating Donegal's victory.
Yes, Sam has his bags packed for Donegal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Emotional Kerry Katona addresses age-gap relationship with new man & ‘real reason' she signed up for Celebs Go Dating
KERRY Katona emotionally opened up about finding love in her 40s as she addressed her age-gap relationship with her new man. The Sun previously revealed how Kerry, 44, has moved on from her recent split from fiance Ryan Mahoney with hunky personal trainer Paolo Margaglione, 33. 5 Kerry Katona addressed her age-gap relationship with her new man Credit: Matt Monfredi / Channel 4 5 The TV personality signed up to the E4 show for 'money, publicity and therapy' Credit: Nic Serpell-Rand / Channel 4 5 Kerry has moved on with 33-year-old hunky personal trainer Paolo Margaglione Credit: Instagram The former Atomic Kitten star said she signed up to the process for "money, publicity and therapy", before falling head over heels with her new man. The TV favourite said she is no longer "ashamed" to want to be loved after realising she was "lonely" - saying: "I might have been married before but I was 18 when I met my first husband, get over it!" Speaking exclusively to The Sun Kerry said: "I was adamant I was not interested, I just wanted the money, the paycheck, a bit of publicity and therapy. I was adamant I was not interested at all [in dating]." Kerry admitted she was cautious that her dates were only there for fame after they repeatedly used her full name and asked for selfies. "There was a lot of full naming, lots of dates where there were selfies and 'Kerry Katona', it's just not on, I can't be f****** asked," she said. "I just wasn't interested, I was in my 'do it on my own era'. "I think I had more chance with Jon [Lee] than I did with anybody else. "I think when you're on a date and you get called Kerry Katona... let's be honest I've been called worse. "The schedule was hard and full on. Being put on some s*** dates, that was really challenging, some of the dates I got put on, me and you Jon [Lee], I thought I was on the Undateables at one point." The TV favourite said she had her "walls" were high when she first started the process but admitted the agents were able to crack her. Kerry Katona shows off two stone weight loss in low cut minidress "I wasn't interested, I was adamant, my walls were so high, I think you'll see this journey... I'm going to get emotional," she said as she fought back tears during our chat. Opening up about dating younger men on the show, Kerry insisted that age really is just a number - with the star having an 11 year age-gap with her new man Paolo. Kerry joked: "I feel like 21, so who cares! "For me it's energy, it doesn't matter who you are - an age gap is an age gap, as long as you're happy and have that connection. "You could be with same person for the next 10 years and be miserable as anything, it doesn't matter." But with the agents advice, Kerry revealed there was a turning point for her during the process. She hit back at the stigma of women wanting to find love in their 40s and said she deserves her happily ever after. "I thought I was happy on my own and they made me realise that I was actually really lonely," an emotional Kerry told us. "I'm a very loving person and I think being in this industry and 'oh here we go again', I'm 44 does that mean I have to be on my own for the rest of my life, I want to share my life with somebody, I have a lot of love to give. "I want to come home to somebody for a kiss and a cuddle. "I might have been married before but I was 18 when I met my first husband, get over it. "Everyone has seen these lovely relationships, but mines been documented, it doesn't always work out but god loves a trier. "It's okay to not be ashamed to want to be in love and to be with somebody. "I was actually more bothered about what the public perception would think of me, but I want to share my life with somebody, I want to be with somebody." She added: "When you go into something like this, you really have to surrender yourself, you walk in for the deep chats and you think 'you've got this, you'll be fine', but they're so good at what they do, that you really end up thinking 'I didn't realise that about myself' and it's quite scary and it's quite surprising." It comes after The Sun revealed that Kerry has found love again after meeting her new boyfriend on the show. A source said: 'Kerry has bagged herself another toyboy - Paolo is 33 and Kerry is 44, but neither of them are bothered by the age-gap. "Kerry looks better than most women half her age at the moment, and is young at heart. "Paolo thinks she's super sexy and has told all his mates that he is the lucky one. "Meanwhile Kerry loves the fact that she has a younger man again." The source added: "Paolo's got an amazing body but he's also a sweet guy to boot. "He's a single dad to two girls, so he has his head screwed on and is responsible.' Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry signed up to the E4 show in February following her painful break-up with fiancé Ryan Mahoney. Kerry announced their split in November 2024 and told fans there had been "a breach of trust". The couple had been engaged for four years and Kerry had even said that he had "been like a dad" to her five kids - Molly, 21, Lilly-Sue, 20, Heidi, 16, Max, 14, and eight-year-old DJ." Sources said Kerry had hoped to "find a new connection" on Celebs Go Dating - and she has done just that. Last month, she was snapped having a cheeky snog with Paolo outside a hotel. In their first public outing together, they looked very happy as they hugged and kissed each other in the street. A source previously told us: "Kerry was heartbroken when she split from Ryan – it's taken her quite a while to get over what happened. "But she was approached to do the show and is always up for a new opportunity. "Bosses know she makes amazing telly and she's really hoping she finds a proper connection." Celebs Go Dating 2025 cast S Club 7 singer Jon Lee The Chase quizzer Mark Labbett Too Hot To Handle hunk Louis Russell Love Island All Stars contestant, Olivia Hawkins Singer Kerry Katona Made in Chelsea heartthrob Sam Prince QUIT - Christine McGuinness 5 Kerry said there was a big turning point in her Celebs Go Dating journey Credit: Matt Monfredi / Channel 4
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Katie Price and Kerry Katona say Strictly is ‘too snobby' for them as they reveal if they're going back into I'm A Celeb
KATIE Price and Kerry Katona have said that Strictly is 'too snobby' for them and revealed if they're going back into the I'm A Celeb Jungle. The reality queens have been on the showbiz scene for nearly 30 years, they met in the early days, but grew inseparable after their shared stint on I'm A Celebrity in 2004. 5 Katie Price and Kerry Katona have said that Strictly is 'too snobby' for them as they revealed if they're going back into the I'm A Celeb Jungle Credit: Dan Charity 5 The pair grew inseparable after their shared stint on I'm A Celebrity in 2004. Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Katie and Kerry are touring the UK in Autumn with 33 dates scheduled Credit: PA But would the best friends go back into the Katie Price Katie smiled: "That's what I mean, it is a good show." Kerry beamed: "I love the jungle." "The experience is amazing," added Katie. Most read in Celebrity After they burst into the spotlight in the late 1990s, the two have remained best pals, sticking together through six husbands, But is there a reality show that the pair haven't done between them? Katie Price admits her family are panicked over star's weight loss as mum fears eating disorder and dad calls her 'thin' legs 'terrible' Kerry said: 'Both me and Kate have done 'We are the reality queens. We're part of TV history . "When we did I'm A Celebrity , the ratings were the highest they ever had. And we're a part of that." Kerry then turned to Katie and said: "The only one "They'd never have us," quipped back Katie. Kerry nodded her head agreeing: "Yes." Katie added: "They're too snobby - strictly for us." Kerry then explained that she did Dancing on Ice: "What a great adventure. What a great memory." Kerry agreed: "I would love to do Strictly." "But you can actually dance so you'd be good at it," smiled Katie to her best friend. Despite more than their fair share of headlines, these girls remain showbiz royalty and can still book out a venue And the reality duo are taking on the road this autumn , across 33 dates. The brand new tour, conceived after the success of their double act as the stepsisters in adult panto Cinderella. 5 Katie Price and Kerry Katona chat exclusively to Felicity Cross about their new tour Credit: Dan Charity 5 Kerry and Katie would love to do Strictly but think it's too snobby for them Credit: BBC An Evening With
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Kerry Katona says Brooklyn Beckham doesn't play football ‘because he's s**t'
The former Atomic Kitten singer was discussing nepotism in a joint interview with her best friend Katie Price, when she took a swipe at Beckham's eldest child Katie and Kerry both want their daughters to go on Love Island Kerry Katona has put the boot into Brooklyn Beckham saying he doesn't play football 'because he's s**t'. The former Atomic Kitten singer was discussing nepotism in a joint interview with her best friend Katie Price, when she took a swipe at Beckham's eldest child. The reality star mothers weighed in on the nepotism debate as they expressed their hopes for their daughters to appear on Love Island. However, Kerry was quick to shoot down any claims of nepotism as she talked about giving 18-year-old daughter Heidy a leg up in the industry. Katie and Kerry both want their daughters to go on Love Island News in 90 Seconds - Saturday, August 2 'Everyone talks about nepotism right, but everyone has a contact for somebody,' Kerry insisted. 'I can open a door for you. Whether you get through that door and you stay through it, that's on your own f*****g merit.' Then, using Brooklyn Beckham as an example she said, 'you don't see him playing f*cking football, because he's s**t'. Would-be chef Brooklyn, who is now 26, had previously played in Arsenal's youth academy but decided to give up the sport when the club released him at 16. He quit football after explaining it would be 'difficult' to live up to father David (50) who is considered one of the greatest footballers of his generation. Speaking to Variety back in 2022, Brooklyn said his father who won 19 major trophies throughout his 20-year football career 'wasn't sad' to see his son give up the sport. 'My dad wasn't sad, because he was like, 'I just want you to be happy',' Brooklyn explained. 'But of course, I was sad. It was my whole life since I was literally two. Brooklyn with famous parents David and Victoria 'To try and live up to what my dad did in football, I was just like, 'that's going to be a bit difficult'.' Brooklyn has since explored other outlets for his creativity, including cooking and photography and launched his own hot sauce brand, Cloud 23, last year. He addressed the nepo baby debate himself last year when he admitted he is one, but argued that he 'couldn't help how I was born'. He told Grazia magazine how: 'There's always going to be people that say rubbish. But as long as you do something that makes you happy and you're kind to people, that's all that matters. 'I'm always gonna get it, no matter what I do. And I'm fine with that. It makes me work harder, because I'm like, I'm gonna prove these people wrong.' Former popstar Kerry and ex-glamour model Katie expressed their delight that their daughters, Heidi and Princess, both 18, have become firm friends. They said they would love for both of them to team up for reality TV with Kerry telling the Sun newspaper: 'I'm desperate for Princess and Heidi to do the Jungle together. Imagine.' Katie added: 'I always say Love Island. Heidi and Princess need to do it together.' Kerry agreed, saying: 'The way I see it is, forget management, forget fame, what an amazing memory. What an amazing adventure. 'So I think if Heidi goes to Love Island for three months and has the best time then that's amazing.' Both Kerry and Katie enjoyed success on reality TV. Kerry said: 'Both me and Kate have done every reality show. 'We are the reality queens. We're part of TV history. When we did I'm A Celebrity, the ratings were the highest they ever had. And we're a part of that.'
