Latest news with #Jimmy'sWinningMatches
Sunday World
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Daniel O'Donnell: We're hoping Jimmy and the Donegal players are on song today
Donegal are looking to hit the right notes when they take on Kerry at Croke Park. 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.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Writer of Jimmy's Winning Matches reveals inspiration behind hit song
The singer Rory Gallagher wrote the song about African sellers The singer and songwriter behind Donegal's football anthem Jimmy's Winning Matches is predicting a four-point victory over Kerry in today's All-Ireland final at Croke Park. Lanzarote-based Rory Gallagher, formerly of The Revs, also reveals that he originally wrote the song about street and beach sellers from Senegal who flog counterfeit goods to tourists in the Canaries. 'It was originally called Jimmy's Selling Watches, but my mother, Mary B, who was in the band Luv Bug with my father, suggested I should change it to Jimmy's Winning Matches when Donegal started doing well under Jim McGuinness,' Rory tells the Sunday World. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th He also reveals how Donegal manager McGuinness has mixed feelings about the song. 'Jim came up to me at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin after the All-Ireland final big celebration (in 2012)…he walked over and he had a big smile on him,' Rory says. 'I thought he was going to give me a hug, but he put his arm around me and whispered into my ear, 'See that song you wrote, it has my head melted!' 'Everybody was shouting it at him in the streets. It was this catchphrase that he didn't want. The good thing about it is that it really freaks out our opponents because they just think 'this guy is destined to win matches.' It's his own fault for having such a high-win ratio. 'It could be worse, it could be Jimmy's losing matches. As long as we win everybody's happy.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
McGuinness' hilarious reaction to Jimmy's Winning Matches after meeting singer
Jim McGuinness told the singer of the famous 'Jimmy's Winning Matches' song that it had his head 'melted' after meeting him. Rory Gallagher from Rory and the Island told of McGuinness' reaction to the song in a social media post this week ahead of the All-Ireland final between Donegal and Kerry. He wrote: "I remember all those years ago Jim McGuinness coming up to me, putting his arm around me and whispering gently into my ear: 'See that song you wrote, it has my head melted!' It got even worse for him when RTE then made a comedy sketch of him walking around Donnybrook and everyone running up to him shouting 'Jimmy's Winning Matches!' as he kept trying to walk away faster!" "But to be honest I think this genuinely stems from his modesty, he always pushes how brilliant the team are and that they do the harder work, and deserve all the credit. "This is why in the 2024 revamp version I released I changed the final chorus lyrics to 'The Team are Winning Matches' . "However, when we see the effect he has had since his return as Donegal manager this past 2 years nobody can deny there is something very special about Jim McGuinness, so even if he gets modestly embarrassed by the song ... it's his own fault... for just constantly Winning Matches!" Rory appeared on Saturday's Up for the Match on RTE and will play at Dtwo in Dublin on Sunday following the final at 7pm.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Here's all the ‘Up for the Match' details ahead of Kerry v Donegal on Sunday
In a repeat of the 2014 final, Kerry and Donegal will once again go head-to-head — and Up for the Match will capture all the buzz and excitement in the build-up to Sunday's showdown. The programme promises stories, atmosphere, and pre-match banter from fans and familiar faces. Marty Morrissey will be reporting live from Kilcar, Donegal, where he'll meet the family, friends and clubmates of Ryan and Eoin McHugh, and Patrick McBrearty — all set to feature in the final. Meanwhile, Anna Geary will be in Kerry, catching up with fans at Rathmore GAA Club, the home of Paul Murphy and Shane Ryan. In studio, GAA stalwarts Marc Ó Sé and Eamon McGee will offer their expert analysis and predictions, while the revered Brian McEniffe — affectionately known as the Godfather of Donegal GAA — will also join the discussion. A musical highlight of the night will be the return of the Donegal anthem Jimmy's Winning Matches by Rory & The Island — with a fresh twist in store for viewers. Following last week's memorable Riverdance tribute in county colours, the opening performance promises another surprise to kick off the show. Adding extra excitement to the evening, one lucky viewer and one studio audience member will each receive golden tickets to the final at Croke Park — a chance to witness history as either Kerry or Donegal lift the Sam Maguire Cup. Co-host Jacqui Hurley said: 'A first-ever All-Ireland final between Cork and Tipp was a novelty, but the fans from both counties brought their A-game to the craic. We know from experience that won't be a problem for Kerry and Donegal fans — we're looking forward to a brilliant show with them.' Co-presenter Des Cahill added: 'Last week, we saw the friendly rivalry between the Tipp and Cork fans — I can't wait to see what energy the Kerry and Donegal supporters bring to the studio. We'll have plenty of music, great chats with some GAA football veterans and check in with some of the 80,000 fans that are expected to travel the road to Croker, plus a bit of light entertainment and tunes to settle the nerves.' Up for the Match airs on Saturday, July 26 at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Watch: Tanzanian orphanage cheers on Donegal
An orphanage in Tanzania has sent their support to the Donegal Gaelic football team ahead of their All-Ireland football final clash against Kerry this Sunday - with a rendition of "Jimmy's Winning Matches". Rafiki orphanage, pre and primary schools learned the anthem alongside the basics of Gaelic Football as part of a volunteer programme in which five Irish teachers visited the Rafiki Sana Foundation this month. The teachers, three of which hail from Donegal, raised over €10,000 for the non-profit organisation. The money has been used to build a new classroom and two toilet cubicles in the primary school, paint and decorate two classrooms in the preschool, and feed 30 local families for a month. Founded in 2017, the Rafiki Sana Foundation is a non-profit based in Tanzania. It operates a free orphanage, pre-school, primary school and hostel facilities for local children living ion difficult circumstances. The foundation relies on sponsorship, donations, and volunteers.
