Heroes of 1992 pay tribute to the legend Brian McEniff on his 80th birthday

Celebrating his 80th birthday today, Brian McEniff – the soft-spoken hotelier from the seaside town of Bundoran - can reflect back and acknowledge that he has done quite a bit in his life, and there is still no signs of slowing down.

An All-Star award, five Ulster titles, 12 Railway Cups, and one All-Ireland senior title as Donegal manager in 1992 are the high points of an illustrious career in football.

 The GAA legend who was about as comfortable on the sideline of a Gaelic football field as a fish was in water, has given his life to the green and gold of Donegal - being forever present in the annals of the game, from when he returned home from Canada in the mid-1960s, to the present day where he’s the current Chairman of the Realt na Mara club.

 A Donegal manager of five occasions over a 33-year period from 1972 to 2005 which accumulated to 17 seasons, McEniff will forever be remembered as the man who guided Donegal to their first All-Ireland senior title 30 years ago, as well as being the county's first All-Star recipient in 1972.

To add to that, he held the role of county minor manager on two occasions, county chairman, and a delegate to the Central Council. As well as a prominent half-back, referee and International Rules manager.

The son of John McEniff and Elizabeth Begley, McEniff first attended St Macarten’s College – a boarding school in Monaghan Town - at the age of 12 where he was first truly exposed to the life of sport.

 It was from there he went to Cathal Brugha Street College in Dublin to study Hotel Management, before emigrating to Toronto in 1962 where he met his future wife and Cork woman Catherine O’Leary.

But his return home to his native Bundoran in the mid-sixties is when his name became instilled in the history of Donegal GAA, as well as domestic domination with seven Donegal football championships with St Joseph's - the amalgamation between Bundoran and Ballyshannon -  and one with his home club Realt na Mara.

 Speaking to DonegalLive, some of his past players have paid tribute to the sporting legend. Former Donegal captain Anthony Molloy led the tributes to his former county boss honouring the impact McEniff had on his players.

“I can perhaps speak on behalf of all my former teammates when I say that Brian was like a father figure to us,” said Molloy.

“I think the key in being a truly great manager is how they treat their players both on and off the field, and personally Brian helped me so much in my life. He helped a lot of us with jobs and in our lives. Even to this day he’s still looking out for us and making sure we’re okay. He’s not only a good manager and GAA person, he’s a good man.”

Former Donegal manager Declan Bonner cited his former football gaffer as “Mr Donegal” stating that his passion for the game has never dwindled in the last 60 years. 

“Brian is just a true Gael,” Bonner said. “From the moment he took me into the county team in 1983, up to now, his passion for GAA has never faded. He was the ultimate sounding board for me as manager. He would give you his frank and honest opinion. He just wanted what was best for the county and he owes Donegal nothing. A true legend and a gentleman.”

“In 1992 all the players went to his surprise 50th in Bundoran. It was a ‘This is your Life’ special. It’s hard to believe that’s 30 years now.”

All-Ireland winner Joyce McMullin highlighted McEniff’s love for the county in saying: “I know for a fact I have never met anyone as passionate to Donegal GAA as Brian. He just lived and breathed it. He had a golf course next to his house, I wonder if he ever played golf in his life. He was just so passionate about Donegal football.”

While 1992 full-back Matt Gallagher credited McEniff’s man-management style stating: “I think Brian’s greatest trait was understanding every player. Knowing our families, knowing our backgrounds, knowing what got us to tick.

"He would go out of his way to do anything for us or help us as best he could. Doing that made us want to play for him. His style of management created such a happy environment for us as players.”

At the age of 80, McEniff still looks back on the third Sunday of September in 1992 as his finest hour. The day the county he so longed to see be successful were now dining with the sporting Gods. A county starved of success, were now All-Ireland champions as the players from the north-west could stick their chests out with pride of where they’re from, as the Bundoran man has always done.

From players like Martin Carney in the seventies to the Donegal team of today, McEniff’s influence on Donegal GAA stretches the guts of over 60 years and he doesn’t seem to be easing up any time soon.