The Warren: Home of Football in Carrowmenagh
Neil McGonigle with the help of his friend James Elkin whose family owned the land created the football pitch back in the late 1960s which we now know as 'The Warren'.
Neil McGonigle together with his friend James Elkin, whose family owned the land, created the football pitch back in the late 1960s. They called it ‘The Warren’ and it became the homeground of the newly formed team of the day, Tremone Harps followed by the current team, Carrowmena Football Club.
Tremone Harps team members pictured above Neil McGonigle, Anthony McGonigle, Hugh McGonagle, Michael McLaughlin (Orable) and Packie Crumlish.
The Warren: Carrowmena Football Club

A brief history in time…..

After the demise of Tremone Harps the playing of soccer in Carrowmena and surrounding town lands came somewhat to a standstill. During the summers of 92/93 many local lads were playing football in back gardens and in any field that was available. After numerous discussions of getting a venue that would suit everyone and be available in all kinds of weather it was decided to ask James Elkin for his permission to resume playing football on the “Warren”, running along Tremone Bay.  This was best known as the home of football in Carrowmena down through the years to which he duly agreed.

The club entered a team in the Inishowen League in Aug 94 under the guidance and help of Herbie Barr.  Much excitement was in the air when the first set of football rigs arrived in Carrowmena and Eddie O’Kane was elected as our first manager. Sunday the 30th July 1995 was a historic day for the club as the pitch was officially opened by Finn Harps F.C. V Inishowen Select with excellent weather on the day and a huge crowd in attendance. With continued success and increasing numbers in participation the club entered a reserve team with the Inishowen League in 1997.

The club under the guidance of the late Michael Finn applied for funding and was granted £40,000 under the 2001 Sports Capital Programme. Work started in May 2002 to redevelop the pitch to full size by Seamus Fullerton of Buncrana. Not resting at this, the club sought further funding and under the sports capital programme 2003 were awarded €120,000 plus a further top up of €24,000 from ‘CLAR’ department of community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs to build amenities. The club completed phase 2 of the pitch with the introduction of club house and changing facilities constructed by Michael Doherty (Doc) construction Ltd.

After 15 years competing in the Inishowen League the clubs best period was between 2008 and 2011 when the club won its first silverware namely the Strand Hotel First Division, The Hanlon & Greene Father O’Gara Cup & the inaugural Charlie O’Donnell Cup.  The club also secured its fourth ‘Club of the year award’. The club has recently won the reserve league first division.  In the last few years the club struggled somewhat mainly due to recent emigration of youth players of the locality.  

Source: https://inishowenfl.ie/team/carrowmena-f-c/