ARMAGH City Football Club is toasting the success of the Dingle Daly Festival of Football, a large-scale youth tournament held in honour of former player and club legend Sean ‘Dingle’ Daly.
Staged at Holm Park, the week-long festival saw more than 160 teams competing and 1,600 young footballers taking part.
Eoin Toal, now a Northern Ireland international, was one of hundreds who got their first taste of football at the mini-soccer school run every Saturday morning by Sean ‘Dingle’ Daly – an absolute titan of Armagh sport.
The event commemorates Sean ‘Dingle’ Daly, a beloved figure at the club who passed away in January 2023. Sean first joined the then Milford Everton in the early 1970s, making nearly 300 appearances and scoring 65 goals.
In the 1973–74 season, he helped lead the club to an impressive treble: winning the Mid Ulster First Division, the Alan Wilson Trophy, and the Alexandra Cup.
He was part of the highly talented Milford Everton side that entered the Irish Football League ‘B’ Division in 1975. Despite primarily playing in midfield, Sean was the club’s top goalscorer in the 1975–76, 1976–77, and 1978–79 seasons.
Sean later joint-managed Milford Everton during the 1982–83 season, which saw the team pull off one of the greatest Irish Cup upsets in history — a stunning 1-0 away victory against top-flight side Portadown.
Beyond his achievements on the football pitch, Sean was also an accomplished Gaelic footballer, representing both Armagh and Tyrone. He notably played in the 1977 All-Ireland Final against Dublin, a testament to his athletic versatility and competitive spirit.
In his later years, Sean dedicated himself to youth development at Armagh City FC. His deep passion for the game and commitment to mentoring young players left a lasting mark. His contributions were formally recognised in the 2013–14 season, when he was honoured with the Clubman of the Year award.
Today, his legacy lives on through the Festival of Football and the seated stand at Holm Park, which also bears his name.
“This is our first time running the Dingle Daly Tournament, and so far, it’s gone really smoothly,” said tournament organiser and City Youth Officer Michael McKenzie.
“More importantly, everyone is having a great time. I had always thought about starting a youth tournament, and when Dingle passed, I wanted to honour him by naming it after him.”
McKenzie explained how the idea began modestly but quickly grew: “What started as a small idea snowballed. We’re halfway through and it’s still expanding. We even have a waiting list of teams wanting to join, so we’re considering extending the tournament to include more matches this weekend.”
Teams travelled from across Northern Ireland and beyond — including Derry, Dundalk, Drogheda, Belfast and Fermanagh — with games running from U7 to U13 levels for both boys and girls. “It’s great because kids are getting to play against teams outside their usual leagues – it really tests their skills,” said McKenzie.
“There aren’t many tournaments across the country offering 10 different age groups and over 140 teams,” McKenzie noted. “The support we’ve received has been phenomenal — the weather helped, and the buzz on social media from the clubs involved has been incredible. The family atmosphere here is just brilliant.”
The Daly family has also voiced their gratitude for the tribute. In a heartfelt statement, they said:
“Armagh City Football Club played a significant role in our father’s life. Having this annual tournament in his memory is a deeply touching tribute to his contribution to the club.
Within Armagh City FC, ‘Dingle Daly’ was a vital figure. His passion for football and dedication to nurturing young talent lives on and continues to inspire future generations through this tournament.
“To us, he was a beloved father and grandfather who we miss greatly. We’re truly delighted that his legacy continues, and we know he would be immensely proud to be remembered this way.”
The club hopes the festival will not only honour Daly’s legacy but also shine a light on Armagh City’s commitment to youth development.
“We want to get the club’s name out there and put Armagh City on the map,” McKenzie said. “And most of all, we want to keep Dingle’s name alive because he was such a respected man.”
