The club was born when two local teams – Carn Celtic and Carn United – decided to join forces. Since then, Carn FC has grown into a club with a proud history, offering football for everyone in the area – men, women, boys, and girls – at both senior and junior levels.
Most of our players come from Carndonagh and the surrounding area, and over the years, we’ve seen plenty of success, especially with our youth teams. One of our proudest moments came in 2018 when our U12 and U13 squads became SFAI Sketchers Cup Ulster Champions – just one chapter in our long tradition of winning trophies.
Senior level
Carn FC has also made its mark on the international stage. Players like Ryan McLaughlin (HB), Gerry Doherty (O.), Liam Monagle, Dessie Doherty, Kieran Lynn, Zoe Doherty, Ellie Long, and Cache Crumlish have all worn the international jersey. Recently, several of our stars have gone on to play in the League of Ireland and the Northern Ireland League, including names like Michael O’Donnell, Ronan Doherty (O), Kieran Farren, Cathal Farren, Evan Tweed, Sam Todd, Niamh Callaghan, Lee McLaughlin, Luke Rudden, Nathan Logue, and Ailish Doherty.
Carn FC has lifted trophies in the Inishowen League and the Ulster Senior League. We even won the Ulster Senior League Cup in our very first season! In 1991, we reached the first round of the FAI Senior Cup and took on Limerick City – it was a tough battle that ended in a draw before we narrowly lost the replay.
And we’re still going strong – in 2023, we won the First Division Championship again, while our Reserves team completed an amazing treble by winning the Division 2 Shield, the Fr O’Gara Cup, and the Division 2A Title.
Younger players
At junior and intermediate levels, we’ve made plenty of noise too. Carn has twice reached the semi-finals of the FAI Junior Cup and made it to the quarter-finals in 2012. More recently, 2016 was a golden year when we won both the Strand Hotel First Division and the Fr O’Gara Cup. We also bagged the Jackie Crossan Premier Division title in 2014 and the Ulster Junior Cup in 2013.
St. Patrick’s Park
Carn FC plays its home games at St Patrick’s Park, a ground owned by the St Patrick’s Park Soccer Field Trust Ltd. The pitch opened on July 23, 1989, with a bang – Jack Charlton himself cut the ribbon before we played Derry City’s treble-winning team. It was a day to remember, and our pitch has been home to plenty of memorable moments ever since.