Donegal singer releases revised edition of ‘Jimmy’s Winning Matches’ to mark his team’s Ulster final success – The Irish News

Donegal singer-songwriter Rory Gallagher has released a reworked version of his legendary GAA anthem ‘Jimmy’s Winning Matches’ to mark his home county’s extraordinary success this year.

The Kilcar man’s hit became the soundtrack to Donegal’s march to the All-Ireland title in 2012, while a YouTube video of Gallagher singing the song alongside friend “Senegal Jimmy” in the Canary Islands went viral.

Gallagher’s fame reached its peak when All-Ireland captain Michael Murphy joined thousands of adoring fans in singing the song on the steps of the Ard Comhairle Stand in Croke Park, shortly after winning the Same Maguire Cup.

The new “Jimmy’s Winning Matches” was released this week to raise funds for Donegal Hospice.

In the original song, Gallagher listed the names of the 2012 team while Senegal Jimmy took listeners on a reggae tour of the country.

The revised version includes the current Ulster champion team as well as a lyrical tour of Donegal manager Jimmy McGuinness’ coaching career since 2012.

Supported by his sons Aidan and Shay, Gallagher sings: “He (McGuinness) comes from Glenties, he was at Celtic, he was in Charlotte (USA) and he was even in China.”

“We beat Derry, and maybe Kerry too. Yes, we’ll beat whoever we face in the final.”

He takes his fans on a tour through his homeland Donegal “From Kilcar to Muff, from Letterkenny to Gaoth Dobhair”.

Gallagher said he was asked to write the updated version by former Donegal star and GAA expert Brendan Devenney.

He told Highland Radio that Devenney approached him after Donegal won this year’s Ulster final.

“I tried to avoid that. I didn’t want to jump on my own bandwagon, but I got so many messages from people saying, ‘All the young people are singing the song again at the Games,’ so I need to update it. It’s almost 13 years old. I got emails from people asking, ‘Do you have any new words?'”

Devenney suggested re-releasing the song to raise funds for Donegal Hospice. The new “Jimmy’s Winning Matches” was released online on Monday.