Donegal singer songwriter Rory Gallagher has launched a revamped 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 along with friend “Senegal Jimmy” in the Canarie Islands went viral.
Gallagher’s fame reached its pinnacle when All-Ireland winning captain Michael Murphy was joined by thousands of ecstatic fans in singing the song on the steps of Croke Park’s Ard Comhairle stand moments after lifting the Same Maguire cup.
The new “Jimmy’s Winning Matches” was released this week to raise funds for the Donegal Hospice.
In the original song, Gallagher listed the names of the 2012 team while Senegal Jimmy took listeners on a Reggae-style tour of the county.
In the revamped version, the current Ulster Champion-winning team is included as well as a lyrical tour of Donegal manager Jimmy McGuinness’s coaching career since 2012.
Backed by his sons, Aidan and Shay, Gallagher sings: “He (McGuinness) comes from Glenties man, He’s been in Celtic man, He’s been in Charlotte (USA) and he’s even been in China man.
“We’ve beatin’ Derry man, And maybe Kerry man, Yeah we’re beatin’ anyone we’re meetin’ in the final man.”
He again takes fans on a tour of his native 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 pundit, Brendan Devenney.
He told Highland Radio Devenney approached him after Donegal won this year’s Ulster final.
“I was trying to avoid it. You know I didn’t want to be jumping on my own bandwagon but I was getting so many messages from people going ‘all the young ones are singing the song again at the games’ so you have to update. It’s nearly 13 year’s old. I was getting emails from people saying ‘have you any new words’. "
Devenney suggested he re-release the song to raise funds for the Donegal Hospice. The new “Jimmy’s Winning Matches” was released online on Monday.
