They were the first team to win the Galway Senior Football Championship in 1889 and have enjoyed many victories in the competition ever since although their last county title was won over 25 years ago. They last appeared in the final in 1997. They are third in the all-time list of most victories. They had two great decades, the first coming from 1900 to 1912, and the 1960s when they won five of the ten championships. They contributed five players to the great Galway Three-in-a-Row team of 1964,65 and 66. They included John Keenan, John Donnellan, For the first time since 1973, the club secured its first county Galway Minor Championship in September 2012 with a 2-10 to 2-06 victory over St James'. This was a momentous occasion and this group of talented youngsters could provide the bedrock for a successful and bright period for the club in the coming years.
Notable players
Michael Donnellan was a talented footballer and won an All-Ireland medal with the Galway Senior football team in 1925. He died in Croke Park at the 1964 All-Ireland final, shortly before his son, John Donnellan, as victorious Galway captain, received the Sam Maguire Cup. John would follow in his father's footsteps in both football and political pursuits. He captained the Galway winning team in 1964, the first of a historic "3 In A Row". His brother, Patrick was also on the team.
John's son Michael, kept the family tradition alive by winning two All-Ireland titles in 1998 and 2001. He was one of the most exciting players of his time but he never enjoyed similar success with Dunmore. Armagh footballing great Oisín McConville once said of him "He was the best athlete I've ever played against". His capabilities were never more evident than in the All-Ireland final of 1998 where his surging runs and skilful ball-carrying were crucial to the team's victory. His stunning run of the full length of the pitch to assist Seán Óg de Paor was voted the best moment in the history of GAA. He later moved to Salthill-Knocknacarra in 2003 and won an All-Ireland club medal in 2006.
Facilities
Páirc Mhic Éil is the home pitch of Dunmore MacHales since 1973, before this it was called "the Demesne" or "The Captain's".
