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Begley scores with Swifts' Irish Cup final soundtrack

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI Mid Ulster Reporter
Mossy Media Philomena Begley has short brown hair. She is holding a microphone and is wearing a white jacket and a blue Dungannon Swifts scarf. There are people watching her perform with one holding her phone camera up.Mossy Media
Philomena Begley recently put on a special performance for Dungannon Swifts' fans and players

Did you ever hear the one about the Queen of Country and the County Tyrone football club?

Philomena Begley is one of Irish country music's most loved and celebrated entertainers who has been working in the industry for more than 60 years.

Meanwhile, Dungannon Swifts are about to compete in their first Irish Cup final in almost 20 years.

It might be an unlikely pairing, but the country legend's music has emerged as the surprise soundtrack for the team's supporters club.

Dillon Boyd looks into the camera and is wearing a black t-shirt. He has light short hair. He is sitting in a football stand with blue seats in front of the pitch.
The Dungannon Swifts Supporters Club was the brainchild of Dillon Boyd

It comes as the town of Dungannon could become the unlikely sporting capital of Northern Ireland.

The local rugby and hockey clubs, which are both only minutes away from the Swifts' home ground along the Moy Road, are also striving for major silverware.

On Saturday, the same day Dungannon Swifts play Cliftonville in the Irish Cup final at Windsor Park, Dungannon Rugby Club will be competing in the Ulster Senior Cup final at Kingspan Stadium.

Meanwhile, Dungannon Ladies Hockey Team who recently won the Irish Hockey Challenge Cup, are hoping to retain the Ulster Senior Cup with a final later in May.

'The whole place just took off'

As for Ms Begley's Blanket on the Ground becoming the unofficial anthem for the Swifts and their journey to the cup final, Dillon Boyd from The Spirit of '49 Dungannon Swifts supporters club said it all started after the Pomeroy woman's song was played on the bus radio on an away trip and "the whole place just took off".

"It works because us young lads, we sing away at the back of the bus and it gets the older members of the club at the front of the bus involved, because they grew up around that type of country music," said the 24-year-old.

Nobody has been more pleasantly surprised by her recent connection with Dungannon Swifts fans than the Queen of Country herself.

Speaking to BBC News NI ahead of the Irish Cup final, Ms Begley said she was "shocked, but delighted" with the response.

Dillon Boyd Philomena Begley sings with Swifts manager Rodney McAree in the middle and assistant manager Dixie Robinson on the left. Ms Begley is singing and Mr McAree and Mr Robinson laugh.Dillon Boyd
Philomena Begley with Swifts' manager Rodney McAree in the middle and assistant manager Dixie Robinson on the left

She added: "It's been a lovely surprise, to have found this new connection to a group of fans I didn't even know I had.

"To tell you the truth, I'm really honoured and I hope the team do really well."

Recently, Ms Begley even surprised fans and players with an in-person performance at Dungannon Swifts' Stangmore Park club house.

A man with white hair smiles and looks into the camera. He is wearing a navy jumper with a blue shirt underneath. He is standing in front of a shop with blue paint in the middle of the high street.
Stephen Mohan runs a clothes shop in Dungannon town centre

But it's not just country music legends who are getting involved in the final build-up, excitement has spread across Dungannon.

The town centre is covered with blue and white bunting with many local businesses showing their support.

Stephen Mohan runs a clothing business in Dungannon.

"There's a real energy about the place," he said.

Stephen has also been showing his support for the club by kitting out the players in tailored suits for the final.

He said: "The Swifts have one of the lowest budgets in this league this year, so we felt our players deserved this and I think it's made the guys feel more connected to the football club too and hopefully that has spilled onto the pitch as well."

Three schoolchildren smile and look into the camera. All three are wearing red school jumpers and yellow t-shirts. One boy is wearing a blue Dungannon Swifts bucket hat and another is wearing a navy Swifts coat.
Pupils from Howard Primary School in Dungannon have also been showing their support for Dungannon Swifts

Directly across the road from Dungannon Swifts' home ground, the local primary school are also showing their support with handmade good luck posters on the side of the building.

Phyllis McWilliams is the school's principal.

She said: "The build-up has been so exciting, in the mornings speaking to the parents and the children coming, all they want to talk about is the Swifts."

Reuben is aged 10 and has been a Swifts supporter for as long as he can remember.

He said: "If we win the final, it would mean a lot to everyone, the players and the school as well, so I'm really excited."

A girl smiles into the camera. She has brown hair, which is tied back. She is wearing a navy Dungannon Ladies hockey top. She is standing in front of a blue hockey pitch.
The ladies hockey team captain, Lucy Redmond, says the sporting finals have created a 'real buzz' across Dungannon

As for Dungannon Ladies Hockey Team's upcoming final in the Ulster Senior Cup, team captain Lucy Redmond said the town is buzzing with the local sides doing so well.

"Trophies are great, but I just love the game of hockey, and it's the same with all the girls here, we go out just for love of the game," she said.

"But I have to say with us and the other clubs in finals it's created a fantastic atmosphere around the town, and it's great because it gives the young people coming through these clubs something to aspire to."

Two signs are tied to the black railings surrounding a football pitch. The signs are made out of blue and white sheets. One says 'Come on you Swifts' and has an image of Dungannon Swifts' club badge. The other has a blue background with white writing that says 'Believe'.
Dungannon is covered in bunting and messages of support for Dungannon Swifts

Irish Cup holders Cliftonville have won it nine times, whereas the Swifts have yet to win Northern Ireland football's premier cup competition.

Dillon Boyd says it has already been a success story for the Swifts and Dungannon no matter what happens on Saturday.

He said: "It would mean everything to the town for the lads to win, a bit of good news and we're going in as underdogs, but that's OK we like that and we've already shown what we're capable of.

"So whatever happens on Saturday, we've already shown the community spirit connected to this club and we all believe this club can really go places."