History
St. Mary's GAC Faughanvale was established in 1933 by a group of local farmers and labourers. A Camogie team was founded in 1946 and affiliated to the club, before folding in 1989. The club's first major success came in 1943 when they won the North Derry Senior Football Championship, before losing to Lavey in the All-Derry Senior Championship final. In 1975 Faughanvale won the Derry Junior Football Championship. Three years later St. Mary's won the Derry Intermediate Football Championship and have won the competition a further four times since (1981, 1996, 1998, 1999). Faughanvale was awarded Irish News Rural Club of the Year 2005 by The Irish News.
The club purchased its current grounds in 1982. When the new pitch opened in 1983 it was named after one of the founding club members and former Chairman of the Derry County Board, John McLaughlin. In May 2007 the club began a £1.2million redevelopment of their playing facilities at John McLaughlin Park and opened the new grounds in May 2009.
In 2008 the club took part in the Celebrity Bainisteoir programme and were managed by journalist Nell McCafferty.
Notable club members include Paul Bradley who won an All-Ireland minor medal with Derry in 1983, captained Derry minors to Ulster success in 1984 and who won a Sigerson medal with St Mary's, Belfast in 1989. Stephen Mulvenna won an All-Ireland senior medal with Derry in 1993. Club Members Kevin Bryson, Derek McFeely and Joe Grey have all represented the Club at County level. In administration Colm O'Hara a former Chairman, Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the Club served as Chairman of the North Derry Board and a member of the County Committee while former Club Secretary Breige McGuinness served in various County Committee roles including Assistant Secretary while current Club Development Officer and long-time Committee member Ryan Feeney is a former member of the Derry County Board and is currently a senior full-time official with Ulster Council.
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