Tom Conaghan

Tom Conaghan is an Irish Gaelic football figure who managed Donegal county football teams during the 1980s and, later, the Sligo senior team. His former players regarded him as a disciplinarian in his approach to management. His father died suddenly at the age of 50, after suffering a heart attack, when Conaghan was a still a boy. He later took over from Brian McEniff as senior manager when McEniff had led the 1983 Ulster Senior Football Championship campaign to a win.

Over the course of his time as senior manager during the 1980s, Conaghan fell out with numerous players. He dropped Marty Carlin and Charlie Mulgrew from his team for one year after they played for Letterkenny in a Forster Cup final victory at Ravenhill in 1987. Other players with whom he fell out during his time as senior manager included Declan Bonner, Manus Boyle, Matt Gallagher, Barry McGowan and Sylvester Maguire.

Conaghan later managed the Sligo seniors. He was mentioned as a possible successor to P. J. McGowan as Donegal manager in 1997 in a dual role with Anthony Molloy. He withdrew and Declan Bonner became manager. He won a seat in 2014 and retained it in 2019. He did not contest the 2024 election.

Personal life Conaghan married Celine and they had three children together. His only son, Kevin, died as the result of an accident, at the age of 14. He continues to work as a farmer, work which includes lambs, cattle and crops.