View source for Kevin Cassidy

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Short description|Donegal and Gaoth Dobhair Gaelic footballer}}
{{Infobox Gaelic games player
|image          = kevincassidy.jpg
|name           = Kevin Cassidy
|irish          = 
|nickname       = Cass<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien|url=https://www.the42.ie/daire-o-baoill-gweedore-donegal-4366573-Nov2018/|title=Working in Kevin Cassidy's bar, playing League of Ireland and his hat-trick against Crossmaglen: 21-year-old Gweedore midfielder Daire Ó Baoill is hoping to lift an Ulster club title on Sunday|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129200854/https://www.the42.ie/daire-o-baoill-gweedore-donegal-4366573-Nov2018/|archive-date=29 November 2018|quote=Cass kind of liked the idea of that, it took a while for him to come into it but once he found his bearings, listen, as you've all seen the last few weeks, the man is hard to touch at the minute with the two feet on him.}}</ref>
|birth_date     = {{birth year and age|1981}}
|county         = Donegal
|sport          = Gaelic football
|code           = Football
|province       = Ulster
|club           = [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]]
|clposition     = Midfield
|clubs          = [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]]
|clyears        = 1999–
|clapps(points) = 
|clcounty       = 3
|clprovince     = 1
|clallireland   = 
|counties       = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]]
|icposition     = Wing Back
|icyears        = 2002–2011
|icapps(points) = 
|nfl            = 1
|nfk div 2      = 1
|icprovince     = 1
|icallireland   = 
|allstars       = 2
|birth_place    = [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]
}}
'''Kevin Cassidy''' (born 1981) is an Irish-Scottish<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Kevin Cassidy|user=KCASS7|title=When your daughters find your British passport, 'if he's British why doesn't he have a fancy accent' and for the record I'm Scottish not British|number=1196140769171693570|date=17 November 2019|access-date=17 November 2019}}</ref> [[Gaelic football]]er, businessperson, columnist and commentator. Though born in [[Glasgow]], Scotland, he has been living in [[Gaoth Dobhair]], [[County Donegal]] from a young age.

Cassidy plays his club football for [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]], with whom he has won three [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]]s and one [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship]]. Regarded as one of the best attacking wing half-backs of his generation, Cassidy has also played in midfield and even been his club's leading target man at the edge of the square during their successful Ulster Senior Club Football Championship campaign.<ref name=everyone_particularly_delighted/> A former member of the [[Donegal county football team|Donegal county team]], Cassidy was twice an [[List of All Stars Awards winners (football)|All Star]] — in his maiden season and in his last. He won the [[2007 National Football League (Ireland)|2007 National Football League]] and the [[2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship]], before an enforced — and, subsequently, permanent — absence from the inter-county scene after Cassidy became involved in [[#Dispute with Jim McGuinness|a dispute]] about [[This Is Our Year|a book]] with manager [[Jim McGuinness]]. In May 2012, the ''[[Irish Independent]]'' named him in its selection of Donegal's "greatest team" spanning the previous 50 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/05/14/gaa-donegals-greatest-team-of-the-last-50-years-named/|title=GAA: Donegal's greatest team of the past 50 years named|date=14 May 2012|access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref>

A qualified schoolteacher and fluent [[Gaeilgeoir]], Cassidy's business ventures include the pub [[Teach Mhicí]] and Coláiste Chú Chulainn — a summer residential [[Gaelscoil]] for children of [[primary school]] age. He writes a weekly column for ''[[Gaelic Life]]'' and is often a co-commentator with both [[TG4]] and [[RTÉ Sport]].

==Early life==
Cassidy's mother Ann is a native of Gweedore, while his father Tommy was from Scotland. His mother emigrated to Scotland where she met his father. Kevin, his brother [[Stephen Cassidy (Gaelic footballer)|Stephen]] and his five sisters were born in Glasgow where they lived until Cassidy was eight years of age. Then they moved to the Gaeltacht and Cassidy learned the Irish language.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Kimmage|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/cassidys-redemption-day-26234584.html|title=Cassidy's redemption day|work=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]]|date=31 August 2003|access-date=31 August 2003}}</ref> Stephen, his older brother, also played football for Gaoth Dobhair.<ref name=waited_outside/><ref name=missing_the_medal/> Cassidy initially played association football but watching his brother playing Gaelic football inspired him to try.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

Cassidy's father died in 2013.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

==Playing career==
===Club===
Cassidy won his first [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]] medal with Gaoth Dobhair in 2002.<ref name="don news"/> While in the United States in 2006, he played in the [[Boston Senior Football Championship|Boston Championship]]. He returned later in the summer to win a second Donegal Senior Football Championship with Gaoth Dobhair, beating [[St Eunan's GAA|St Eunan's]] in the 2006 final.<ref name="don news"/>

Cassidy retired from Gaelic football after Naomh Conaill defeated Gaoth Dobhair in the Donegal Senior Football Championship.<ref name=missing_the_medal/> However, he was persuaded to return<ref name=everyone_particularly_delighted/><ref name=missing_the_medal/> and he went on to win a third Donegal Senior Football Championship medal with his club in [[2018 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2018]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1021/1005691-gweedore-0-17-naomh-conaill-1-07-gweedore-donegal/|title=Gaoth Dobhair end 12 years of pain with dominant display|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106002759/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1021/1005691-gweedore-0-17-naomh-conaill-1-07-gweedore-donegal/|archive-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> He was then instrumental in Gaoth Dobhair's first ever [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship]] success later in [[2018 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship|2018]], a run which involved a quarter final defeat of [[Erin's Own GAC, Cargin|Cargin]] (a game in which Cassidy scored a goal and three points),<ref>{{cite news|first=Paddy|last=Tierney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1104/1008611-gaoth-dobhair-donegal-3-11cargin-antrim-1-13/|title=Gaoth Dobhair survive fightback to make Ulster SFC last four|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105150156/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1104/1008611-gaoth-dobhair-donegal-3-11cargin-antrim-1-13/|archive-date=5 November 2018}}</ref> a semi-final defeat of eleven-time winners [[Crossmaglen Rangers GAC|Crossmaglen Rangers]] (a game in which Cassidy scored a goal and two points),<ref>{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1118/1011725-gweedore-on-the-goal-trail-to-book-ulster-final-spot/|title=Gaoth Dobhair on the goal trail to book maiden Ulster final spot|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120105600/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1118/1011725-gweedore-on-the-goal-trail-to-book-ulster-final-spot/|archive-date=20 November 2018}}</ref> and culminated in the club defeating [[Scotstown GAA|Scotstown]] (who had won the competition on four previous occasions), the last two of these games occurring at [[Healy Park]] in [[Omagh]].<ref name=everyone_particularly_delighted/><ref name=missing_the_medal/> Thus, Cassidy added a provincial club title to his three county championships, and, afterwards, he described it as "the proudest moment" of his life.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1202/1014701-old-warrior-cassidy-revels-in-proudest-moment/|title=Old warrior Cassidy revels in 'proudest moment'|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203231113/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1202/1014701-old-warrior-cassidy-revels-in-proudest-moment/|archive-date=3 December 2018}}</ref> Cassidy earned praise both for his performance and, also, his efforts to control his fellow players and management team when tensions threatened to escalate on the pitch.<ref name=everyone_particularly_delighted>{{cite news|first=Maurice|last=Brosnan|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/gaoth-dobhair-kevin-cassidy-ulster-final-402037|title=Everyone Was Particularly Delighted For One Man After Today's Historic Ulster Final|publisher=[[Balls.ie]]|date=2 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203230044/https://www.balls.ie/gaa/gaoth-dobhair-kevin-cassidy-ulster-final-402037|archive-date=3 December 2018}}</ref> Afterwards, he reflected on his expulsion from the county team by Jim McGuinness (see [[#Dispute with Jim McGuinness|below]]) and admitted that if this had not occurred, and taking into consideration his then age of 37, he would most likely have been a spectator instead of a player on the day.<ref>{{cite news|first=Orla|last=Bannon|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/gweedores-kevin-cassidy-if-id-carried-on-with-donegal-id-be-in-stands-now-889619.html|title=Kevin Cassidy: If I'd carried on with Donegal, I'd be in stands now|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205174053/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/gweedores-kevin-cassidy-if-id-carried-on-with-donegal-id-be-in-stands-now-889619.html|archive-date=5 December 2018}}</ref>

He spent two summers with [[Donegal Boston]], the first when he was aged "23 or 24" and the second later with his family.<ref name=well_protected>{{cite news|first=John|last=Fogarty|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/i-hope-hes-well-protected-diarmuid-connolly-will-be-a-target-in-boston-warns-cassidy-848502.html|title='I hope he's well protected': Diarmuid Connolly will be a target in Boston, warns Cassidy|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|date=13 June 2018|access-date=13 June 2018}}</ref> In June 2018, he said he had spent four years in the United States.<ref name=well_protected/>

===Inter-county===
Cassidy made his Championship debut against [[Cavan county football team|Cavan]] at [[Breffni Park]] on 12 May 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/devenneys-future-in-balance-26047562.html|title=Devenney's future in balance|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=10 May 2002|access-date=10 May 2002}}</ref> In his first season with Donegal, the team reached the 2002 [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]] final, but were defeated.<ref name="don news">{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|title=Cassidy's ear was not bitten off|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=28 August 2008|access-date=21 March 2009|url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/DN/free/292502148766817.php}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Then he famously went on the lash when Donegal secured a draw against [[Dublin county football team|Dublin]] in their August Bank Holiday Monday All-Ireland quarter-final. Dublin obliterated Donegal in the replay.<ref name=former_wild_child>{{cite news|first=Dermot|last=Crowe|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/former-wild-child-wants-footballs-natural-high-26285227.html|title=Former wild child wants football's natural high|work=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]]|date=25 February 2007|access-date=25 February 2007}}</ref> Nevertheless, Cassidy was awarded an [[List of All Stars Awards winners (football)|All Star]] for his performances that year.<ref name="cul"/>

The following year, his commitment to the team was called into question again. He made a substitute appearance in the first game of [[Brian McEniff]]'s last spell as Donegal manager, a league defeat to [[Galway county football team|Galway]] in [[Tuam]] in February 2003.<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Duggan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/meehan-adds-spark-to-galway-attack-1.347556|title=Meehan adds spark to Galway attack|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=3 February 2003}}</ref> However, with [[Fermanagh county football team|Fermanagh]] having knocked Donegal out the Ulster Championship, the team entered the All-Ireland Qualifiers, with their first game coming against [[Longford county football team|Longford]] on a Saturday evening in Ballybofey. Cassidy spent the day before at a wedding in Gweedore. He later recalled: {{quote|Things were not going that well and I was at that point a bit fed up with football. I ended up going on the beer that night. After that I stopped messing, cos I'll never forget it. At the time, I thought, 'ah sound, the game is at a quarter past six,' but this is a championship game we're talking about. I woke up at 12.0 (the next day) and there were a couple of missed calls on the phone. And it was just then that I thought, 'what have you done?' I rang [[John Gildea]], he was the most senior player at the time. 'How's things, wee Kevin?' He'd obviously heard. I went up and [[Brian McEniff|Brian <nowiki>[McEniff</nowiki>]], team manager] said, rightly so, 'you're dropped off the team.'<ref name=former_wild_child/>}} A Kevin Cassidyless Donegal overcame Longford, and ultimately reached the All-Ireland semi-final where they sustained a narrow loss to [[Armagh county football team|Armagh]] at [[Croke Park]].<ref name="don news"/><ref name=former_wild_child/> Cassidy played in that semi-final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/armaghs-double-still-alive-25928845.html|title=Armagh's double still alive|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=1 September 2003}}</ref>

In 2004, Cassidy helped Donegal to reach the Ulster Senior Football Championship Final which they lost, again to Armagh.<ref name="don news"/><ref name=former_wild_child/> Their Championship season ended in defeat to Fermanagh.<ref name=former_wild_child/>

In 2006, he and [[Eamon McGee]] were suspended from the Donegal football panel over a breach of discipline.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/4926612.stm|title=Donegal pair dropped from panel|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=20 April 2006|access-date=20 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/4757483.stm|title=McGee makes Donegal squad return|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=10 May 2006|access-date=10 May 2006}}</ref> As a result of his suspension, Cassidy played no part in the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2006|2006 Championship]] and went to [[Boston]] in the United States for the Summer. Cassidy returned to the Donegal team the following year, this time in midfield alongside [[Neil Gallagher (Donegal Gaelic footballer)|Neil Gallagher]], and went on to play a pivotal role in helping Donegal win the county's first ever [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] title in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/6581961.stm|title=Donegal win National League title|access-date=31 March 2009|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=22 April 2007}}</ref> It was the first piece of silverware for the county senior team since 1992.

Cassidy was named Donegal [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]] for the 2008 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://breaking.tcm.ie/archives/2008/0107/sport/mheymhmhkfau/|title=Cassidy chosen as new Donegal captain|access-date=31 March 2009|work=Breakingnews.ie|date=7 January 2008|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718110912/http://breaking.tcm.ie/archives/2008/0107/sport/mheymhmhkfau/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He savagely criticised the treatment of [[Brian McIver]] as a "disgrace", when the County Board famously forced McIver to resign.<ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/captain-hits-out-at-disgraceful-treatment-of-mciver-26473996.html|title=Captain hits out at 'disgraceful' treatment of McIver|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=3 September 2008|access-date=3 September 2008}}</ref> He quelled a potential players revolt in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/cassidy-lifts-the-lid-on-averting-mass-revolt-26788641.html|title=Cassidy lifts the lid on averting mass revolt|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=4 November 2011|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref>

Cassidy made his 100th appearance for Donegal in [[Ballyshannon]] against [[Laois county football team|Laois]] in the [[2010 National Football League (Ireland)|2010 National Football League]]; in the ninth minute he began a move that led to a [[Conall Dunne]] goal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/murphy-shows-the-way-for-donegal-in-stroll-past-depleted-laois-26632650.html|title=Murphy shows the way for Donegal in stroll past depleted Laois|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=15 February 2010|accessdate=15 February 2010}}</ref>

Cassidy had announced his intention to retire after Donegal's Championship exit in 2010 but new Donegal manager [[Jim McGuinness]] called him into the [[2011 Dr McKenna Cup]] panel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/9300706.stm|title=Cassidy and Hegarty in McGuinness' Donegal panel|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=17 December 2010|access-date=17 December 2010}}</ref> Cassidy went on to help Donegal to their first provincial title in 19 years with the defeat of [[Derry county football team|Derry]] in the 2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2011/0728/cassidyk.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910152639/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2011/0728/cassidyk.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2012|title=Cassidy ready for Lilywhite battle|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=28 July 2011|access-date=28 July 2011}}</ref> In the All-Ireland quarter-final against [[Kildare county football team|Kildare]] in [[Croke Park]] on 30 July 2011, he scored a long-range winning point in stoppage time at the end of extra-time, a point that sent Donegal on to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with [[Dublin county football team|Dublin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2011/0730/donegal_kildare.html|title=Donegal 1–12 Kildare 0–14 (aet)|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=30 July 2011|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329212207/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2011/0730/282996-donegal_kildare/|archive-date=29 March 2015}}</ref> [[Brian McEniff]] described it as "one of the greatest ever".<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Forker|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2016/09/05/former-donegal-manager-pays-tribute-to-warrior-kevin-cassidy/|title=Former Donegal manager pays tribute to 'Warrior' Kevin Cassidy|date=5 September 2016|access-date=5 September 2016}}</ref> This thrilling end to an "extra-time epic" is to this day regarded as "the finish to a sporting contest normally only imagined inside the heads of Hollywood scriptwriters".<ref>{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bogue|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/gallagher-puts-donegals-lilies-epic-into-perspective-29025294.html|title=[Rory] Gallagher puts Donegal's Lilies epic into perspective|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=31 January 2013|access-date=31 January 2013}}</ref>

====Dispute with Jim McGuinness====
In November 2011, manager [[Jim McGuinness]] dropped Cassidy from the Donegal team after he contributed to a book (''[[This Is Our Year]]'').<ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/donegal-hero-cassidy-axed-for-breaking-code-of-silence-on-mcguinness-methods-26790306.html|title=Donegal hero Cassidy axed for breaking code of silence on McGuinness methods|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=9 November 2011|access-date=9 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2011/1108/cassidyk_donegal.html|title=Cassidy dropped from Donegal panel|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=8 November 2011|access-date=8 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109173032/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2011/1108/cassidyk_donegal.html|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/sometimes_it_s_better_when_you_say_nothing_at_all_1_3235502|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730231419/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/sometimes_it_s_better_when_you_say_nothing_at_all_1_3235502|archive-date=30 July 2012|title=Sometimes it's better when you say nothing at all|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=10 November 2011|access-date=10 November 2011}}</ref>

He appeared not to understand why this was so.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2011/1110/donegal_cassidyk.html|title=Cassidy makes statement on removal from panel|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=10 November 2011|access-date=10 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111080141/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2011/1110/donegal_cassidyk.html|archive-date=11 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cassidy-at-a-loss-to-explain-dismissal-1.1285684|title=Cassidy at a loss to explain dismissal|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=10 November 2011|access-date=10 November 2011}}</ref>

Cassidy would never play for Donegal again.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/donegal-to-shade-rematch-of-last-year-s-ulster-final-1-3946549|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111175011/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/donegal-to-shade-rematch-of-last-year-s-ulster-final-1-3946549|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 January 2013|title=Donegal to shade rematch of last year's Ulster final|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=13 June 2012|access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref>

In what went down as a "surreal moment for the viewer", Mícheál Ó Domhnaill famously interviewed McGuinness following a live 2012 league game on [[TG4]] while Cassidy, in the role of television analyst, stood beside him with his head bowed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/donegal-weighed-down-by-cassidy-row-28714686.html|title=Donegal weighed down by Cassidy row|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=14 February 2012|access-date=14 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Conor|last=Heneghan|url=https://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/video-were-pretty-sure-this-is-why-jim-mcguinness-snubbed-tg4-on-sunday-33331|title=Video: We're pretty sure this is why Jim McGuinness snubbed TG4 on Sunday|publisher=[[Joe (website)|JOE.ie]]}}</ref> Cassidy later said: {{quote|I am asked about that all the time. I walked away and never thought anything about it until people said it to me. I honestly didn't even feel awkward in that situation.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>}}

Cassidy later spent further time in the United States. He watched on from [[New York City|New York]] as across the [[Atlantic Ocean]] his former county teammates defeated [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]] in the All-Ireland quarter-final.<ref name=missing_the_medal/> He moved onwards to [[Boston]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Rory|last=O'Donnell|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/07/16/gaa-kevin-cassidy-joins-donegal-boston-gfc/|title=GAA: Kevin Cassidy joins Boston GFC|location=Boston|date=16 July 2012|access-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> where he was when his former teammates defeated [[Cork GAA|Cork]] in the semi-final.<ref name=missing_the_medal/> Cassidy would later recall that semi-final victory: {{quote|So I was listening to the radio and once they beat Cork I know they had it. [[Mayo county football team|Mayo]] [Donegal's final opponents] weren't going to stop them. So [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|the actual day of the final]] it didn't affect me because I knew at that stage the game was won.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>}}

Ahead of the All-Ireland final defeat of Mayo, Cassidy's Gaoth Dobhair and Donegal teammate [[Neil McGee]] told the [[BBC]] that he thought about Cassidy after every game.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/19642240|title=Donegal's Neil McGee talks of thoughts for exiled Kevin Cassidy|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=18 September 2012|access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref>

Cassidy described the team's homecoming, with Gaoth Dobhair's GAA pitch located just across from his house: {{quote|I was sitting eating [[Weetabix]] about half eleven at night. I could see Sarah [his wife] moving away, she was trying to pull the curtains as the cavalcade was taking the cup there. She was expecting me to be off. But if you are like that in general, then something in life is going to bring you down. If I was going around moping and crying that I didn't have an All-Ireland medal, then I wouldn't have done half the things I did after that.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>}}

He attended the Football Tour of New York in 2012, as the 2011 All Star winners were included.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2012/11/replacement-all-star-for-thompson/|title=Replacement All-Star for Thompson|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=13 November 2012|access-date=13 November 2012|archive-date=10 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810155919/http://donegalnews.com/2012/11/replacement-all-star-for-thompson/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Cassidy spent time in Chicago in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=195947|title=Cassidy U.S bound|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=5 July 2013|access-date=5 July 2013}}</ref>

In 2018, Cassidy sat down for an interview with the writer of the book ''This Is Our Year'', who told him that an acquaintance at social events often introduces him as "the man who cost Kevin Cassidy a Celtic Cross". Cassidy responded by referring to his Glasgow birth and his soccer heritage: {{quote|I really loved playing for Donegal and I was really proud to do it… [But] it wasn't a childhood dream to win Sam Maguire, if I am being honest… I was a soccer player and then the first thing that turned me was [my brother] Stephen playing for Gaoth Dobhair and they won a Ghaeltacht Championship. That was my first introduction to it and then I met [my wife] Sarah [Gallagher, whose father Willie played for Donegal]… obviously her history and family was steeped in it. I spent time listening in Teach Mhic to the older boys in the bar. My ambitions were always Gaoth Dobhair. The first time we won the Championship, I was thinking, It doesn't matter what I do now, we have done this.<ref name=missing_the_medal>{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bogue|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/missing-the-medal-best-decision-i-ever-made-says-kevin-cassidy-885980.html|title=Missing the medal: Best decision I ever made, says Kevin Cassidy|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121081530/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews//sport/gaa/missing-the-medal-best-decision-i-ever-made-says-kevin-cassidy-885980.html|archive-date=21 November 2018}}</ref>}} The writer of the book mentioned that he had suggested to Cassidy to tell McGuinness that "some of those discussions were [[Off the record (journalism)|off the record]], blame me and then you wouldn't lose your place" and asked Cassidy, "Why didn't you?" Cassidy said: {{quote|I just wouldn't do that. The way I see it, if I do something, I do it. There is no point saying you didn't mean it, or shy away from it.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>}}

Cassidy admitted he had never read ''[[This Is Our Year]]'', though he also did not read McGuinness's autobiography or former Donegal teammate [[Rory Kavanagh]]'s account of the All-Ireland win, citing a lack of interest rather than any animosity.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

===International rules===
Cassidy represented [[Ireland international rules football team|Ireland]] in the [[International Rules Series]].<ref name="don news"/>

==Media career==
Cassidy files a column for the weekly publication ''[[Gaelic Life]]''.<ref name=missing_the_medal/> He has worked as a co-commentator with both [[TG4]] and [[RTÉ Sport]].<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

He was the star of the first episode of ''[[Laochra Gael]]'''s 2021 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/315076|title=Laochra Gael returns featuring Kevin Cassidy on Thursday|work=Hogan Stand|date=6 January 2021|accessdate=6 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/kevin-cassidy-to-feature-as-part-of-new-laochra-gael-series/|title=Kevin Cassidy to feature as part of new Laochra Gael series|date=29 December 2020|accessdate=29 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/315090|title='One of the best Laochra Gaels so far'|work=Hogan Stand|date=8 January 2021|accessdate=8 January 2021}}</ref> Ahead of the broadcast, local politician [[Pearse Doherty]] wrote the following: "The night before we buried my father, Kevin Cassidy told me that he played football not for medals or trophies but for people like my father who enjoyed the game so much. Tonight he reveals in ''Laochra Gael'' that his 2011 Ulster medal, the only inter-county provincial title he'd win, went with my father to his grave".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/315086|title=Pearse Doherty shares incredible gesture made by Kevin Cassidy|work=Hogan Stand|date=7 January 2021|accessdate=7 January 2021}}</ref>

==Management career==
Cassidy managed Gaoth Dobhair for one year, 2014.<ref name=missing_the_medal/> He later described the experience as "a bloody nightmare".<ref name=dn_07012021/>

In November 2020, Cassidy returned as Gaoth Dobhair manager ahead of the 2021 season (succeeding Mervyn O'Donnell), jointly with Joe Duffy, and with [[Maxi Curran]] as team trainer.<ref name=dn_07012021>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Craig|title=Candid Cassidy Laochra Gael episode airs tonight on TG4|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=7 January 2021|pages=51–3|quote='Last year we probably took our eye off the ball. Before this, we had a coach in place in Michael Boyle… Then last year we opted to go without a coach, and listen, in the modern-day club game it's just a non-runner. So myself and Joe Duffy came in this year to try and give the club structure… Maxi [Curran] will operate as coach… I honestly thought I wouldn't do any more club management, I took my own club for a year and it was a bloody nightmare!'}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.highlandradio.com/2020/11/14/kevin-cassidy-and-joe-duffy-take-over-from-mervyn-odonnell-at-gaoth-dobhair/|title=Kevin Cassidy and Joe Duffy take over from Mervyn O'Donnell at Gaoth Dobhair|publisher=[[Highland Radio]]|date=14 November 2020|accessdate=14 November 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cassidy is married to Sarah, the daughter of former Donegal footballer [[Willie Gallagher (Gaelic footballer)|Willie Gallagher]], who won five [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]]s.<ref name=missing_the_medal/> They, and other members of Sarah's family, run [[Teach Mhicí]], a pub they inherited from her parents.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

A fluent ''[[Gaeilgeoir]]'', he lives in the [[Gaeltacht]] area of Donegal. Cassidy and his wife both teach as a profession.<ref name="cul">{{cite web|url=http://www.cul4kidz.com/culstarsfball_cassidy.htm|title=cul4kidz profile on Cassidy|access-date=21 March 2009|work=Cul4kidz website|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507093555/http://www.cul4kidz.com/culstarsfball_cassidy.htm|archive-date=7 May 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> They have three children: twin daughters Nia and Abigail and a younger son called fionn .<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

In 2011, Cassidy taught children with special needs at the Little Angels school in [[Letterkenny]].<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

Cassidy is a fan of the [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] soccer team, having been born and spent much of his childhood in [[Glasgow]], Scotland. He holds a [[season ticket]] for matches at [[Parkhead]].<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

While young, Cassidy's childhood Gaelic football heroes were [[Derry county football team|Derry]]'s [[Anthony Tohill]], [[Seán Óg de Paor]] of [[Galway county football team|Galway]] and Donegal's [[Anthony Molloy (Gaelic footballer)|Anthony Molloy]].<ref name="cul"/>

After being assaulted on 24 August 2008, Cassidy and his older brother became involved in a dispute with his attackers. A court case resulted, though the case took almost four years to come before the court. In July 2012, Cassidy was found guilty of [[affray]] and sentenced to community service, the judge noting that none of the men involved had appeared in court since that time and none had had any previous offences like it.<ref name=waited_outside>{{cite news|first=Greg|last=Harkin|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/gaa-star-waited-outside-nightclub-for-revenge-after-attack-court-told-26874921.html|title=GAA star waited outside nightclub for revenge after attack, court told|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=12 July 2012|access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/former-donegal-footballer-guilty-of-affray-1.533956|title=Former Donegal footballer guilty of affray|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=12 July 2012|access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/local/community-service-for-cassidy-over-nightclub-fight-1-4046751|title=Community service for Cassidy over nightclub fight|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=12 July 2012|access-date=12 July 2012|archive-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218034804/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/local/community-service-for-cassidy-over-nightclub-fight-1-4046751|url-status=dead}}</ref>

With an associate, Hugh McGinley, Cassidy operates Coláiste Chú Chulainn in Gaoth Dobhair. It is a summer residential [[Gaelscoil]] for children of [[primary school]] age. Cassidy and McGinley organise Irish language events in the evenings, including Céilí Mórs and water sports, as well as Gaelic football training, which Cassidy oversees.<ref name=missing_the_medal/>

==See also==
* [[List of All Stars Awards winners (football)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://archive.today/20130124085502/http://www.gaainfo.com/players/football/donegal/Kevin%20Cassidy.php Kevin Cassidy] at gaainfo.com

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sports}}}}
{{succession box
 | title  = [[List of Donegal senior Gaelic football team captains|Donegal Senior Captain]]
 | before = [[Neil Gallagher (Donegal footballer)|Neil Gallagher]]
 | after  = [[Rory Kavanagh]]
 | years  = 2008
}}
{{succession box
 | title  = [[List of Donegal senior Gaelic football team captains|Donegal Senior Captain]]
 | before = [[Rory Kavanagh]]
 | after  = [[Michael Murphy (Gaelic footballer)|Michael Murphy]]
 | years  = 2010
}}
{{s-end}}

{{CLG Ghaoth Dobhair squad}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Donegal squads
|bg=#FCF75E
|fg=green
|bordercolor=green
|list1=
{{Donegal Football Team 2007}}
{{Donegal Football Team 2011}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Gaoth Dobhair squads
|bg=#006844
|fg=white
|list1=
{{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2002}}
{{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2006}}
{{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2018}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=black
|fg=gold
|list1=
{{2002 All Stars}}
{{2011 All Stars}}
{{2019 Club Football Team of the Year}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassidy, Kevin}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Broadcasters from County Donegal]]
[[Category:Donegal Boston Gaelic footballers]]
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[[Category:Drinking establishment owners]]
[[Category:Gaelic footballers who switched code]]
[[Category:Gaelic football managers]]
[[Category:Gaelic games commentators]]
[[Category:Gaoth Dobhair Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Irish columnists]]
[[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Irish international rules football players]]
[[Category:Irish schoolteachers]]
[[Category:Scottish Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Writers from County Donegal]]