Brian McEniff

{{Short description|Irish Gaelic footballer and manager}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player | name = Brian McEniff | image = | alt = | caption = |  | irish = | sport = Gaelic football | clposition = Defender | icposition = Wing-back | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|12|01|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Bundoran]], [[County Donegal]], Ireland | death_date = | death_place = | feet = | inches = | nickname = | occupation = Hotelier<ref name=tsc_15072015/><ref name=inews_25112013/> |  | code = Football | clyears = 196?–197? 197?–19?? | clubs = [[St Joseph's GFC (Donegal)|St Joseph's]] [[CLG Réalt na Mara|Réalt na Mara]] | clapps(points) = |  | county = Donegal | clcounty = 8 | province = | clprovince = | clallireland = |  | colyears = | colleges = | colapps(points) = |  | fitz = | sig = |  | icyears = 19??–197? | counties = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] | icapps(points) = |  | icprovince = | icconnacht = | iculster = 2 | icleinster = | icmunster = | icallireland = | nfl = | nhl = | allstars = 1 |  | clupdate = | icupdate = | managing_years = | managing_club = | managing_winningclub = | managing_clallireland = | managing_clprovince = | managing_clcounty = | managing_iccounty = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] | managing_icyears = 1972–1975 1976–1977 1980–1986 1989–1994 2003–2005 | managing_winningcounties = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] | managing_icprovince = 5 | managing_icallireland = 5 | managing_league = 1 }} '''Brian McEniff''' (born 1 December 1942) is a former [[Gaelic football]] player, manager and administrator.

McEniff played as a [[Gaelic football, hurling and camogie positions|wing-back]] for the [[St Joseph's GFC (Donegal)|St Joseph's]] combination of clubs from [[Bundoran]] and [[Ballyshannon]]. He won seven [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]] titles with that combination of clubs and another one with [[CLG Réalt na Mara|Réalt na Mara]], when St Joseph's divided. He won two [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]] titles with the [[Donegal county football team|Donegal county team]] as player-manager in 1972 and 1974 and was awarded an [[List of All Stars Awards winners (football)|All Star]] after the first of these. He returned to manage the county to a third Ulster SFC title in 1983, then left again. He returned once more in 1989, leading the county to its fourth and fifth Ulster SFC titles in 1990 and 1992, as well as the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] in the last of these. After becoming chairman of the county board, McEniff was unable to find a manager so did the job himself for a final time, reaching the [[2003 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2003 All-Ireland SFC]] semi-final in his last term as senior manager of the county team.

McEniff managed his county during four successive decades, earning a reputation as the [[Dean (education)|dean]] of Donegal football.<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|quote=Brian McEniff, the dean of the Donegal game who yesterday returned to take charge of his county for the fourth successive decade, could but watch as Galway raced away in the first five minutes.}}</ref> In July 1992, ''[[Hogan Stand]]'' described McEniff as "one of the most successful football [[guru]]s in modern-day GAA history" and he has been likened to a footballing [[Capo di tutti capi|Godfather]]-type figure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=63005|title=Reid, Donal|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=31 July 1992|quote=Brian McEniff, soon to be installed as one of the most successful football gurus in modern-day GAA history.}}</ref><ref name=bt_22012014/> Until [[2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2011]], he was directly involved in each of his county's Ulster SFC and All-Ireland SFC title wins. That year, [[Jim McGuinness]] (whom McEniff had recommended for the under-21 managerial role the previous year) won the first of the post-McEniff Ulster SFC titles. [[Declan Bonner]], who won his first Ulster SFC title as manager in [[2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2018]], also regards McEniff as a mentor. Both McGuinness and Bonner played under McEniff when McEniff was Donegal manager.

McEniff managed the [[Ulster GAA|Ulster provincial football team]] for many decades. He coached [[Ireland international rules football team|Ireland]] to victory over [[Australia international rules football team|Australia]] in the [[2001 International Rules Series]], held at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] and [[Football Park]] in [[Adelaide]] in October that year.

==Early life== McEniff was born on 1 December 1942.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1362648/donegal-gaa-legends-reunite-to-celebrate-brian-mceniff-s-81st-birthday.html|title=Donegal GAA legends reunite to celebrate Brian McEniff's 81st birthday: Donegal's first All-Ireland winning manager Brian McEniff was joined by those who made that 1992 success possible — and plenty more besides — for his birthday in Letterkenny on Friday night|date=2 December 2023|access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref> He was born in [[Bundoran]], [[County Donegal]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

His parents were {{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=Not named in source. "Newbliss" not mentioned, only Monaghan.|text=Mr. John McEniff from [[Newbliss]],|pre-text=|post-text=}} [[County Monaghan]], and {{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=Not named as "Elizabeth" in source.|text=Elizabeth|pre-text=|post-text=}} Begley from [[Carrickmore]], [[County Tyrone]].<ref name=si_26052013/> They were married in Bundoran in 1935.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} McEniff has three brothers: P. J. McEniff (retired dentist), [[Sean McEniff]] (Donegal County Councillor) and Liam McEniff (doctor), and one sister, Mary McGlynn (retired hotel accountant).{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

He spent much of his childhood in Carrickmore, where his mother's family had a [[farmhouse]].<ref name=si_26052013/>

He attended a [[boarding school]] in [[County Monaghan]].<ref name=inews_25112013>{{cite news|first=Paddy|last=Heaney|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/2013/11/25/news/the-life-of-brian-76666/|title=The life of Brian|work=[[The Irish News]]|date=25 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802030131/https://www.irishnews.com/sport/2013/11/25/news/the-life-of-brian-76666/|archive-date=2 August 2020|quote='All of the boys — except myself, I went to a boarding school in Monaghan — were from De La Salle'… The hotelier cites his own club…}}</ref>

From the age of 17, McEniff spent three years studying hotel management at Cathal Burgha Street College in Dublin.<ref name=dsh_17012018/>

McEniff left Ireland for Canada in 1962 to gain hotel work experience.<ref name=dsh_17012018/> It was in 1966 that he came back to Ireland.<ref name=dsh_17012018/>

==Playing career== McEniff supported Tyrone against [[Louth county football team|Louth]] in the [[1957 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] semi-final, his first visit to [[Croke Park]].<ref name=si_26052013/>

After returning from Canada in the mid-1960s, McEniff took up an interest in playing the sport.<ref name=dsh_15092017/>

His position was in defence as a [[Gaelic football, hurling and camogie positions|wing-back]].<ref name=tsc_15072015>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/sport/mickey-kearins-had-magic-in-his-boots-31373404.html|title=Mickey Kearins had magic in his boots|work=[[The Sligo Champion]]|date=15 July 2015|access-date=15 July 2015|quote=But when asked who was the greatest defender he played against, he unhesitatingly plumps for hotelier Brian McEniff who was a mentor to the Yeats County in 1975. 'He would not foul you but he could get his hand or foot in and could knock the ball away from you as we was also very fit'.}}</ref><ref name=dsh_15092017/>

McEniff won numerous titles with the famous [[St Joseph's GFC (Donegal)|St Joseph's]] combination of Bundoran and Ballyshannon, both in Donegal and Ulster. He won [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]] titles with St Joseph's in 1965, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.<ref name=dsh_15092017/> He won his last Donegal SFC title with [[CLG Réalt na Mara|Réalt na Mara]] in 1979,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> which included the late Brendan McHugh and Seamus Reilly, both county representatives for Sligo, Mayo and Donegal.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} He [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]]ed St Joseph's to the 1968 [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship]] final.<ref name=inews_25112013/>

He continued working to promote his club long into retirement.<ref name=dsh_01102018>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/brian-mceniff-still-important-jobs-bundoran-gaa-club/|title=Brian McEniff still doing important jobs at Bundoran GAA Club|date=1 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731213938/https://www.donegalsporthub.com/brian-mceniff-still-important-jobs-bundoran-gaa-club/|archive-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> He managed them as recently as 2013.<ref name=inews_25112013/><ref name=bt_22012014>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/declan-bogue/kerry-gaa-godfather-mick-odwyer-wont-disappear-in-retirement-29938771.html|title=Kerry GAA godfather Mick O'Dwyer won't disappear in retirement|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=22 January 2014|access-date=22 January 2014|quote=We expect to see him cropping up in some county as the Championship approaches, much like Brian McEniff suddenly appeared in Peter Fitzpatrick's Louth backroom team in 2010 when they were robbed of the Leinster Championship. Old Godfathers never really retire you see, they just become advisers. The lure of the game was too much for McEniff last year, who stepped in to become manager of his club Bundoran when they were faced with a crisis, digging out an old pair of trainers that he thought he might never wear again.}}</ref>

McEniff was player-manager of the first [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] team to win an [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]] title in 1972.<ref name=dsh_01102018/><ref name=bt_09052020/><ref name=heroes_of_83/> He received an [[List of All Stars Awards winners (football)|All Star]] award in 1972.<ref name=bt_09052020/><ref name=dsh_01102018/>

He was also player–manager of the 1974 Ulster SFC winning team.<ref name=bt_09052020/><ref name=heroes_of_83/> He was wing-back in the final as Donegal defeated [[Down county football team|Down]].<ref name=dsh_15092017/>

==Management career== In 1975, the Donegal County Board ousted McEniff as manager.<ref name=bt_09052020/><ref>{{cite news|first=Paddy|last=Heaney|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2013/08/27/news/will-jim-be-back--68604/|title=Will Jim be back?|work=[[The Irish News]]|date=27 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731232943/https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2013/08/27/news/will-jim-be-back--68604/|archive-date=31 July 2020|quote=So why was McEniff with Sligo in '75? the answer is simple. the Donegal County Board ousted him.}}</ref>

In 1975, he assisted as a mentor the [[Sligo county football team|Sligo county team]] that won that county's second [[Connacht Senior Football Championship]] title.<ref name=tsc_15072015/><ref name=bt_09052020/> Upon being made aware that he would be taking charge of Sligo's training sessions, [[Barnes Murphy]], the team captain, talked to McEniff.<ref name=it_04082007/> Murphy brought McEniff to [[Croke Park]] for the [[1975 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] semi-final against [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]] ("although some of our friends in Sligo weren't too happy about that", Murphy told ''[[The Irish Times]]'' in 2007).<ref name=it_04082007/> McEniff, according to Murphy, could not provide advice to the team at half-time: "And I can tell you why, because they [Murphy had also brought along [[John Dunne (Gaelic footballer)|John "Tull" Dunne]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> were snubbed. They wanted to make a few changes, and I was wondering where these men where, to give us some advice".<ref name=it_04082007/> Sligo were routed by The Kingdom, 3–13 to 0–5.<ref name=it_04082007>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/former-sligo-captain-sets-the-record-straight-1.952732|title=Former Sligo captain sets the record straight|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=4 August 2007|access-date=4 August 2007}}</ref> {{quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="Brian was a colossus in Donegal football because he was forward thinking. He would have united the clubs in Donegal, who at that point would have been killing one another, even at county level players wouldn't pass. There was no rapport or bonding or anything like that, but Brian worked on that. He got the players together, he really was very skilled at man management, he brought the group together".|source=– [[Paul McGettigan]] on McEniff's managerial philosophy<ref name=gaa_19072017/>}} He later returned as Donegal manager, for the first time as a non-playing member of the team.<ref name=bt_09052020/> He was manager in 1977.<ref name=gaa_19072017>{{cite news|first=Cian|last=O'Connell|url=https://www.gaa.ie/features/feature/paul-mcgettigan-served-donegal-and-galway/|title=Paul McGettigan served Donegal and Galway|date=19 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008040123/https://www.gaa.ie/features/feature/paul-mcgettigan-served-donegal-and-galway|archive-date=8 October 2017|quote='Brian McEniff then asked me to come back towards the end of 1982, the beginning of 1983 with Donegal. He was also open to new ideas, he was involved in the '72 Donegal team which incidentally was the first Donegal team to win an Ulster. He was player-manager in 1974 in my first year and he was manager the year I was shafted, but had nothing to do with Brian McEniff'… 'I went to Galway, a very, very good Donegal team was broken up'. Donegal didn't truly recover until the early 1980s again according to McGettigan. 'They didn't recover until Brian went back in 1983 as manager again'.}}</ref> He was manager again by late 1982.<ref name=gaa_19072017/> He led Donegal to a third Ulster SFC title in 1983.<ref name=heroes_of_83>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/donegal-heroes-of-1983-1-1985399|title=Donegal heroes of 1983|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=15 July 2008|access-date=15 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218181207/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/donegal-heroes-of-1983-1-1985399|archive-date=18 December 2015|quote=The 24th of July 1983 was one of the better days for Donegal football. Their third Ulster final victory with Seamus Bonnar making history picking up his third medal. Later in the year Martin McHugh would become the county's third All-Star while Brian McEniff was manager for the third time also… There was also a good deal of experience with the aforementioned Seamus Bonnar involved in the 1972 and '74 wins…}}</ref> They narrowly lost to [[Galway county football team|Galway]] in the [[1983 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] semi-final.<ref name=dsh_15092017/>

He left again.

He began to manage the Ulster provincial football team, with which he won 12 [[Interprovincial Championship|Railway Cup]] finals.<ref name=bt_09052020/><ref name=dsh_01102018/> He managed Ulster for 23 years, until 2008.<ref name=bt_25082011/> {{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=The numbers don't add up.|text=He managed them from 1983 to 2007.|pre-text=|post-text=}} {{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=The numbers don't add up.|text=McEniff stood down from his position as Ulster manager in 2007, 25 years after taking the job in 1982.|pre-text=|post-text=}} He woon 14 titles.<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Campbell|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/mceniff-is-still-the-best-for-ulster-28067290.html|title=McEniff is still the best for Ulster|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=30 October 2007|access-date=4 August 2009}}</ref>

He helped Tyrone club Carrickmore, where his mother was from, when they were struggling against relegation in 1983 and 1986.<ref name=si_26052013>{{cite news|first=Dermot|last=Crowe|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/history-on-both-sides-of-divide-29297306.html|title=History on both sides of divide|work=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]]|date=26 May 2013|access-date=26 May 2013|quote=McEniff was chairman of the appointments committee that brought McGuinness in as under-21 manager after he had been overlooked initially for the senior post.}}</ref>

McEniff returned as Donegal manager in 1989, succeeding [[Tom Conaghan]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bonner|author-link=Declan Bonner|title=You need that glimmer of hope|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=23 April 2020|page=55}}</ref><ref name=1990_winners/> He led the county to another Ulster SFC title in 1990, restoring such as [[Declan Bonner]], [[Manus Boyle (Gaelic footballer)|Manus Boyle]], [[Matt Gallagher (Gaelic footballer)|Matt Gallagher]], [[Barry McGowan]] and [[Sylvester Maguire]], players that Conaghan had thrown by the wayside.<ref name=1990_winners>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/donegals-1990-ulster-winners-will-be-honoured-tomorrow-heres-their-story/|title=Donegal's 1990 Ulster winners will be honoured tomorrow — here is their story|date=18 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720010408/https://www.donegalsporthub.com/donegals-1990-ulster-winners-will-be-honoured-tomorrow-heres-their-story/|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> McEniff's success in [[Gaelic games]] culminated when he led his native Donegal team to glory over [[Dublin county football team|Dublin]] at [[Croke Park]] in the [[1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final]].<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Campbell|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/allireland-brian-mceniff-helps-donegal-to-shine-16041825.html|title=All-Ireland: Brian McEniff helps Donegal to shine|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=27 August 2011|access-date=27 August 2011}}</ref><ref name=heroes_of_92>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalsport/The-heroes-of--3992.4856965.jp|title=The heroes of '92 — Where are they now?|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=8 January 2009|access-date=8 January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218180946/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/the-heroes-of-92-where-are-they-now-1-1989654|archive-date=18 December 2015}}</ref> It was shortly before this match that McEniff was informed that the brother of one of his players [[Joyce McMullin]], had died from cancer.<ref name=heroes_of_92/> He chose not to inform McMullin or anyone else on the team until after the match.<ref name=heroes_of_92/> McEniff later described it as follows: "Everything had gone so smoothly but when I heard that I was knocked for six. Luckily, the lads were outside watching a bit of the minor match. I stamped up and down before deciding that Gerard would have wanted Joyce to play. When the team came back, they could see something was wrong with me, but I managed to hold it together".<ref name=heroes_of_92/> It later emerged that there had been a miscommunication and that McMullin's brother had not died.<ref name=heroes_of_92/> He did so a year later.<ref name=heroes_of_92/>

McEniff resigned on 26 June 1994 and was succeeded by [[P. J. McGowan]] the following month.<ref>{{cite news|first=Conor|last=Sharkey|title=The way we were: 25 years ago – July 20, 1994: McGowan new Donegal manager|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=19 July 2019|quote=Forty-two-year-old PJ McGowan from Ballybofey has been appointed manager… He succeeds Brian McEniff who resigned from the post on June 26 and will be in charge of the team for three years.}}</ref>

McEniff managed [[Ireland international rules football team|Ireland]] for the [[International Rules Series]] of [[2000 International Rules Series|2000]] and [[2001 International Rules Series|2001]].<ref name=bt_09052020/> Ireland won 2001's first test, held at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] on 12 October, by a scoreline of 59–53 and the second test, held at [[Football Park]] in [[Adelaide]] on 19 October, by a scoreline of 71–52.<ref name=footystats_aust-irl_2001>{{cite web|url=http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/Aust-Ireland.html|title=Australia v Ireland 2001|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072553/http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/Aust-Ireland.html#2001|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> McEniff departed as Ireland manager in 2001.<ref name=rte_ireland_19102001>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2001/1019/159464-rules/|title=Ireland take series with emphatic win|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=19 October 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610231019/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2001/1019/159464-rules/|archive-date=10 June 2015|quote=Brian McEniff ended his tenure as Ireland manager with a comprehensive 71–52 victory over Australia to take the International Rules series at Adelaide's Football Park this afternoon.}}</ref> {{quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="Brian never let any negative vibes creep under your door. When we won, it was what we expected. The word 'defeat' was never mentioned in our group".|source=– [[Declan Bonner]] on McEniff's managerial philosophy<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-yearning-repeat-long-term-rewards-golden-age/|title=Declan Bonner yearning for repeat of the long-term rewards from the golden age|date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725141714/https://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-yearning-repeat-long-term-rewards-golden-age/|archive-date=25 July 2018}}</ref>}}

He soon returned for a last outing as Donegal manager. He was chairman of the Donegal County Board in late 2002, but could not find a manager, so he did it himself.<ref name=bt_09052020/> McGowan, [[Michael Oliver McIntyre]] and Anthony Harkin were part of his backroom team.<ref name=ii_05112003>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/royals-seal-of-approval-puts-pressure-on-boylan-25920872.html|title=Royals' seal of approval puts pressure on Boylan|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=5 November 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307092513/https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/royals-seal-of-approval-puts-pressure-on-boylan-25920872.html|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> In 2003, he led Donegal to the All-Ireland SFC semi-final.<ref name=dsh_15092017/> This was the last occasion on which they would achieve this feat until the time of the legendary [[Jim McGuinness]]. McEniff left Donegal inter-county management in 2005 after a fifth and final tenure in charge ended with a drab qualifier defeat to Cavan at [[Breffni Park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/two-final-meetings-that-shaped-strands-of-history-1-4417863|title=Two final meetings that shaped strands of history|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=29 October 2012|access-date=29 October 2012|archive-date=29 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329211252/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/soccer/two-final-meetings-that-shaped-strands-of-history-1-4417863|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2005/0705/194115-donegal/|title=McEniff resigns as Donegal manager|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=5 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610231412/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2005/0705/194115-donegal/|archive-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> During his final time as manager, McEniff called such players as [[Neil Gallagher (Donegal footballer)|Neil Gallagher]], [[Rory Kavanagh]], [[Karl Lacey]] and [[Eamon McGee]] into the senior county team for the first time, in late 2003.<ref name=ii_05112003/>

McEniff was mentor to [[Nell McCafferty]] on the ''[[Celebrity Bainisteoir]]'' television programme in 2007.

In 2010 and 2011, McEniff assisted [[Louth county football team|Louth]] manager [[Peter Fitzpatrick]] in an advisory capacity, during which time Louth reached the [[2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship final]].<ref name=bt_22012014/><ref name=bt_09052020/><ref name=hr_04112011/><ref name=hs_04112011/> In November that year, it was widely reported that he would become one of Fitzpatrick's [[Selector (sport)|selector]]s for the following season, with both [[Highland Radio]] and ''[[Hogan Stand]]'' claiming he would replace the departing [[Martin McQuillan]].<ref name=hr_04112011>{{cite news|url=https://www.highlandradio.com/2011/11/04/brian-mceniff-takes-up-role-as-louth-selector/|title=Brian McEniff takes up role as Louth selector|publisher=[[Highland Radio]]|date=4 November 2011|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=hs_04112011>{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/157473|title=McEniff takes up Louth selector role|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=4 November 2011|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Paddy|last=Hickey|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20172787.html|title=Massive lift for Louth as McEniff strengthens links|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|date=4 November 2011|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref> McEniff later denied this, though Louth County Board chairman Padraic O'Connor said McEniff would be a "great capture" and would not be paid.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/the-argus/20111123/284850822551167|title=McEniff not full time selector|work=[[The Argus (Dundalk)|The Argus]]|date=23 November 2011|access-date=23 November 2011}}</ref>

McEniff managed his local club in the [[2013 Donegal Senior Football Championship]], taking over from Joe Keeney after his resignation and filling the position in his 71st year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2013/05/mceniff-to-manage-bundoran-seniors-in-championship/|title=McEniff to manage Bundoran seniors in Championship|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=31 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031144204/https://donegalnews.com/2013/05/mceniff-to-manage-bundoran-seniors-in-championship/|archive-date=31 October 2017}}</ref>

McEniff guided both [[Jim McGuinness]] and [[Declan Bonner]], his most noteworthy successors as Donegal manager, into management.<ref name=si_26052013/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2014/10/01/i-believe-jim-mcguinness-will-stay-with-donegal-mceniff/|title='I believe Jim McGuinness will stay with Donegal' — McEniff|date=1 October 2014|access-date=1 October 2014|quote=The man who guided Jim McGuinness into county management…}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/unfinished-business-could-sway-donegal-decision-for-mcguinness-30631305.html|title='Unfinished business' could sway Donegal decision for McGuinness|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=1 October 2014|access-date=1 October 2014|quote=McEniff… has known McGuinness since he was a teenager… 'I took him in as a 19-year-old, and when the then-county chairman asked me to appoint an U-21 manager, I appointed Jim. So I have a great interest in Jim… There is a suggestion that I made, but Jim is not keen on, that some of the senior players… should take the first part of the year off and come the spring, they will have the appetite… Jim's not like that, but I recommended that to him'.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-itll-nothing-donegals-half-mad-new-manager/|title=Declan Bonner: It'll be 'all or nothing' for Donegal's 'half mad' new manager|date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209034746/https://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-itll-nothing-donegals-half-mad-new-manager/|archive-date=9 December 2017|quote=On the day of his 32nd birthday, on August 11, 1997, a flu-ridden Declan Bonner sat nervously in Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey… McEniff… remains a close mentor of the Lettermacaward man.}}</ref>

===Management style=== Personal connections formed a critical part of McEniff's management style, so much so that when [[Declan Bonner]] brought his wife to [[Austria]] on their honeymoon McEniff maintained regular contact.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-itll-nothing-donegals-half-mad-new-manager/|title=Declan Bonner: It'll be 'all or nothing' for Donegal's 'half mad' new manager|date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209034746/https://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-itll-nothing-donegals-half-mad-new-manager/|archive-date=9 December 2017|quote=McEniff… remains a close mentor of the Lettermacaward man… The personal touch was always important to McEniff… 'In the days long before mobiles Brian was always on the phone. He was always ringing the house to make sure this was done or that was done.}}</ref>

==Other ventures== Involved in [[Gaelic games]] administration in County Donegal, McEniff also spent time as Donegal's [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] Central Council delegate.<ref name=bt_25082011/> He served on national Gaelic games committees.<ref name=bt_25082011/> He has also been a referee.<ref>{{cite web|first=Paddy|last=Tunney|url=http://www.sainteunans.com/maclarnon1979.htm|title=Mc Larnon Cup 1978–79|date=24 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024213848/http://www.sainteunans.com/maclarnon1979.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2006|quote=On the first Saturday in December we travelled to Fr Tierney Park to take on De La Salle, Ballyshannon. It had snowed and in very treacherous conditions we recorded our third win with 0–3 to 0–2 score line. Brian McEniff was the referee that day.}}</ref> He is Managing Director of the McEniff Hotel Group, which has a presence in such locations as Bundoran, [[Drumcondra, Dublin|Drumcondra]], [[Sligo]], [[Rosses Point]] and [[Westport, County Mayo]].<ref name=ogibney_04012007/> Its portfolio includes the Holyrood Hotel (originally bought by his father John in 1951) and the Great Northern Hotel & Golf links (bought from [[CIÉ]] in 1977 by Brian and Sean McEniff and Brian's brother-in-law Michael Burke for £125,000).{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} In 1969, McEniff bought the Hamilton Hotel, which was next door to the Holyrood Hotel.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

On 7 June 1979, McEniff [[1979 Irish local elections|was elected]] onto [[Donegal County Council]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionsireland.com/election.php?elecid=169&constitid=132 |title=Donegal County Council (Donegal): 1979 Local Election |website=electionsireland.com}}</ref> {{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=The source does not mention his brother. An additional source is required to confirm this.|text={{linktext|in lieu}} of his older brother [[Sean McEniff]].|pre-text=|post-text=}} Even though his father was a strong [[Fine Gael]] supporter, his mother was a supporter of [[Fianna Fáil]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

He was appointed to the board of [[Ireland West Airport]] in 2002.<ref name=ogibney_04012007>{{cite news|first=Orla|last=Gibney|url=http://www.castlebar.ie/Business/IWAK_Appointments.shtml|title=New Appointments to Board of Ireland West Airport Knock|date=4 January 2007|access-date=4 January 2007}}</ref>

As of 2022, McEniff remained chairman of the [[CLG Réalt na Mara]] club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://donegalgaa.ie/brian-mceniff-honoured-by-the-gaelic-writers-association/|title=Brian McEniff honoured by the Gaelic Writers' Association|quote=Now well beyond the age most GAA stalwarts retire he still serves as Chairman of Realt na Mara and can be found almost every Saturday outside SuperValu, Bundoran selling Bunotto.}}</ref>

==Personal life== McEniff is married to Catherine "Cautie" O'Leary, a native of Cork whom he met in Canada and married her there.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-yearning-repeat-long-term-rewards-golden-age/|title=Declan Bonner yearning for repeat of the long-term rewards from the golden age|date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725141714/https://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-yearning-repeat-long-term-rewards-golden-age/|archive-date=25 July 2018|quote=As McEniff left his Bundoran home before the All-Ireland final of '92 his wife, Cautie, wondered how her husband would react if Donegal lost. 'Don't be stupid, woman', McEniff barked.}}</ref><ref name=dsh_17012018/>

===Health=== In later life McEniff developed a bad back. During his appearance on ''[[Up for the Match]]'' ahead of the [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final]], McEniff was visibly stiff, awkward and in some pain. One day after undergoing surgery on his back, he attended the 2012 All Stars Awards in Dublin—at which All-Ireland SFC champions Donegal received eight places out of a possible fifteen on the All Stars Team of the Year and [[Karl Lacey]] was named [[All Stars Footballer of the Year]]—saying "I wouldn't miss this for the world."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/an-all-star-night-to-remember-for-donegal-1-4418404|title=An All-Star night to remember for Donegal|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=27 October 2012|access-date=27 October 2012|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103052824/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/an-all-star-night-to-remember-for-donegal-1-4418404|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A [[pianist]], he had a heart attack in late 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/07/26/brian-mceniff-i-have-a-huge-gra-for-the-county-i-love-donegal-thats-just-it/|title=Brian McEniff: 'I have a huge grá for the county. I love Donegal, that's just it': An audience with the All-Ireland winning manager, hotelier, family man, talented pianist, and godfather of Donegal football |date=26 July 2025|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=26 July 2025|first=Gordon|last=Manning}}</ref>

==Honours== {{Wikiquote}} ;Player * [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]]: 1972,<ref name=dsh_01102018/> 1974<ref name=bt_09052020/><ref name=dsh_15092017/> * [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]]: 1965,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> 1968,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> 1970,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> 1973,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> 1974,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> 1975,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> 1976,<ref name=dsh_15092017/> 1979<ref name=dsh_15092017/>

;Manager * [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]: 1992<ref name=heroes_of_92/> * [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]]: 1972,<ref name=heroes_of_83/> 1974,<ref name=heroes_of_83/> 1983,<ref name=heroes_of_83/> 1990,<ref name=1990_winners/> 1992<ref name=dsh_01102018/> * [[Railway Cup]]: 1983,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 1984,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 1989,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 1991,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 1992,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 1993,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 1994,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 1998,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 2000,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 2003,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 2004,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} 2007{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} * [[International Rules Series]]: [[2001 International Rules Series|2001]]<ref name=footystats_aust-irl_2001/><ref name=rte_ireland_19102001/>

;Individual * [[List of All Stars Awards winners (football)|All Star]]: 1972<ref name=dsh_01102018/><ref name=bt_09052020/> * In August 2011, McEniff was inducted into the MBNA Kick Fada Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Croke Park.<ref name=bt_25082011>{{cite news|first=John|last=Campbell|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/boost-for-donegal-as-mceniff-is-inducted-into-hall-of-fame-28650371.html|title=Boost for Donegal as McEniff is inducted into Hall Of Fame|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=25 August 2011|access-date=25 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Maguire|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/08/25/brian-mceniff-joins-gaa-hall-of-fame/|title=Brian McEniff joins GAA Hall of Fame|date=25 August 2011|access-date=25 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/153892|title=Brian McEniff recognised by Hall of Fame Award|work=Hogan Stand|date=24 August 2011|access-date=24 August 2011}}</ref> * 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> * In 2017, the [[Gaelic Players Association]] (GPA) chose McEniff and [[Kilkenny county hurling team|Kilkenny]] hurler [[Eddie Keher]] as its recipients of lifetime achievement awards.<ref name=dsh_15092017>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/lifetime-achievement-award-brian-mceniff-donegals-eternal-flame/|title=Lifetime Achievement award for Brian McEniff|date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127180116/http://www.donegalsporthub.com/lifetime-achievement-award-brian-mceniff-donegals-eternal-flame/|archive-date=27 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2017/08/lifetime-achievement-award-brian-mceniff/|title=Lifetime achievement award for Brian McEniff|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025065609/https://donegalnews.com/2017/08/lifetime-achievement-award-brian-mceniff/|archive-date=25 October 2017}}</ref> * In January 2018, McEniff was inducted into the Donegal Sports Star Awards' Hall of Fame, with Donegal Sports Star Awards chairman Neil Martin quoted as saying: "As a committee we were unanimous when the name of Brian McEniff was proposed for 2017 Hall of Fame".<ref name=dsh_17012018>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/brian-mceniff-enter-donegal-sports-star-awards-hall-fame/|title=Brian McEniff to enter Donegal Sports Star Awards Hall of Fame|date=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801034303/https://www.donegalsporthub.com/brian-mceniff-enter-donegal-sports-star-awards-hall-fame/|archive-date=1 August 2020}}</ref> * On 19 April 2018, McEniff was presented with an All-Ireland Lifetime Achievement Award at the All-Ireland Business Summit.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rachel|last=McLaughlin|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2018/04/23/entrepreneurs-bring-business-all-stars-home-to-the-hills/|title=Entrepreneurs bring Business All-Stars home to the hills|date=23 April 2018|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> * In February 2019, McEniff was honoured with a gala dinner at the [[Errigal|Mount Errigal Hotel]], attended by GAA president [[John Horan (sports administrator)|John Horan]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/364570/donegal-gaa-great-brian-mceniff-honoured-in-some-style-at-gala-dinner-in-mount-errigal.html|title=Donegal GAA Great Brian McEniff honoured in some style at Gala Dinner in Mount Errigal|date=16 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref> * In May 2020, the ''[[Belfast Telegraph]]'' named him as one of the "inspirational quartet" who would feature on [[Ulster GAA]]'s [[Mount Rushmore]].<ref name=bt_09052020>{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bogue|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/my-inspirational-quartet-that-make-up-ulster-gaas-mount-rushmore-39191902.html|title=My inspirational quartet that make up Ulster GAA's Mount Rushmore|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=9 May 2020|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> * GAA Writers' Hall of Fame Award, received in May 2022, alongside [[Len Gaynor]], who received the equivalent in [[hurling]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/816440/mac-s-view-sad-week-in-donegal-with-death-of-goalkeeping-legend-seamus-hoare.html|title=Mac's view: Sad week in Donegal with death of goalkeeping legend Seamus Hoare|date=19 May 2022|accessdate=19 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gaa.ie/news/personalities-honoured-at-gaelic-writers-association-awards/|title=Personalities honoured at Gaelic Writers' Association Awards|date=14 May 2022|access-date=14 May 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach|achievements}} {{succession box | title = [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|All-Ireland SFC]]-winning manager | years = [[1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final|1992]] | before = [[Pete McGrath]] | after = [[Eamonn Coleman]] }} {{s-end}}

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sports}}}} {{succession box | title = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal Senior Football Manager]] | years = 1972–1975 | before = ? | after = [[John Hannigan]] }} {{succession box | title = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal Senior Football Manager]] | years = 1976–1977 | before = [[John Hannigan]] | after = Sean O'Donnell }} {{succession box | title = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal Senior Football Manager]] | years = 1980–1986 | before = Sean O'Donnell | after = [[Tom Conaghan]] }} {{succession box | title = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal Senior Football Manager]] | years = 1989–1994 | before = [[Tom Conaghan]] | after = [[P. J. McGowan]] }} {{succession box | title = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal Senior Football Manager]] | years = 2003–2005 | before = [[Mickey Moran]] | after = [[Brian McIver]] }} {{succession box | title = [[Ulster GAA|Ulster Senior Football Manager]] | years = 1983–2007 | before = ? | after = [[Joe Kernan (Gaelic footballer)|Joe Kernan]] }} {{s-end}}

{{Donegal county football team managers}} {{Donegal Football Team 1992}} {{Ireland international rules football team coaches}} {{Navboxes |title=Ireland squads |bg=green |fg=white |list1= {{2001 Ireland international rules football team}} }} {{1972 All Stars}} {{Philips Sports Manager of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McEniff, Brian}} [[Category:1942 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Donegal County Board administrators]] [[Category:Donegal inter-county Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Gaelic football backs]] [[Category:Gaelic football managers]] [[Category:Gaelic football player–managers]] [[Category:Gaelic football referees]] [[Category:Gaelic football selectors]] [[Category:Gaelic games club administrators]] [[Category:Ireland international rules football team coaches]] [[Category:Irish expatriates in Canada]] [[Category:Irish hoteliers]] [[Category:Irish sportsperson-politicians]] [[Category:Members of Donegal County Council]] [[Category:McEniff family|Brian]] [[Category:People from Bundoran]] [[Category:Réalt na Mara Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:St Joseph's (Donegal) Gaelic footballers]]