Many outside of Donegal may not be privy to the delicacy that is McDaid’s Football Special, but it is indeed special by name and special by nature. For decades, this soft drink has been cherished among those in the know, especially in its home county. Now, the charming, refreshing, and nostalgic taste of McDaid’s will be known throughout the land, thanks to a rollout across Lidl stores nationwide from September.

The brand is making the move after winning a coveted place on Lidl’s Kickstart Supplier Development Programme. Those eager to taste a piece of Donegal history will be able to grab a bottle from Lidl shelves at one of its 220 stores across the island from September 19th for a limited time.

A Taste of Tradition

The fizzy drink dates back to the 1940s when the McDaid family created the beloved beverage. The lore around it is as enticing as the delicious drink itself. The idea was to create a soda that would serve as a post-match treat for the players and fans of the local Ramelton, Donegal football club, Swilly Rovers. They needed a non-alcoholic option that felt refreshing and celebratory—something to fill up the tournament cups of their many successes. The Swilly Rovers were indeed very successful, and there were plenty of occasions to fill their cups with Football Special throughout the 50s and 60s. Originally called Football Cup the name was changed to Football Special, but the iconic flavour remains the same all these decades later.

A Winning Formula

Over the years, the McDaids ramped up production using lessons learned from years of working as bottlers for Guinness. The family bought an old creamery in Ramelton, which had its own spring water source. They set up their small drinks factory at this site, and it is still the company’s HQ to this day. This is where the family took the time to develop Football Special and other unique, non-traditional flavours like Banana and Pineapple. In the 80s and 90s, many countries had their own soft drink brands like McDaid’s. But as big global brands entered Ireland, many fell out of popularity and sadly out of the market. But that didn’t happen to McDaid’s. Thanks to the support of loyal fans, they persevered and evolved with the times without compromising on the nostalgia and tradition on which they were founded.

Generational Goals

The third generation of McDaids to oversee the operation was instrumental in keeping the brand moving with the times. A PET line was installed in Ramelton, allowing McDaid’s to put their products in plastic bottles. And more recently, the company has introduced an ice cream range that mirrors the line of drinks. Today, the business is in the capable hands of its fourth generation, Seamus McDaid.

While this national rollout is the latest leap forward for McDaid’s, the spirit of tradition and the fundamentals of production that were started over half a century ago by James McDaid Sr. still live on, and the family is steadfast that it will continue for many generations to come.