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CLARE hurler Diarmuid Ryan has been awarded an MIC GPA Sports Scholarship for the coming academic year, in recognition of his sporting achievements.  Now in its second year, the MIC GPA Scholarship scheme is a collaboration between Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), and is open to GPA members who have applied for and are successful in securing a place on MIC’s postgraduate programmes in education and the liberal arts. Two scholarships are offered on an annual basis. Limerick camogie player Caoimhe Costelloe has also been awarded a scholarship. Diarmuid Ryan is a first year Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) student at MIC. The Cratloe clubman has played inter-county hurling for the Banner since 2017 and is nominated for an All Star award for his performance in Clare’s All-Ireland Championship campaign this year, where they reached the Semi-Final stages. Diarmuid attended Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís Secondary School and was Vice-Captain of the Harty Cup winning team …

COMMUNITY endeavour is on the right track in O’Briensbridge where a group of local volunteers have worked hard to clear scrub from a popular Looped Walk. A few months ago, the two kilometre walkway from the playground in O’Briensbridge had become so overgrown the gap between both sides had reduced down to about 12 inches in some places. Scrub, briars and branches of trees were making it extremely difficult for two people to walk side by side, particularly any adult with a child’s buggy. However, now the gap on this walkway is about five foot wide, which provides pedestrians with great comfort as they enjoy the splendid view of the River Shannon. The surface of the walkway will be substantially improved over the coming week with the addition of black rolled crushed stone, which is very similar to tarmacadam. In September 2019, Waterways Ireland had to close section of this walkway temporarily to repair two bridges that had fallen into …

ENNIS Players’ Annual Supper Theatre is back with three offerings to whet your theatrical appetite this November. Rehearsals are well underway for this four-night production, offering the finest of theatre and the finest of food in the surrounds of the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. This year’s production will showcase performances of Elysium Nevada by Barry McKinley; Trapped, by Barry Woods and Tony Layton’s Where there’s a Will. Elysium Nevada is set in a retirement village in the sweltering Nevada desert. Two residents reflect on life, youth and how they got there. They are joined by a mysteriously silent woman whose presence adds an entirely new dimensions to the discussion. Directed by Saoirse Byrne, and features Hugh Gallagher as Bob, Conor Lynch as Mike and Amy McEnnis as Constance. Trapped sees Faye respond to a distressed phonecall from her best friend. They discover information that is both profound and life changing. A ten minute play about the unexpected parts that people …

HAVING emerged from completely contrasting starting blocks, Éire Óg and Ennistymon have also hand differing preparations in the lead-up to this first time final pairing. Of course, having underwhelmed in their relentless pursuit of the Jack Daly, the only surprise about Éire Óg’s 15 year breakthrough last November was that it hadn’t come sooner such was their potent line-up on paper. However, what hasn’t been a surprise is that the Townies are determined to make up for lost time by easing through this year’s championship to maintain their perfect nine match winning championship record. Even more impressively, they have almost seamlessly smoothed over the absence of Conall Ó hAiniféin, David Reidy, Nathan Murray, Eimhin Courtney and Dara Walsh, a remarklable feat in itself considering their contributions to that title-winning journey in 2021. Ennistymon meanwhile looked to have missed the boat in 2018 as for all their underage dominance over the past decade, the North Clare Magpies increasingly looked as if …

For any guest passing through the Falls Hotel reception last Thursday evening, they would have been forgiven for thinking that they were witnessing more of a casualty ward than a press night. After all, with injured players Cathal Malone (groin), Sean O’Driscoll (quad) and Kevin Hehir (knee) either limping or on crutches, it seemed as if the interview process was more akin to a therapy session. Even Club President Kieran Crowe is eagerly-awaiting his hip replacement operation only two days after the county final. The Galway native and Garda journeyman actually played for the Ennis Faughs in 1957 but was first stationed in Ennistymon in 1969 and aside from brief stints elsewhere has been a community fixture ever since and has been an integral part of the club’s development. “I just feel that if we could win one, we could stay at the top for a while.” began the 87-year-young president. “You look at the likes of Miltown and Kilmurry …

Although still a young man Eínne O’Connor has a huge amount of experience, experience he feels is valuable when looking to win a second Jack Daly. “Firstly I love playing football and I love playing for Éire Óg. We’ve had loads of tough defeats. I lost four quarter-finals in a row so that was extremely difficult to take. Last year I felt a lot of pressure to win because of those defeats and when we had huge success with U-21 which added more pressure especially when we weren’t transferring that to the Senior ranks.” Eínne spent four years in Athlone IT and played Sigerson for those four years. He is now at GMIT doing a Masters in Strength and Conditioning. So he is well placed to discuss what it takes to win. “Firstly you have to prepare right, both physically and mentally, eat right, sleep right. It’s all part of the modern game. We are drilled by Paul and the …

Such has been the huge turnover of players in the past few seasons that when Ennistymon take to the field on Sunday, there is likely to only be four survivors from the 19 that contested the club’s first ever senior decider in 2018. To put things in even clearer perspective, take out those four and the remaining eleven would struggle to match the evergreen Lawrence Healy’s vast experience in what is his 24th season playing adult football. The versatile defender, who also starred for Clare between 2006-2013, is almost taken aback at the ease of assimilation for Ennistymon’s bright new crop of teenage talent this year but also feels it’s that fresh injection of energy and enthusiasm which has catapulted the North Clare side back into a senior showdown. “The turnover from the last final is huge but I guess these younger players have consistently played at such a high level, winning minor As, playing for their county and contesting …

Philip Talty is a gifted footballer be it playing soccer with Avenue Utd or Gaelic Football with Éire Óg. One of the most skilful players on a field, he is one of the most hard working players too. “It’s all about honesty of effort, you have to work harder than the opposition to be successful. It really is that simple. You have to work your socks for sixty minutes and the rest will look after itself. “If you don’t work for Paul you don’t play for Paul. The defensive side is just as important to me as the attacking side. We have to help the defence out as much as possible. Turnovers are as valuable as a score” For such a young man Talty seems totally focused and driven. “Success is so important. We set our stall out at the very first training session this year to retain Jack Daly and we are only one game away from doing so. …