Clare Association annual dinner dance

Nearly 200 Clare people and their friends enjoyed a great night at the annual dinner dance of the Clare Association in Dublin in the Carlton Hotel, Swords Road on Saturday.

It was voted one of the  most successful and enjoyable functions in the long and proud  history of the association. The highlights included the presentation of the Clare Person of the Year award to legendary Clare concertina player Chris Droney from Belharbour and the Hall of Fame award to Pat and Neilus O’Doherty from Ballingaddy West, Ennistymon.
It was also the first attendance of the association’s new patron, the Bishop of Killaloe, Kieran O’Reilly, SMA. He spoke of the warm welcome he received since being appointed Bishop of Killaloe over a year ago. He said that since coming to Ennis and the diocese of Killaoe, two things struck him forcefully in Clare – the spirit of volunteerism in the county and the primary schools that he visited, which were filled with wonderful energetic and confident children.
The cups won by the Clare Junior All-Ireland winning team, the Inagh camogie team that won the historic All-Ireland title, the Canon Hamilton Cup for the senior hurling championship won by Crusheen for the second year in succession and the Jack Daly Cup for the senior football championship won by Kilmurry-Ibrickane, were on display.
The musical contribution by the Droney family, with the  support  of the PJ Murrihy band, rounded off of one of the  great nights in the history of Muintir an Chlair.