Honouring Clare association

EDITORIAL

THE Clare diaspora have never forgotten their roots. Individuals and organisations all over the world have been generous to a fault in their patronage of many charity, community and social groups back home.

Among the most prominent support groups are Clare associations, formed mainly from the mid-19th Century on, in towns and cities across Britain, the United States, Australia and many more far-flung places. They have helped Irish people on their arrival in search of work, helped place them in jobs and find homes.

Clare associations allow emigrants to integrate, while at the same time retaining their sense of identity. Fundraising for projects in Ireland is a small but important part of what they are about.

The US is, as you would expect, a particular stronghold of Clare associations and nowhere is this more evident than in the Big Apple.

The County Claremen’s Association of New York was formed in 1888 by a group of patriotic Claremen under the leadership of first president, John Clun. It was later renamed the County Clare Patriotic, Benevolent and Social Association of New York.

The New York association’s contribution to Clare and Irish society, in general, was recognised at a civic reception by Clare local authorities this week.

It was, Mayor of Clare Joe Arkins said, “The people of County Clare’s way of saluting the Clare Association and its members for their sensitive care of generations of Clare emigrants and their contribution to the wider Clare community in New York down through the years”.

People from all walks of life in New York met regularly to discuss the welfare of Clare people and they rolled up their sleeves to provide support and friendship for young people who had left Clare, he further outlined.
The civic reception came at the end of a three-day visit by association members to the county, as part of the Gathering Ireland initiative. Among the group were Kilrush man Noel Kilkenny, Consul General of New York and Cathy Hogan, association president, whose father hails from Kilkee.

A civic reception is just a small act to acknowledge all the Clare Association in New York has done for the people of this county. It would simply be impossible to calculate in monetary terms what the association has contributed to Clare since its foundation 125 years ago. Long may the good work of the Clare New York Association continue.

 

Atmosphere building nicely

MOMENTUM is building apace. The Clare U-21 hurlers’ comfortable All-Ireland semi-final win over Galway on Saturday evening means they need just one more top-class display to retain the Cross of Cashel Trophy. The seniors’ date with destiny is six days earlier.

This year’s U-21 final is unique in that Antrim are the first Ulster team to reach this stage of the competition. They caused one of the biggest ever shocks in the competition when, in travelling to Thurles with a panel of only 19 players, they defeated Wexford.

Another unique aspect is the fact that 2013 marks the 50th staging of the championship.

There are so many Clare U-21s tied to the senior panel that it will be difficult for them to remain focused until their own final in Thurles on September 14. The Clare U-21s may be raging hot favourites but should learn from the lesson Antrim dealt out to the Leinster champions and afford the Glensmen the respect they deserve. Clare cannot leave anything to chance in their final preparations. Anything can happen on any given day.

Meanwhile, it’s the senior final meeting of Clare and Cork that is exercising the minds of hurling enthusiasts in both counties, who are analysing and predicting every conceivable aspect of what might unfold on the big day.

The occasion transcends sport, however and has become the subject of everyday conversation. An in-depth knowledge of hurling is not really necessary; just a passing interest or knowing a player or his family is a good enough starting point.

Hurling is part of our culture and heritage and everybody has shared ownership. This is nowhere more relevant than in Clare, as GAA founder Michael Cusack was born in Carron in the heart of the Burren.