The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CLARE Camogie hosted their annual awards night last Friday in the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis. The occasion has grown significantly since its inception in 2009, with over 400 people in attendance. Young players from the primary, U-13, U-14 and U-15 development squads were presented with certificates and medals by Munster Camogie Player of 2012, Fiona Lafferty.
CLARE Camogie hosted their annual awards night last Friday in the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis. The occasion has grown significantly since its inception in 2009, with over 400 people in attendance. Young players from the primary, U-13, U-14 and U-15 development squads were presented with certificates and medals by Munster Camogie Player of 2012, Fiona Lafferty.
Mayor of Clare Pat Daly complimented all involved on the successful year that 2012 was for camogie in Clare. He paid tribute to the senior and minor teams on winning Munster championships and also Kilmaley and Truagh on bringing club championship titles back to the county. Mayor Daly also acknowledged the work on Fr Michael McNamara Park and the work put in by the committee on the project, which has been underway since the ’80s. He also acknowledged both Pauline Moloney and Jonathan King on their recognition for Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement and Volunteer of the Year awards.
Outgoing chairperson Orla Considine paid tribute to all the award recipients and the clubs on their successes throughout 2012. New chairperson Michael O’Regan expressed the hope that 2013 would reap similar rewards for all teams, both at club and county level.
Volunteer of the year
JONATHAN King of Burren Camogie Club has been named as the Clare Camogie Volunteer of the Year for 2012.
Jonathan started the Burren Camogie Club in 2008 and since then, he has played a pivotal role in developing the game in North Clare, an area which would not be known as a camogie stronghold. In an area with few sporting opportunities for girls and with six daughters, Jonathan saw the need to provide an outlet for these youngsters and so Burren Camogie Club was born.
Officially Jonathan’s title is club secretary but his role is “anything that needs to be done”. He is instrumental in arranging matches, both competitive and challenge games, organising venues, transport, attending county board meetings, arranging club meetings, managing the club website and when all of that is done, he still he finds time to be involved in the training of club teams.
His commitment has been second to none since he started the club. He constantly strives for new methods of training and believes that for the club to progress, it will require the involvement of many. He is innovative in his methods to recruit new volunteers to help within the club, including getting transition-year pupils involved with assisting at training in the local schools to help younger players learn the skill of the game.
Jonathan, who lives in Lisdoonvarna, is a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work and determination. His attitude is one of participation and encouragement.
Clare Camogie Board has also acknowledged the work of the selection committee of John Sweeney, Clare Sports Partnership; Sharon Meaney, Clare Volunteer Centre and Michelle Lynch, Clare Local Development Company in selecting the Clare Camogie Volunteer of the Year 2012.
