THE new chairman of the Clare Association in Dublin (Muintir an Chláir) is Gerry O’Reilly. A native of Moyhill, Corofin, he has been an outstanding supporter of the association for many years.
A committe member and PRO for the association in recent years, he succeeds Inagh native Liam O’Looney, who stepped down after over six years as chairman, having been first elected as interim chairman.
Tributes to Mr O’Looney were led by the new chairman at the association’s annual general meeting in Wynn’s Hotel, Dublin. Mr OReilly told the meeting that Mr O’Looney is a long-serving, dedicated member of the association and made an outstanding contribution as chairman. He has played a big part in the success of the association and he was glad that he would be remaining on in the committee as PRO.
Mr O’Reilly also made an appeal to all Clare people in Dublin to join and support the association. He noted a lot of young people from the county had taken up work in Dublin and the association would be glad to have them as members.
Other elected were: president, Pat O’Donnell; vice-president, Mary Barry; vice-chairman, Martin Vaughan; secretary, Pauline Cummins; assistant secretary, Patricia Moloney; joint treasurers, Mary Browne and Brian Considine; PRO, Liam O’Looney; assistant PRO, Paddy Burke; spiritual director, Fr Paddy Sheehan; Clare representative, Brother Sean MacNamara; IT consultants, Patricia Moloney and Jamie Davin; year book committee, Martin Vaughan, Tristan Conway Behan, Mary Kennedy, Michelle Foudy, Marie Burke and Mirian Scahill and committee members, Tom Hillery and Mick Forbes.
Prior to the holding of the annual general meeting, mass for deceased members of the association was celebrated by Fr Paddy Sheehan and Bishop Fiachra O’Ceallaigh, OFM. Also in attendance was Fr Finbar Neylon.
The Clare Associstion also held a meeting in the Addison Hotel during the week and among the items discused was the holding of the annual Martin Corry Memorial Walk on Sunday, September 14, with proceeds going to Clare Crusaders.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.