Tag Archives: Clare GAA

Now in its second year, Clare Sports Partnership (CSP) in conjunction with Clare GAA, have had a very successful camp around the provision of inclusive activities for children with autism who may struggle to attend a mainstream Cúl Camp. The collaboration of many different organisations including Ennis Voices for Autism (EVA), The Clare Crusaders and CÉIS plays an imperative role in supporting the running of the camp. Building on the success of last year’s camp, Clare Sports Partnership aimed to increase the offering of inclusive camps for children with disabilities this year. This first of the inclusive camps took place in conjunction with Derg AC and the final camp in conjunction with Bridge Utd takes place at the end of the month. “We had 60 children take part in this camp and it is important to note that the camp would not happen without the 50 amazing coaches and volunteers who put so much time and effort in to making …

‘A time of change for Clare GAA’ provided equal measures of excitement and trepidation amongst delegates at the July County Board meeting in Caherlohan, Tulla this week. With outgoing full-time secretary Pat Fitzgerald opting to sidestep the ‘fuss’ and fanfare of his final county board meeting following his departure after 32 consecutive years, a new chapter for Clare GAA has consequently been accelerated much faster than originally anticipated. Based upon the Saffron & Blue Strategic Plan, a full-time COO (Chief Operating Officer) will supersede Fitzgerald’s role while the complimentary position of secretary will revert to being a voluntary appointment. With the deadline for applications exhausted last Friday, Clare GAA Chairman Kieran Keating revealed that 16 people have applied for the prestigious post, with the process now in the hands of Croke Park to sift through the eligibility of the candidates and produce a shortlist for interview. The interview process will be carried out by a committee comprised of two from …

CLARE GAA has been successful in its goal of turning the Cloister car park in Ennis’ town centre into a permanent parking facility. Clare County Council has given the green light to an application for planning permission to a change of use of the site on Lower Abbey Street. Prior to this the location had permission to provide spaces for vehicles only before and after GAA matches and authorised events at Cusack Park. The granting of planning permission paves the way for the site to be used as a commercial car park for both long term and short term parking for members of the public. Local authority planners in assessing the application acknowledged the development of car parking “would be welcome” in the area, helping free up spaces in other parts of the town centre. The site lies within the Ennis town centre Architectural Conservation area and within the immediate vicinity of a number of protected structures including Ennis Friary …

SECRETARY of Clare GAA Pat Fitzgerald has announced his intention to step down from the role next month. Mr Fitzgerald will resign on July 18, the day after the All-Ireland hurling final, after 32 years in the position. In a statement he said it had been a busy and demanding role and he had enjoyed it immensely. “I wish the county and all our teams the very best with all future endeavours and plans both on and off the field of play. I am very proud of what we have achieved together over many long years and I wish you every success into the future. “I look forward to supporting our county as a fan and assisting in any way I can in the years to come.” He had served in the role in a voluntary capacity for 17 years until 2007 when he was successful in an interview process among a number of candidates to take the job full …

Pop quiz hotshot, name the current Clare minor mentor that helped a county garner back-to-back All-Ireland minor titles in the past five seasons? In a vastly experienced team headed by former Clare senior captain Brian O’Connell, it’s not six-time Munster and three time All-Ireland winning joint-manager Donal Moloney nor 1995 All-Ireland winner Cyril Lyons who guided his native county to the 2002 All-Ireland decider as manager. In fact it’s coach Damian O’Halloran who while teaching in Balinasloe, was part of Jeff Lynskey’s backroom team that made the breakthrough for Galway with All-Ireland minor crowns in 2017 and ’18 before also having a stint with the Tribesmen at Under 21 level alongside Lynskey, Franny Forde and Tony Ward. “It was a great experience.” Recalls O’Halloran. “Going in cold, it certainly opened my eyes as to the standard required, the levels at which even minor set-ups are operating at along with the workload of management teams that are actually comparable to a …

Having soared to Munster Final managerial success over Clare in 2017, Sunday’s defeat cut deep for Kieran Kingston as it was Cork’s third successive big-match reverse. The criticism of August’s All-Ireland Final pummelling at the hands of Limerick had been sated somewhat by a hugely positive National league campaign. However, the wheels came off in the final against Waterford and that malaise has extended into the championship as Limerick and Clare have realistically put paid to the Rebels’ hopes of advancing to this years All-Ireland series. “We came into the game in control of our own destiny and after today we lose that control so it goes without saying that it was massively disappointing.” Began the Cork manager in the adjoining dressing room in Thurles immediately afterwards. “We had a very bad start, we were playing into the breeze in the first half and I think we were really nervous for the first 20 or 25 minutes and made some …

ÉÍRE Óg’s Tony Brohan has resigned as assistant treasurer of Clare GAA. When contacted by the Clare Champion on Tuesday Brohan confirmed he had resigned, but said he didn’t not wish to go into his reasons, beyond acknowledging he was dissatisfied. “I left quietly, I didn’t say too much leaving but I think people around me would know I wasn’t too happy with the way things are going at executive level. “I don’t want it to be about me, Clare GAA is busy at the moment on the playing fields and I want the emphasis to be on that and not on myself.” In December Brohan was re-elected as assistant treasurer, seeing off the challenge of Niomh Madigan of Kilrush. While the last few weeks have seen some good displays by Clare teams, particularly last Sunday’s defeat of Tipperary, the county has also been beleaguered by numerous off-field controversies in recent times. A five-year strategic plan for the county was …

National Football League Division 2 Round 6 Clare v Meath at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2pm (Derek O’Mahoney, Tipperary With Clare’s best start to Division 2 rapidly fading into the distance following back-to-back defeats to promotion favourites Derry and Galway over the past fortnight, the last team Colm Collins would have wanted to see coming next would be Meath. After all, Clare’s poorest record in Division 2 is against Andy McEntee’s side who have inflicted four successive defeats on the Banner since 2017. More than that though, while Clare unquestionably produced their best display against Meath in the All-Ireland Qualifiers in 2019 to only miss out on the Super 8’s by a solitary point, the Banner’s league record against them is best read between your fingers as Meath have averaged double figure wins in three successive seasons. That said, that agonising minimum championship defeat to the Royal’s by 2-16 to 1-18 in Portlaoise in July 2019 was the county’s last …