Tag Archives: Crusheen

If you ever wanted to know what Clonlara means to Dónal Madden just default to that time when he was part of the side that made the big breakthrough by bringing Clare hurling’s greatest prize back to the home parish of Canon Hamilton. This week 15 years ago — October 18, 2008, and the black and amber had just dished out a 0-13 to 0-5 drubbing to Crusheen in the county semi-final, after which they’d go on to win the final against Newmarket-on-Fergus. Dónal made the biggest impact on the scoreboard in that semi-final played in Clarecastle, with 0-7 on his scorecard. Here was the Tulla man abroad in Clonlara, but very much at home there. A year after Tulla had beaten Crusheen in the county final to bridge a 74-year gap to their last county championship success — now Clonlara were 60 winning minutes away from bridging an even longer gap of 89 years. A penny for Dónal’s thought …

Clonlara captain Jathan McMahon has got his hands on the Canon Hamilton trophy before. And not just his hands either as being related to Clonlara’s 2008 winning captain Paul Collins, his first memories of watching his club were celebratory ones. “There’s a photo at home of me sitting in the cup. “I was only eight and obviously small so there’s plenty of photos of me and my uncle-in-law Paul and the family. “I was in my element and really looked up to the players that won it. I also distinctly remember going into school the following week, it was an just unreal atmosphere. “It’s mad now to think that I’m playing alongside John [Conlon] and now preparing for a senior final of our own.” Much like Conlon and the Class of 2008, their momentum-fuelled charge stemmed from a strong core of of exciting young players who soared to the club’s first ever Minor A title five years ago, led by …

WARM tributes have been paid to Darren Richmond, who died after falling from a cliff in Kilkee last week. Darren, who had lived in Barefield and was originally from the UK, was well known in local music circles. His funeral was at Shannon Crematorium on Monday and paying tribute to Darren, his friend Dave Harper said he had been an immensely likeable character. “Our journey as friends started almost 20 years ago. He had moved into the old Station House in Crusheen where I was living, both of us invited by Moya who had originally rented the house,” he said. “I immediately took to this big gentle lad, and we became great friends. We established a regular music session in the local pub in Crusheen and Darren started learning the bodhrán so he could join in and he wowed us with his great singing voice and his vast repertoire of songs. “The Station House became a go-to place for sessions …

REOPENING the rail stop at Crusheen is something that the Green minister for transport cannot refuse, in the view of Councillor Pat Hayes. The Fianna Fáil member is calling for a business case to be made for the reopening of the stop on what he described as “the very successful Limerick-Galway line”. “This is a critical thing that can make a difference in climate mitigation,” he said.  Councillor Hayes highlighted the amount of new housing in Crusheen, Tulla and Quin and said reopening the rail stop offered huge opportunities to give people access to public transport. “We had the transport minister in the county recently for a lovely day of sod turning,” Councillor Hayes said. “There is a lot of debate about transport and this is an issue on doorstep that we need to address ourselves. There was an application to change zoning in this area in Crusheen and we resisted, because we have a real opportunity to improve public …

A SPORTS hall in a newly built complex at Sarsfield Army Barracks in Limerick has been named after Crusheen man Kenny Rodgers, a member of the Defence Forces for the last 17 years and a hugely accomplished athlete.  Members of Kenny’s family were invited to the Barracks last Friday for an event honouring him. In a statement the Defence Forces lauded the contribution Kenny has made over the course of his career. “Private Kenny Rodgers joined the Defence Forces in 2005 and has served his whole career in the 12th Infantry  Battalion between Clonmel and Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick.  “Pte Rodgers is a renowned runner, having won the An Cosantóir 10km Road Race 9 times as well as one virtually held edition in 2021. Kenny served overseas in Kosovo and Chad between 2008 and 2010. Unwilling to stagnate as an athlete, Kenny completed an exercise and fitness course in 2015. This course enabled Kenny to work in the 12th Infantry Battalion …

THE IMAGE presented by one of the main approach roads to Crusheen came in for criticism at the recent meeting of Killaloe district councillors.  Councillor Pat Hayes called for a full review of speed controls measures on the Tulla Road in the village, as well as a plan to upgrade road surfaces and footpaths.  “The motion is not as much about speed limits themselves, but about traffic controls and the image they present,” the Fianna Fáil member said. “Crusheen, at the moment, is not a properly planned village. What we are doing is planning for houses only. If you are coming in on the Tulla Road into Crusheen and observe traffic management, the aesthetic looks alone doesn’t present a very positive image.” Councillor Hayes welcomed a written response to his motion which noted that Clár-funded safety improvement works are nearly finished at the local school. “What is needed in this area is a total upgrade,” he added. “The new community …

VANDALISM in the local playground has prompted a staff of Clare County Council to contact Crusheen Gardaí. The matter was raised by the incoming Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District when members held their July meeting. Councillor Alan O’Callaghan said he had been asked by locals in Crusheen to raise the issue. He tabled a motion calling for lighting or other works to stamp out the problem.   “There have been a few incidents of anti-social behaviour recently within the playground,” he said. “I think that a few lights leading into the playground would be ideal.” The Kilmurry man thanked Community Playground Coordinator, John Treacy for a reply to his motion. He said the problem of anti-social behaviour wasn’t widespread, but that there were concerns in Crusheen. “There are a lot of lovely playgrounds, on some occasions, anti social behaviour happens,” he said. “We don’t have too much of it, but the problem is rising in Crusheen area and I hope …

ANOTHER major housing development is on the cards for Crusheen, one of Clare’s most rapidly-expanding villages.  Conditional permission has been granted to Woodhaven Developments for 42 new homes on a site close of 1.78 hectares, close to the village centre. The green light was given after County Planners satisfied themselves that Crusheen has the right level of service and social infrastructure to support another rise in its population.  Plans were lodged last December for 32 three-bedroom homes; six two-bedroom homes; and four four-bedroom homes, on a site zoned for mixed use. The developer said the estate represented the next phase of a masterplan for lands close to the village centre. In a detailed design statement, Woodhaven outlined plans to begin construction on the homes immediately after the completion of the nearby Cluain Fia estate “and the granting of an acceptable planning permission”. The company estimated that completion of the estate would take 36 months and represent an investment of €10.3 …