Tag Archives: Sligo

HUNDREDS of businesses will be waiting anxiously this Saturday for a final decision on whether or not Clare will be tuning up for a €30 million Fleadh Cheoil windfall in 2016. Securing what is regarded as the largest traditional music festival in the world, which would attract an estimated 350,000 visitors to Ennis and neighbouring towns in August 2016, would provide a major boost in the coffers of local traders. Efforts to host the lucrative 2016 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann competition got a significant shot in the arm recently after a submission from a local branch defeated Cork City by 11 votes to nine in a new regional final. For the first time ever, counties had to submit their plans for hosting this money-spinning event against other competing counties in some provinces and Clare’s bid, which was in the name of the Abbey branch in Ennis, triumphed with two votes to spare. Ennis is now in a three-horse race involving …

AS Clare prepare for their third league game of 2015 in Cusack Park on Sunday, they do so in the knowledge that if they are to avoid fighting relegation, this is a must win game. Sligo are in even more dire need of the points following defeats to Limerick and Fermanagh. In losing to Louth, Clare simply spilled possession much too often. Although they played decent football in the opening half, once Louth gained in confidence and stepped it up, Clare were left floundering. Losing Ciaran Russell to a black card and Cathal O’Connor to injury, adversely affected Clare. They had to move Shane McGrath to midfield and Shane Hickey to wing back, which resulted in their attack becoming unbalanced while they couldn’t win sufficient primary ball in the middle of the field. Not scoring in the last 27 minutes is a reflection of Clare’s second half display which if replicated this weekend, will lead to certain defeat. Clare must …

By Seamus Hayes There are two changes in personnell to the Clare senior football team for Sunday’s clash with Sligo from the side which lost to Louth in Drogheda  two weeks ago. Kevin Hartnett, selected to play at full back in the opening tie against Wexford but who was forced to withdraw after picking up an ankle injury in the warm up before that tie, has recovered and he returns at full back to the exclusion of Stephen Collins. Podge Collins also missed the Wexford game due to injury but he was introduced against Louth and he will start on Sunday. He replaces David Tubridy who suffered an injury in training this week. The team is; Joe Hayes; Martin McMahon, Kevin Hartnett, Dean Ryan; Jamie Malone, Gordon Kelly, Ciaran Russell; Gary Brennan (capt) Cathal O’Connor; Sean Collins, Shane Hickey, Shane McGrath; Podge Collins, Shane Brennan, Pat Burke

By Jessica Quinn ENNIS has yet again missed out on its chance to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, with next year’s event awarded to Sligo for the second year in-a-row at the weekend’s selection convention. Despite the disappointment, those behind Ennis’ bid have already set their sights on 2016, saying they are “very hopeful” that their “strong application” will bring success for the town and the county. Chairperson of the working group for the Ennis’ All Ireland Fleadh bid Micheál O’Riabhaigh acknowledged that while there is disappointment that Ennis did not get next year’s festival it was not unexpected. “It was always going to be hard to displace Sligo for a second year. 2014 is the first year for Sligo and there would have been an expectation that they would get it for the second year. It would have been surprising had we got it to be honest but we took the position of going for it as aggressively as …