Tag Archives: Wicklow

All-Ireland Minor C Ladies Football Final Clare 3-13 Wicklow 3-12 ABBY Downes’ injury time point ensured Clare were crowned ZuCar All Ireland Minor C Ladies Football champions after a thrilling showdown with Wicklow, writes Ivan Smyth. This was a stunning triumph for David O’Brien’s side as they faced a five point deficit at two separate stages of the second half. They had also shipped 1-2 without reply to go in level at the break despite dominating much of the opening period. Throw in the loss of goalkeeper Katie McMahon, who was withdrawn four minutes in to the second half after landing awkwardly towards the conclusion of the first period and Clare faced no shortage of adversity. The win appeared unlikely when Wicklow scored 2-4 without reply either side of half time to leave Clare trailing 2-10 to 1-8. Even when Abby Downes fired a ferocious left footed effort to the net to slash the deficit to two points after 40 …

So, this is the second part of our lockdown staycation. After visiting the Twelve Hotel in Galway, I got a taste for another adventure so last weekend we went off to another of my favourite places, BrookLodge in Co Wicklow. Because the weather was so nice, the humans decided to take that funny car with a tent instead of a proper roof. It was bought last year but it seemed to spend most of the summer in the garage with bits being done to it but it seems to be ready now. I only half listen but I believe it’s had softer springs fitted since I drove in it last and it really makes a difference. I can snooze comfortably in the footwell now and that’s all that matters. Even though rain was threatening as we arrived in Aughrim, the roof was folded down for the last bit of the journey, allowing me to sniff the air. As we pulled …

Keep it to yourself but one of my humans recently celebrated his 50th birthday. That’s ancient – around seven in dog years. Seeing as he’s always so good to me and looks after me so well, I decided to do something nice for him. I checked my bone account to see what it could stand and thanks to the excellent Bone/Euro exchange rate, on account of Brexit worries, I found that I could manage a few nights in BrookLodge in County Wicklow. It’s one of my favourite places as I get to look at the hens, chickens and geese that roam the grounds. My humans love it for the peace and tranquillity, not to mention the organic food for which it’s renowned. There’s a further attraction – the two resident dogs, my pals, Oscar and George, who are always good for a laugh and a chat. It was late afternoon when we arrived so after checking in with my American …

AN Ennis girl who was holidaying in Fanore recently got more than she bargained for as she was on an expedition to find interesting items on the beach, while on holidays. Sophie Rynne was walking along the beach in Fanore with her mother, Priscilla, searching for something rather unusual, a mermaid’s purse, but uncovered another curious item in the process. “We were looking for a mermaid’s purse. It’s the egg case of a dogfish, which is part of the shark family,” she said. They had found one on the beach in 2010 and have been on the look-out for one again.However, on this occasion, they spotted something else altogether, a plastic bottle with what looked like a note inside. “I said, ‘oh is that a message in the bottle’. I said I’ll walk over and see what it was. We saw there was something rolled up inside it. We weren’t sure and it looked like one of those colouring sheets. …

To lightly paraphrase the words of the late Jimi Hendrix – Are you X-Perienced? Well I am, as I’ve driven the Leon X-Perience, the first 4×4 ever produced by Spanish firm, SEAT. The Leon is now their best selling model, so it makes sense to start from here, although we’re told that this particular model is only the first of a number of four wheel drive cars which will come onto the market over the next few years. The X-Perience is based on the ST or estate model and for this particular application, the looks have been suitably machoed up with more rugged bumpers, black roof rails and crucially for off-road ability, a ride height raised by 30mm. To take advantage of the extra ground clearance, grip is enhanced by a fifth generation Haldex four wheel drive system, which normally sends all power to the front pair of wheels. As conditions dictate, though, up to 90% of torque can instantly …

By Seamus Hayes CLARE football deserves to be playing in a higher grade than division 4. They have shown this through county champions Cratloe, and their predecessors, Kilmurry-Ibrickane and Doonbeg. Just a few months ago we saw what Cratloe can do when they played Dr Crokes. The standard of football in Clare is knocked at times but if everyone gave 100%, Clare football is well capable of competing in a higher division. That’s the view of former Clare and Munster player, Martin Daly who was speaking this week ahead of Sunday’s clash with Carlow in the second last round of the 2014 league race. The Lissycasey man came into the Clare senior panel as an 18-year-old in 1992 and was part of the team that famously beat Kerry to win the Munster senior title that summer. He went on to play for the county for over a decade, eventually succumbing to a back injury. Recalling his inter county playing days …

Cratloe’s Óige Murphy and Kilkee’s Michael O’Shea are absent from Sunday’s senior football team to play Wicklow in Cusack Park at 2pm. Both players, who have featured in all three games to date, picked up injuries in last Sunday’s win over London in Ruislip. Dean Ryan moves from corner to wing-back, while Kevin Hartnett comes in at corner-back. Coolmeen’s Cathal O’Connor has been recalled to partner Gary Brennan at midfield, while Podge Collins moves to corner-forward with Shane McGrath starting at centre-forward. The Clare team is Pierce Deloughrey; Martin McMahon, Gordon Kelly, Kevin Hartnett; Shane Hickey, Enda Coughlan, Dean Ryan; Gary Brennan (captain), Cathal O’Connor; Seán Collins, Shane McGrath, Shane Brennan; Martin O’Leary, David Tubridy, Podge Collins.