A new reference publication on Clare GAA arrived during September 2023.
Clare GAA in the Championship (1887-2023) by local journalist, Séamus OReilly.
His work provides the complete details on both Clare hurling and football from 1887, three years following the founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association by Michael Cusack (1847-1906) at Hayes’s Hotel, Thurles, Tipperary.
Clare hurlers featured in the All Ireland hurling final of 1914, with the football team reaching the final of 1917. Both finals were played at Jones’s Road, Dublin, now known as Croke Park.
While Clare hurlers featured in the All Ireland hurling final of 1932, it was another six decades before the Clare football team reached Croke Park, to meet with the Dublin team.
The county team won the All Ireland hurling finals of 1995, 1997 and 2013. ‘Sparrow’ OLoughlin (Clarecastle club) featured as a scoring forward in the finals of 1995 and 1997. The goalkeeper of the 1995 and 1997 teams, David Fitzgerald managed the winning Clare hurling team in 2013.
Clare GAA Communications Committee produced a poster of the various Clare GAA All Stars from 1974 to 2022. Ger ‘Sparrow’ OLoughlin (Clarecastle club) features in the GAA poster for both 1995 and 1997.
Clare’s first All Star – Ger Loughnane from the parish of Feakle received his first All Star in 1974. He also received an All Star for his hurling performances during 1977, while he was manager of the Clare All Ireland winning hurling teams in both 1995 and 1997.
The September 2023 publication also lists the various Clare personnel who won All Ireland medals with counties other than Clare; with Dublin in particular. Michael OLoghlin was a member of the first All Ireland winning football team, when he played with county Limerick (Limerick Commercials) in 1887. He was also a Limerck based oarsman, using the nearby Shannon river to develop his rowing skills. Michael was a native of Smithstown, Kilshanny, North Clare. His All Ireland medal has passed-down, through a number of family generations. It currently resides with the Walsh family, Miltown Malbay, West Clare.
Acknowledgements:
Clare GAA Communications Committee
Clare Champion, 21st October 1994 – Donie O’Loghlin, Ennistymon, James Toft, Ennis.
Clan Ólochlainn 