*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A CIVIC RECEPTION is on the cards for Éire Óg after their senior hurlers and footballers won a historic double.
Éire Óg’s senior hurlers ended a thirty five year wait to win the Clare SHC when defeating Clooney/Quin 0-17 0-12 while the Ennis club won a fourth Clare SFC in five seasons when overcoming St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-16 2-6.
They became the first team in Clare since Cratloe in 2014 to win a senior double and the first in Ennis since the Ennis Dalcassians in 1929. No civic reception was bestowed upon Cratloe following their success eleven years ago.
Former Chairman of Éire Óg, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) has confirmed he will be writing to the Corporate Policy Group of Clare County Council seeking a civic reception for the Éire Óg teams “this side of Christmas”.
He said it was “a huge achievement to do the double. The past two Sundays have brought a huge lease of life to Ennis, Gerry O’Connor, Shane Daniels and their management teams played a huge part in the success”.
Members of both teams have represented the town very well, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) noted. “They are amazing young men, the time they gave to children after the match. Barefield gave us a run for our money so they should be dead proud of themselves. The double, we were thirty five years waiting for the senior hurling and now we do the double”.
Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) confirmed she would support the proposal when it goes before the CPG. “They are a great example, they are role models, the way they treated children was lovely to see, they are a credit to their families,” she added.
Acknowledging Éire Óg’s “great win,” Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) commented, “my mother was reared as a Townie, she was rooting for them so I was going for them particularly in the hurling which is my first love”. He voiced his best wishes for his native Clarecastle in Sunday’s Clare PIHC final.
Further support for the proposal was voiced by Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF), “it was easier for them to win the double when the Magpies were not in the senior hurling championship but hopefully next year we will be back and Éire Óg will find it harder to win the double”. He recalled supporting Cork in 1990 when they won the All-Ireland senior double.
Such sporting occasions have led to “great excitement,” Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) noted. “Pat is buzzing since they did the double,” he said. “To see how the players interacted with young people, they are role models for our young people”.
