*Photograph: John Mangan
A MOTION calling for the creation of a League of Ireland team in Clare has been passed by Clare County Council.
Put forward by Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF), the motion was welcomed by elected representatives of the local authority.
However Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) who has the greatest soccer pedigree of the councillors, as a former goalkeeper, an ex-coach with Burren Utd and the father of Michael Garrihy who has represented Galway Utd and spent three years playing collegiate soccer in the US, encouraged his colleagues to row in behind the plans of the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) and newly elected Chairman, Donal Magee in making Frank Healy Park an all-weather pitch.
In his proposal, Cllr Guilfoyle called on the Council to “set up a discussion to explore the possible setup of a League of Ireland soccer team in the Banner County with all the relevant stakeholders. The findings of this think tank will be brought back to this chamber for further debate”.
Director of Social Development with the Council, Jason Murphy advised that the finalised County Sports Plan is to be presented to his directorate later this year. He stated, “Clare County Council is also committed to the development of sport and sporting facilities across the county with several infrastructure upgrades planned over the coming 18 months. The creation of a League of Ireland soccer team ni county Clare should eb considered through the local and national governing structures such as the FAI and Clare County Council would be willing to participate as a stakeholder in a working group”.
Development on a sporting, economic and tourism sense would follow if Clare had a League of Ireland outfit, Cllr Guilfoyle maintained. “My motion represents not just a long-term sporting vision but a deeply felt aspiration among the people of Clare”. He stated, “This isn’t just a proposal, it is a chance to unite a vision that lifts the county on spirit”.
He said players from Clare have to pursue a League of Ireland career outside the county, “we owe it to them to provide a team here in Clare”. A staunch Cobh Ramblers fan, Guilfoyle added, “Establishing a League of Ireland team would bring new faces to our hotels, restaurants and shops. Local enterprises would benefit from increased footfall. A vibrant sporting culture can showcase match weekends for the county”.
Arguably the most versed of all elected members of the Council on matters connected to soccer is Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG). A former coach with Burren Utd, his son Michael lined out with both Limerick FC and Galway Utd before commencing a collegiate soccer career. “As someone who drove up and down the roads from Galway Utd to Limerick FC for six or seven years with my young fella, I can see the benefit but I know the challenges. Donal Magee has been appointed Chair of the CDSL, he is a good soccer man, he has the vision of all-weather pitch to serve the entire county, let’s start on the achievable steps. Get fully behind Donal’s vision, let’s have an all-weather or MUGA in every local electoral area, that would be the way to go. I know where Tommy is going. We’re caught between Galway and Limerick on a lot of things, it is a very expensive model to play in the League of Ireland. If we were really to get behind provision of soccer, provide multi-use facilities that are available to everyone, give the opportunities. It would be great to have a hub in Clare, they’ve done it in Kerry. I’m happy to support the vision but roll in behind the vision of CDSL”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr David Griffin (FF) said Newmarket Celtic’s success in winning the FAI Junior Cup in 2023 has brought soccer “to the fore a lot more in recent years”. He added, “What we’ve seen is the talent leaving the county, we all know people in our villages who have left to join the likes of Treaty”.
Corofin Harps bring “huge pride” to the village when they are going well at any level, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) noted. On visits to Sligo, he is known to frequent Sligo Rovers games, “I visit Sligo on a number of occasions, huge excitement in the town when the soccer team are playing in different parts of the county”.
“It is a very good idea, two very good soccer teams in my own area, if they want to get serious it is definitely not in the county which they play,” commented Cllr James Ryan (SF).
Founder of Naomh Eoin GAA club, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) praised Cllr Guilfoyle for his “vision”. He said, “We’ve many soccer clubs in Clare, why not have a county team, we’d all be supportive of. The GAA season finishes early, I’ve no doubt this would be a great success”.
National and Munster titles have been won by soccer clubs from Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) flagged.
RTÉ Radio One covered the motion when it was deferred at the June meeting and it has created plenty of discussion, Cllr Guilfoyle said. “People stopped me on the street to say they always wanted to support a Banner Celtic, there is a will and a want”. He continued, “I know the financial implications,, if you’ve a genuine backer and broker we can get this up and running”.
