*Clare’s victorious All-Ireland junior camogie team celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE camogie has recorded its highest ever membership.
In a detailed report to this week’s annual convention of Clare camogie, secretary Ann Sanz said “2023 can only be summarised as a record year for camogie in Co. Clare. We have seen huge attendances at our club championships and leagues as can been seen in the accounts, we have recorded our highest membership ever at over 5000 and four All-Ireland titles were brought back to Clare”.
Continuing she said “Coláiste Mhuire won the Junior B All-Ireland Post Primary championship last March, the U16A county team won the All-Ireland A Shield in July as well as the Munster A Shield competition in April, while the Junior team won the Division 3B league in April and also the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier junior championship in August. We have two Soaring Stars in the County (Ellen Casey and Caoimhe Cahill) and the Premier junior player of the year in Ellen Casey. Our Senior team has also retained its status at senior and Division 1A level, and our Minor team reached an All-Ireland semi-final. Considering that two of those All- Irelands were won by underage players, the future is indeed bright for Clare camogie”.
The secretary went on to say that “Clare played 40 intercounty matches between U16A and B, Minor, Junior and Senior in the National League, championship and Munster competitions. To date in our own competitions, over 700 matches have been scheduled, with almost all being played. This is only possible because of the hard work and dedication of the clubs, managers and players”.
She thanked all delegates for their attendance at the various county board meetings Munster Council meetings and gatherings of the many sub-committee during the year under review. She also thanked the board’s sponsors.
“We continue to have strong links with Clare GAA, who have been very generous to us again this year. Our senior, intermediate and minor finals were held in Cusack Park, as well as a number of intercounty matches. Our adult teams trained in both Clareabbey and Caherlohan during the year, and most of our games were played in GAA pitches given by the clubs. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible, especially Kieran Keating and Deirdre Murphy”, the Sixmilebridge clubwoman said.
“The double headers with the GAA, which are a resounding success, continued this year and are very much appreciated,” she noted.
Ms Sanz also thanked the various media outlets for their support and she went on to extend thanks to her colleagues on the executive for their support and their work.
“While 2023 has been a wonderful year, for many of our members it has been a difficult and lonely one due to the loss of loved ones through illness, accident and tragedy”, the secretary concluded when offering condolences to all.
