Pictured at the Dublin launch of the Clare Association 2025 Journal in Dublin last Friday night were Tom Hillery (left) who performed the launch and Tom Conway, Chairman of the Association.
CLARE’s senior hurlers who stamped 2024 as one of the most exciting in the long and proud tradition of Clare GAA are given due prominence in the latest edition of the Clare Association Dublin Journal which is now on sale in book shops.
By Tony Mulvey
Miltown Malbay native Tom Hillery now residing in Greystones performed the Dublin launch of the 2025 journal on Friday last and Fanore native Joe Queally conducts the Clare launch at The Falls Hotel from 7pm this Friday.
Sports journalist Seamus Hayes records the unqiue double of Clare’s hurlers winning the All-Ireland SHC and Allianz National Hurling League in the one year in his contribution titled ‘The Banner Raised – A Year To Remember’.
Memories of the 2024 All-Ireland final are also captured in an article by Joe Queally and Ennis historian Ollie Byrnes writes that the National League was a catalyst for the later championship success. Ollie also features with the publication of his book ‘On the Boards’ which chronicles the music of Ennis and Clare from 1950 to 2023.
Roles played by former Clare hurling greats including Cratloe’s Jackie O’Gorman, Donal O’Grady from Tubber and Tom McNamara of Crusheen a noted character, all of whom passed to their eternal reward in 2024 are recalled in the Journal.
Sticking with the strong GAA theme is details on the launch of Seamus O’Reilly’s book ‘Clare GAA In the Championship 1887-2024’, a publication spanning 1,220 pages which involved six years of research by O’Reilly.
An article is also devoted to Torpey Hurlers in Belvoir while the GAA’s founder, Michael Cusack is also remembered in a story by Sheila Keane, Education Officer at the Michael Cusack Centre.
Elsewhere the 140-page publication includes messages from Clare Association Dublin- Muintir an Chlair- from association officers, Tom Conway (Chairman), Pat O’ Donnell (President) and the Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan (association patron).
Tributes to association members who died during 2024 are in the Journal along with stories about the Colleen Bawn, Quin Abbey, the Burren, Clare Crusaders Clinic, the Clare Person of the Year in New York, Tommy Mulvihill, , the Breen family, musicians of Ennis and Ruan, over a Century of Co. Clare Agricultural Shows, Doolin, farming for nature, de Valera’s motor car and the tribute by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann to Padraig Mac Mathúna who is the last surviving member of the committee that brought Fleadh Nua to Ennis in 1974.
Fiction writer, Helen Blackhurst is profiled in the journal which includes a history of the Murphy Shoe Repairs by Johnny Murphy, Painting the Soul of the Burren, a history of local government-, Clare’s Western Loop and the RNLI.
Space is also devoted to sculptor Seamus Connolly and Jim Meade, the Cooraclare native who is CEO of Irish Rail.
Designed and printed by RealPrint, Ennis, this is another attractive, well researched and interesting publication from the Clare Association Dublin- Muintir an Chlair- and would make an ideal Christmas present.
