Earlier this month, Thomas Leahy followed in the footsteps of his father Michael by becoming Chairman of the Munster Football Association.

Remarkably they are the only people from Clare to have served in the position and on top of that they are the first father and son to be M.F.A Chairman. “It is something special, we never thought of it. I think Dad was Chairman in 2008 and when he finished up as delegate for Clare he asked me would I be interested in going and I’ve been going since and I was elected Chairman this year,” Thomas told The Clare Echo.

Having been Vice Chairman for two years, Leahy now has equally as long in the Chair. His biggest hope in this time is to see success for a team from his county. “I’d love to see a Clare team lift a provincial title whether it’s at youths level or junior level but no Clare team have done it yet and I’ve a feeling that hopefully in the next two years it will come through that I’ll be able to present a Clare junior or youths team with a Munster trophy”.

The Ruan man added, “I actually get a seat on the FAI Junior Council aswell so I’ll be pretty active in Dublin and Cork and I get to travel around to all the leagues to their AGMs so it will be interesting to see how other leagues operate compared to ourselves”.

Michael’s reaction to his son becoming the second Clare man to take on the role was very positive. “He was very proud of me, he’s a great man in fairness to him and he was a great Chairman and I’d be lucky if I did half the job he did I’d be doing a good job”.

Tommy was well prepped for the gig as his father had some words of advice before he got to work. “He said to watch out for the cute Cork lads, he gave me a good insight on the politics and I didn’t go in there wide eyed”.

*Photograph by Martin Connolly

Related News

IMG_2125
Business Chamber Episode 1: Aoibhin Garrihy & Sharon Connellan of BEO Wellness
6
What is grief and how do we get over it?
2-SNNGroup_ThadysHill_May2025-2
Shannon has first conservation grazing project on airport owned land
clare county council hq logo
Council spent €78m on contractors & €12m on consultants last year

Advertisement

Latest News
clare v leitrim 02-05-25 connor meaney 1
Meaney makes Clare team in only change for Down game
clare county council hq logo
Council spent €78m on contractors & €12m on consultants last year
cafe lates 1
Café Lates returns for second year
carmel russell mcgann 1
'The world loved her & she was the world' - colourful Carmel Russell McGann will be missed by so many
ennis 2040 signange 1 francis street 2
Ennis 2040 'has role to play' in tackling housing shortage with potential for 500 plus homes in Claureen
Premium
01052025_Council_Cliffs_of_Moher_0275
Councillors finding it difficult to look public in the eye following €8m Cliffs of Moher deal
Trevor Quinn at Ennis Court
Teenager jailed for 'outrageous' broad daylight machete attack on busy Ennis street
clare v tipperary u20 10-05-24 terence fahy 1
Munster final with Tipperary 'a very exciting prospect' for Fahy & Clare U20s
feakle v cratloe 05-10-24 cathal mcinerney adam hogan 1
Club championship draws to take place next week & Clare GAA to make history with youth committee
ennis garda station 1
Prisoner 'goes up in puff of smoke' & absconds while on permitted cigarette break at Ennis Garda Station

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement