County Clare’s sporting history is a compelling blend of Gaelic games, hurling, rugby, and more, with clubs, facilities, and personalities shaping a proud athletic heritage. From historic victories to modern venues, the Banner County continues to thrive in competition.
Gaelic Games: The Soul of Clare
Hurling is Clare’s sporting heartbeat, governed by Clare GAA, which oversees 44 clubs across hurling, Gaelic Football, and camogie. Cusack Park in Ennis, opened in 1935, serves as the county’s primary venue, hosting matches for the senior teams. The Clare senior hurling team won five All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships in 1914, 1995, 1997, 2013, and 2024, with the 1995 victory under Ger Loughnane ending an 81-year drought. The team also secured six Munster Senior Hurling Championships (1889, 1897, 1914, 1932, 1995, 1997) and three National Hurling League titles (1946, 1977, 1978). Éire Óg Ennis leads club hurling with 15 Clare Senior Hurling Championships, while Sixmilebridge has 14, including a Munster Club title in 1995. Wolfe Tones won the 1996 county title, and Clonlara claimed the 2023 championship. Standout personalities include:
- Anthony Daly (Clarecastle): Captained Clare to their first All-Ireland titles in 81 years in 1995 and 1997. A legendary center-back, he won three All-Star awards.
- Brian Lohan (Wolfe Tones): Widely considered one of the greatest full-backs in the history of the game, he was a key pillar of the 1990s defense and a two-time All-Ireland winner.
- Seánie McMahon (St. Joseph’s, Doora-Barefield): An iconic center-back and free-taker who was named Hurler of the Year in 1997, known for his incredible accuracy and leadership.
- Davy Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge): The goalkeeper for the 1995 and 1997 All-Ireland wins, known for his passion and charisma. He also managed Clare to success later.
- Tony Kelly (Ballyea): A modern-day genius and arguably one of the most skillful players to ever wear the saffron and blue. He was Young Hurler of the Year in 2013 and Hurler of the Year in 2013.
- Jamesie O’Connor (St. Joseph’s, Doora-Barefield): A prolific forward and a vital part of the 1995 and 1997 teams, renowned for his speed and scoring ability.
- Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg, Ennis): Famous for his 3-3 haul in the 2013 All-Ireland final replay as a surprise starter, he has developed into one of the best forwards in the game.
- Ger Loughnane (Feakle): While he is immensely famous as the manager of the 1995/1997 teams, he was also a legendary player for Clare in the 1970s, winning two Munster titles.
- Colin Lynch (Lissycasey): A tenacious and skilled midfielder on the 1990s team, often described as a “warrior” and a fan favorite.
- John Conlon (Clonlara): A modern-day stalwart who has been a key player for over a decade, adapting from forward to a top-tier defender, and a key member of the 2013 All-Ireland winning team
- Jimmy Smyth (Ryan): Outstanding player on the 1955 Clare team which reached the Munster final and won the previous year’s Oireachtas, a regular for Munsetr during the glory days of the Railway Cup.
Gaelic Football, though secondary and traditionally confined to the west fo the county, has a strong presence. The Clare senior football team won Munster Senior Football Championships in 1917 and 1992, with Kilmurry-Ibrickane dominating club football with 17 county titles and a 2009 Munster Club Championship. Lissycasey and Kilmihil have also secured county honours. Camogie thrives, with Clare winning All-Ireland Junior titles in 1974 and 1986, and the Intermediate title in 1993. Orlaith Considine, a dual player, earned All-Stars in both camogie and ladies’ Soccer.
Rugby: gathering momentum
Rugby union flourishes through clubs like Ennis RFC and Shannon RFC, both based at Thomond Park’s secondary pitches in Limerick, though Ennis RFC also uses grounds at Drumbiggle. Ennis RFC, founded in 1927, won the Munster Junior League in 1929 and 2015, while Shannon RFC, though tied to Limerick, has strong Clare roots and claimed nine All-Ireland League titles between 1995 and 2009. Anthony Foley, a Shannon native, captained Munster to the 2006 Heineken Cup and earned 68 Ireland caps, leaving a lasting legacy in Clare rugby. Australian born fo Miltown Malbay parents, Ciaran Frawley is Clare’s most prominent current rugby personality.
Association Football and Other Sports
Soccer thrives through clubs like Newmarket Celtic, winners of the FAI Junior Cup in 2012 and 2019, and Avenue United, based in Ennis. Facilities like the Frank Healy Park support local leagues. Golf is popular at courses like Lahinch Golf Club, founded in 1892, and Doonbeg, while athletics sees participation through clubs like Ennis Track Club. Rowing on the River Fergus and surfing along Clare’s Atlantic coast add to the county’s sporting diversity. Mick O’Dea, a former Clare hurler and 1995 All-Ireland winner, and Seamus Clancy, a dual-code player, are key figures in the county’s sporting history.
Doonbeg born Pat McDonald won two Olympic gold medals for Clare in the shot put, Stockholm 1912 and the 56 lb weight throw, Antwerp 1920.
Facilities and Community
Cusack Park remains the hub for Gaelic games, complemented by grounds like Shannon’s Wolfe Tones GAA Park. Community facilities, supported by the Clare Sports Partnership, include the Active Ennis Leisure Centre, fostering grassroots participation. Coastal areas like Lahinch and Kilkee support water-based sports, while golf courses draw players from beyond the county.
A Lasting Heritage
Clare’s sporting culture shines through its clubs, from Éire Óg’s hurling dominance to Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s Soccer success and Ennis RFC’s rugby achievements. With facilities like Cusack Park and personalities like Lohan, Kelly, and Foley, the county’s athletic legacy continues to inspire, uniting communities in pursuit of excellence.
Sports in the county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Clare:
Ireland’s county Clare is renowned for its dramatic cliffs and traditional heritage, with the Cliffs of Moher offering breathtaking views over the Atlantic. The Burren’s unique limestone landscape provides hiking and rare flora, while Bunratty Castle offers medieval history with its restored interiors. Check out the traditional music scene in Doolin and the county’s coastal beaches. Clare is Ireland’s eighth largest county by size (3,188 square km) and 19th largest by population (127,938). Population peaked at 286,394 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 73,597 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Clare is Ireland’s sixth most visited tourist county with around 485,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – New – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints –Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837– 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
