Clare Community Games

The Golden Vale Milk Clare Community Games 40th Anniversary County Athletic Finals took place on Sunday 26th June 2011 in Lees Rd complex in ideal weather conditions. Prior to the finals there was a very colourful parade of areas to the music of the Ennis Brass Band. The chairman Pat Taylor welcomed everyone including the participants, the Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin, Michael Guilfoyle who represented the Mayor of Ennis Tommy Brennan, former chairmen Pat Brassil, Paddy Keane, Kieran Murphy, Tony Bourke, Kevin O’Loughlin & Fiach McHugh. The chairman thanked everyone involved in preparing the athletes for the finals. He also thanked main sponsors Golden Vale Milk, Clare County Council, Shannon Development, all the advertisers and the media without whom Community Games would not exist.

The Mayor Christy Curtin thanked all the volunteers involved in community games over the past 40 years. He said he admired & acknowledged the work they had done in bringing Community Games to every area in Clare so much that he recognised their efforts in a civic reception in Aras an Clar in February.

Deputy Mayor of Ennis Michael Guilfoyle also acknowledged the work done by the volunteers in Community Games for the children in Clare. He spoke on the great facilities provided by Clare County Council & Ennis Town Council in Lees Road for organisations such as Community Games.

The torch was carried by Gerard Kennedy - Ennis St John’s and the pledge was read As Gaeilge by Niamh O’Brien and in English by Darren O’Brien both from Ennis St John’s. The Chairman then declared the games underway.

Ennis St Johns were winners of 17 events, Quin/Clooney, Clonlara & Doora/Barefield 4 each, Cooraclare/Cree, Clarecastle/Ballyea 3 each, Meelick/Coonagh, Kilrush, Ennistymon/Lahinch/Liscannor & Kilkishen/O’Callaghans Mills 2 each, Inch/Kilmaley/Connolly, Newmarket-On-Fergus, An Droichead, Shannon, Carrigaholt/Cross, Killanena/Flagmount, Tulla & Doonbeg 1 each.

There are still a few copies of the special 40 year anniversary souvenir programme available for discounted price of Eur 3 each. Contact the Treasurer or your local area secretary to order.

• Girls, Boys and Mixed Relay Results
• Girls Individual Track Results
• Boys Individual Track Results
• Field Event Results

Trophies, Cups and Shields

The following Cups will were presented at the Official Opening Ceremony:-

• Shannon Development Cup – Best Presented Area – An Droichead.
• The Dan O’Donoghue Memorial Trophy – Runner Up Best Presented Area - Quin/Clooney.
• The Meakins Family Shield – Third Best Presented Area - Cooraclare/Cree.
• The O’Sullivan Family Shield – Best Presented Small Area – Kilnamona.
• The Mascot Shield – Best Mascot in the Parade - Ennis St John’s.

The following Cups/Shield were presented to the winners of the following events:-

• The Ulster Bank Cup – Winner of the Best Athletic Area - Ennis St John’s.
• The Christy Gormley Memorial Cup – Winner of the Boys U/16 1500m - Jack Carraig – Shannon.
• The Patrick Hawes Memorial Shield – Winner of the Girls U/16 1500m - Aoife O’Gorman – Cooraclare/Cree.
• The Shannon Family Shield – Winner of the Girls Marathon - Laura Power – Doora/Barefield.
• Tommy McCarthy Cup – Winner of Boys Marathon – Daryl McNamara – Ennis St John’s .

Results Table