This article is from page 109 of the 2009-05-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 109 JPG
A 23-YEAR gap will be bridged in 2010 when Clare plays host to the Feile na nGael. News of this coup for the game in the county was delivered at last Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the County County Board by chair- man Michael O’Neill.
“This is a national event that we haven’t had since 1987. It’s a major event for the county,” O’Neill told delegates in announcing the appoint- ment of Ger Hickey as chairman of the organising committee.
Clare hosted Féile na nGael in both 1986 and °87, years that coincided with a golden era in the county’s as- sociation with the underage 14 hurl- ing and camogie festival that was inaugurated in 1971.
Wolfe Tones carved their names into the Féile na nGael history books when winning three All-Irelands in a row from 1986 to °88. Their 1986 and ’87 final victories came in Cu- sack Park over Piltown (Kilkenny) and Eire Og from Ennis respectively, while their 1988 win over Bishop- stown (Cork) make them the only three-in-a-row winners in the history
of the competition.
Other Clare winners of the Christy Ring Trophy down the years include Sixmuebridge who shared the 1995 title with Drom-Inch (Tipperary) and Eire Og who beat Glen Rovers in the 1999 final in Wexford.
Cratloe were Division Two win- ners in 1986 when they beat Smith O’Briens in an all-Clare final; The Division Four final that year was also an all-Clare affair, with Bodyke beating St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, while ’87 decider saw Ogonnelloe beat Parteen. Kilkee/Bealaha went all the way to the final of the Divi- sion Five final in ’87 but went down to Padraig Pearses of Roscommon.
Clarecastle are Clare’s representa- tive in the 2009 Féile that takes place in Laois and Offaly on the weekend of June 19/21.