This article is from page 26 of the 2011-12-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
SPORTING and musical ent husiasts who shone during the past year were last night honoured by Shannon Town Counci l, through thei r annual Liosta na Laochra scheme.
Ever y year, t he council awards people who have represented t he town with distinction during the previous 12 months and a wide variety of personalities were represented this year.
Ciara O’Loughl in, of Shannon Flyers Special Olympics club, who won silver medals in the shot putt and relay at t he World Special Olympic Games in Athens dur ing the summer, was awarded.
Gearóid McMahon, of Shannon Athletics Club, was honoured for his achievements during t he past year. He won a gold medal with Clare in the national cross count r y championships (under 11) and silver in the national communit y games finals (under 13 wal k).
Declan O’Rourke of Wolfe Tones, who was a member of the Clare team t hat won the All-Ireland intermediate hurling championship earlier this year, was also on the list of recipients.
Cara Ní Chai rba, who won t he under 12 har p competition at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉi reann, was awarded, as was John Cawley, who won t he Irish Open Masters singles title in handball. Another handball player, John Ki rby, who won the All-Ireland r ugby Masters single and double titles, was awarded.
Three members of the Shannon Kickboxing Club, were awarded, having excelled during the past year. They were Josh Vincent, David Ryan and Leona O’Shea. Josh won an Irish light heavyweight championship, at the age of 17; David won both senior and junior Irish feather weight championships, while Leona won a double under 17 national junior championship title.
Members of the t rampoline club were also among those honoured. Shannen Miniter, Alex Russell, Dar ragh Moane, Louise Ryan and Callum Miniter were all rewarded for thei r heroics during the year.
Shannon came first in Midlands, Dublin, South and Munster Opens and is the cur rent All-Ireland gi rls inter mediate champion. Alex won silver at t he Al l-Ireland champions, while Dar ragh took home gold from the same event. Louise won a silver medal at the All-Irelands, while Callum came four th in his section of t he All-Irelands and was par t of the sout h-west region team which came t hi rd in the Grand Pri x final.
The other groups honoured last night i ncluded the Shannon Musical Societ y front of house commit tee, which won a national award this year; Rachel McIntyre of the musical society and Jayme O’Sullivan, a medal wi nner in t he world Ir ish dancing championships.