This article is from page 32 of the 2007-11-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
THEY take their football seriously in Cooraclare so when the GAA club paid tribute to its honorary life presi- dents last week the chosen 12 were indeed honoured.
The highly acclaimed football club presented the dozen hard working members with a commemorative medal and certificate as they were ratified as honorary presidents of the local club.
A total of 10 men were bestowed this honour by the men’s club, three posthumously.
Family members represented the late Mitchell Lillis, Donal Kelly and Michael Garry.
Jimmy Chambers who now resides in the USA is known through out
the Big Apple as a refuge for Irish emigrants, a GAA enthusiast and a man who has lived in New York for SO years but who’s heart is firmly in west Clare.
Jimmy was first named as honorary president a number of years ago as was Marty Queally.
Marty not only won a champion- ship medal but has an unusual record as he played in a total of three coun- ties – Clare Dublin and Kildare.
He was also part of the Clare Mi- nor Football panel that played in the 1953 All Ireland. The club paid trib- ute to both men on the night.
Five new honorary presidents were also named and all ten were present- ed their prizes by Cooraclare’s most knowledgeable man when it comes to GAA – Padraig MacMathuna,
Oifigeach Gaelige CLG An Clar.
The captain of the 1956 champion- ship winning team Tommy Healy was one of the new five, as was team- mate Jimmy Corry. Both men also played for the county.
Tadhg Murphy was at the helm of Clare GAA for a decade as he held the position of chairman of the county board from 1981 to 1990. As a leading player he won three cham- pionships with the team.
Tireless club worker Michael John Kelly was also honoured.
In describing Michael John, Padraig said “when a job has to be done and a volunteer 1s looked for, Michael John in always first on the scene”.
The most senior member of the ex- clusive honorary presidents club is 89-year-old Tommy Breen. His suc-
cessful playing career saw him win his first medal in 1937, followed by a minor team medal in 1938, an in- termediate medal in 1941 and 1943 and a senior championship medal in 1944 and 1945.
‘He was a very versatile player. He played in practically every line on the team,” said Padraig.
The very successful women’s club was also part of the celebrations as it paid tribute to its two honorary ORSON ASE
Peggy Kelly and Na Synan were presented with their medals by the Aleem see Meee m OCA oo MBN EE Doel Sit-benlelouy