Clare History - MLGFA Munster Ladies Gaelic Football Association

Clare Ladies Gaelic Football History 1983

At a meeting in Miltown Malbay on Monday August 28 1983 the Clare Ladies Football Board was formed.  The founder members were Mr Tom Malone (Clonbony) and Fr J O’Keeffe CC Miltown Malbay.

Elected officers:
Chairman:  Fr John O’Keeffe Clonbony
Vice-Chairman: Frank Scully (RIP) Ml Cusacks
Secretary:  James Lafferty  Clonbony
Ass Secretary:  Mary Murphy  Kilmaley
Treasurer:  Geraldine Moloney Kilmurray Ibrickane

It was decided at the meeting to enter Clare teams in the Munster championship for the 1984 season.  

Teams who took part in the first senior championship were:
Ballyea, Clonbony, Cooraclare, Milmihil, Kilmaley, Kilfenora, Killanena, Kildysart, Kilmurry, Ibrickane, Michael Cusacks.

The championship was played on a league basis which comprised of 2 divisions.  The results from the semi finals which were played at Lahinch were:

Clonbony 3-2 Ballyea   2-2
Ml Cusacks 2-8 Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-3

On the 13 November in Lahinch, Clonbony and Ml Cusacks met in the final.  Clonbony emerged victorious on a scoreline of 1-3 to 1-2.  Both teams paraded before the game after the Clonbony pipe band.  Maureen Davoren from the Kilfenora club refereed the match.

The cup for the senior championship was donated by Fr. Michael J O’Keeffe originally from Dromin, Mullagh who was home on holidays from Georgia, USA.

The teams lined out as follows:
Clonbony:
M Flynn, K Talty, A Marrinan, K McMahon, E McMahon, M Malone, F O’Halloran, S Sexton, D O’Brien, K Shannon, B Devereaux, R Malone, R Griffin, M Shannon and M Finn.

Michael Cusacks:
M Fahy, S O’Halloran, C Fahy, J Jordan, B Cassidy, T Davenport, G O’Dea, A McGann, M Davenport, F Fahy, P Linnane, M Linnane, C A Organ, F Davenport, C O’Dea.



After the game chairman Fr John O’Keeffe presented the trophy to Margaret malone who was the Clonbony captain.

When it comes to ladies football, Clare must have the record of one of the first ladies football games played in Ireland.

In 1926 a parish league was organised by Ton Garry of Clonreddin, Cooraclare, and it was a huge success as the ladies of the parish took to the field to play a game which was traditionally associated with the men folk.  This went on for some year but owing to war and many other distractions the football died until it was revived in 1983.

In the early seventies Our lady’s hospital (Ennis) was one of 5 teams to participate in an All Ireland inter-hospital tournament.  Our lady’s and Portlaoise contested the final while teams from Clonmel, Waterford and Ballinasloe also participated.