Clarecastle GAA

Clarecastle GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in the village of Clarecastle in County Clare, Ireland. It has been in existence since 1887. History The name Clarecastle has its origins a local medieval tower house which was first built in the 13th century. While hurling and Gaelic football were played in the parish prior to the formation of the club, the club's present existence may date from 1887 when a football tournament took place involving teams from the area. The name of the club changed several times, from "Robert Emmets", "Parnells" to "An Clar", "An Clar Mor" and "Droichead an Chlair". Then, in 1971, the club was named "Clár Átha an Dá Choradh". The club did not have a home ground until the early 1980s, when a site was purchased from St Flannan's College at Clareabbey. This ground was sold by the club to Ennis Urban Council in 1998 before being bought back from the council by the GAA's Clare County Board and became the official headquarters of Clare GAA. Clarecastle's present grounds, in the centre of the village of Clarecastle, consists of a clubhouse (opened in 2002) and five playing pitches (first used in 2001). On the playing field, having joined up temporarily with their neighbours Ennis Dalcassians, the club won the 1928 Clare Senior Hurling Championship for the first time. The club contested three county finals as an independent club in the 1930s, before their breakthrough in the county finally came in 1943 with a win over Scariff. Further successes followed in 1945, 1949, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2003 and 2005. In 1997, Clarecastle also made the breakthrough in the Munster Club Hurling Championship with victory over Patrickswell, following final defeats in 1970 and 1986. In the subsequent 1997 All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship, Clarecastle lost out in a replay to Birr at the semi-final stage. In football, Clarecastle won the Intermediate Football Championship in 1984, 1993 and 1998 while at senior level, the only championship secured was in the early days of the club in 1908. In 2012, the club won the County Junior A Championship. This result ensured a first representation at Munster level and the club now fields adult teams at Intermediate, Junior B and Under 21 levels. Clarecastle is also home to camogie, Ladies' Gaelic football and Gaelic handball clubs. Honours Hurling Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 1997 Clare Senior Hurling Championship (12): 1928 (with Ennis Dalcassians), 1943, 1945, 1949, 1970, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2005 Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship (0): (runners-up in 2025) Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 1931 Clare Junior A Hurling Championship (2): 1985, 2012 Clare Under-21 A Hurling Championship (4): 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 Gaelic football Clare Senior Football Championship (1): 1908 Clare Intermediate Football Championship (3): 1984, 1993, 1998 Clare Junior A Football Championship (3): 1936, 1982, 2012 Notable players John Callinan Jonathan Clancy Anthony Daly Haulie Daly Bobby Duggan Tom Howard Mick Murphy Alan Neville Ger O'Loughlin Paschal Russell Fergus Tuohy References External links Official Clarecastle GAA Club website