Fáilte chuig suíomh idirlín Mhuintir an Chláir, Baile Átha Cliath. Welcome to the Clare Association, Dublin website.
Our aims are to bring Clare people in the capital together, to create links with Clare people further afield and to render, where possible, aid and co-operation to worthy undertakings, objects and causes in or associated with Co. Clare. The highlight of our year is the Clare Person of the Year Award which is presented at our annual dinner dance.
The Clare Association in Dublin (Muintir an Chláir) has a new chairperson.
Tom Conway, a native of Ballyea, Inagh, will now lead the association for the coming year after his unanimous election at the association’s annual general meeting in September 2021 at the Clasac Comhaltas Ceoltoírí Centre, Clontarf.
He succeeds Gerry O’ Reilly, who stepped down after a very successful term as the association’s chairman.
The new chairman, together with the long standing association officer, Liam O’Looney, also from Inagh, were among those who paid tribute to Mr O’ Reilly for his efforts and wonderful work on behalf of the association. He will continue to support the association as one of its officers.
Mr O’Reilly thanked all members of the association for their endeavours and all who assisted the association in any way during his term in office.
Mr Conway, who was a chief superintendent when he retired from An Garda Siochana in 2016 after 41 years service –most of it in Dublin- joined in the appeal for more Clare natives or people with Clare connections who are living in and around Dublin to join or support the association.
He said that they would especially welcome younger members with new ideas to join them.
Elected were Pat O’Donnell (president), Liam O’Looney (vice-president), Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe (patron), Tom Conway (chairman), Mary Kennedy (vice-chairman), Mary Forbes (secretary), John Brooks (PRO), Liam O’Looney (assistant PRO), Kieran Barry (honorary treasurer), Gerry O’Reilly (assistant honorary treasurer), Fr Finbarr Neylon (spiritual director), Brother Seán McNamara, Ennis CBS (Representative in Clare), Tony Mulvey, Ennis (assistant Clare representative).
Elected to the committee were Mary Browne, Donal O’Loinsigh, Martin Vaughan, Michael Clancy, Michael Anglim, Tom Hillery, Ita O’Looney, Mary Barry, Paddy Kelly, Michael Kelleher, John McGrath and Michael Forbes.
The Clare Person of the Year 2020 Awards Night has been deferred on health & safety grounds due to the Covid-19 outbreak. We regret the deferral but public health & safety must take precedence.
Clare Person of the Year for 2020.
The Clare Association – Muintir an Chláir is pleased to announce Dr. Susan Crawford, Autism Advocate, as the Clare Person of the Year for 2020.
Susan is being recognised for her efforts to address quality of life issues for children and adults with autism.
Through her commitment to education, research and the provision of practical programmes she is striving to make a real difference in the lives of those on the autism spectrum. She promotes the necessity of fundamental movement skills in regulating behaviours especially those of people with autism.
Susan’s interest in the area of autism was inspired by her own son, Tomás, being diagnosed with autism in 1998.
She specialises in focusing on autism from research, policy and practice perspectives. She has been actively involved in addressing the learning and overall development of education, health and activity programmes for children and adults with autism for over 20 years.
She completed a PhD in the field of Fundamental Movement Skills and Autism in 2007. She is a two time Fulbright Award winner for her work on development of autism awareness programmes. She has researched and developed the Get Autism Active online programme.
Get Autism Active is committed to developing skills of movement for children and adults on the autism spectrum. Research has demonstrated that having a repertoire of movement provides opportunity for further development of health related physical activity, participation in exercise and sport and social inclusion. It also enhances inclusive practice and development of opportunity particularly for children and adults with diverse needs.
The objectives of the programme are to attain equality of access for all especially in the areas of skill development, education and health. Its specialty area of expertise and research includes fundamental movement skill development for children and adults with autism and health related research across the lifespan.
Susan is actively involved in fundraising and developing awareness of and for Autistic Spectrum Disorders. She has completed marathons, half marathons and 10k runs all over the world including one in the Antarctic. Susan’s son Tomás is also a keen runner and has joined her to complete several 10km runs and half marathons nationally and internationally. In 2019, she undertook a 2,500 km walk, run and cycle along the Wild Atlantic Way from Kinsale to Donegal in a bid to build awareness around autism and to promote Ireland as “autism active and autism aware”
Hall of Fame Award 2020
This award honours not only Mary’s efforts and also recognises the dedication and efforts of Colette Redington, Gerry Brennan and Madeline McAleer and the tremendous work of the Clare Haven Horizons Charity Shop which supports both the frontline services and the development work
The Clare Association has also voted to honour Mary Fitzgerald with a Clare Association Hall of Fame Award for her outstanding contribution in the area of domestic abuse in County Clare in providing refuge and support services to women and children fleeing domestic abuse through Clare Haven Services.
Clare Haven Services is a voluntary organisation providing 24 hour residential refuge accommodation together with support and information to women and children who experience domestic abuse. It has an extensive range of support services to meet the needs of each individual and each family situation.
Haven Horizons, a national charity, has also been established to work to break the cycle of domestic abuse through international best practice and evidence-based prevention models and is committed to the elimination of gender based violence in society.
Finally, a special recognition award will be presented to the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee for their outstanding contribution to their local environment and for their consistency of achievement in the National Tidy Towns Competition.
Ennis Tidy Towns has over the years received a number of accolades from the National Tidy Towns Competition and is currently ranked Ireland’s tidiest large urban centre.
These awards will be presented at the Clare Person of the Year 2020 Awards Ceremony to be held at Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare on Saturday 28th March 2020, proceedings commencing at 19.30
2015
The unique attractions of the world famous Burren are highlighted in the first personal DVD of the area, which was launched last week in the Burren Centre, Kilfenora by Killimer native, Professor Michael O’Connell of University College Galway.
Entitled Clare’s Wonderland, The Burren, the DVD is based on a book of the same name by Br. Sean MacNamara, Ennis. The hour-long DVD is a personal account of the Burren by Br. Sean, who has been a regular visitor to the Burren for about 50 years.
It contains some pen pictures of some men associated with the Burren, including Brian Merriman; John Philip Holland, Liscannor; Michael Cusack of Carron; Paddy Nolan, Glenisheen, who discovered the Gold Collar in 1932; Charles Lucas, who wrote the first account of the national history of the Burren; Micho Russell of Doolin and Frederick J. Foot, a native of Dublin who produced a botanical map of the Burren and the first worthwhile list of plants in the area. He is credited as the first person to discover the very rare pyrmidal bugle in 1862.
Apart from photographs and drawings of many rare plants, there are pictures and information on Corcomroe Abbey, Kilfenora Cathedral, Coad Church, the old church in Kilnaboy, Carron Church and Templecronan. The DVD also highlights Lemenagh Castle, the Tau Cross, Ballyportry Castle, the Pinnacle Well, the Gleninsheen Gorget, the Cusack Centre, Lisdoonvarna Spa Wells, the Merriman memorial in Ennistymon and Lake Inchiquin.Also included are colourful drawings by Marianne McGeough who produced the DVD. Most of the photographs are by John Brody and Paul Sinnott.
“By looking and listening to the DVD they will realise that the Burren is indeed a wonderland and much more than a botanical paradise. Every school, hotel and guesthouse in Clare should have a copy of the DVD, which is available at the Burren Centre in Kilfenora” said Br. McNamara. The DVD opens with music from the Kilfenora Céilí Band and ends with tunes from Chris Droney, Bellharbour.
Our thanks to Tony Mulvey and the Clare Champion for permission to reproduce this article which was published on May 8, 2015
Sr. Maura O’Donoghue RIP
It is with great regret that Muintir an Chláir – Clare Association Dublin has learned of the recent death of Sr. Maura O’Donoghue, medical doctor and missionary nun. A native of Lickeen, Kilfenora, Sr. Maura was presented with the award of Clare Person of the Year by Muintir an Chláir in 2011, in recognition of her courageous work among the sick, the vulnerable and the marginalised, mainly in Africa. More details here.
Members of the association attended Sr. Maura’s funeral Mass in the chapel of the motherhouse of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, Beechgrove, Drogheda on 6th May, 2015. One of the gifts brought up during the offertory procession was the engraved vase which she received when awarded Clare Person of the Year in 2011. The association wishes to extend its sympathies to her family, to her friends and to the community of the Medical Missionaries of Mary.
Sr. Maura O’Donoghue’s month’s mind Mass was celebrated in St Fachtna’s Church, Kilfenora on Sunday, May 31st at 10 a.m.
Sr. Maura O’Donoghue, Medical Missionaries of Mary, died on 5 May 2015. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílís.
2014
New York Tribute To Ennis Christian Brother
Members of the County Clare Patriotic, Benevolent and Social Association of New York are the latest to join in congratulating Brother Sean MacNamara of the Irish Christian Brothers, Ennis on celebrating his 70th year in the order.
Their good wishes were conveyed by Bill Lewis, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Clare Association in New York, who made a presentation to Brother MacNamara on their behalf on a visit to Ennis in November 2014. He paid tribute to the Kilmurry McMahon native on reaching a milestone in his association with the Christian Brothers and also for his work on behalf of the GAA, Muintir an Chláir in Dublin and many other voluntary organisations.
Bill Lewis, who is New York born, also visited his cousins and friends in Killaloe. His father, William Lewis came from Killaloe and his mother was a member of the O’Grady family from Sligo. He made the presentation to Brother MacNamara at Clare County Council headquarters- Áras Contae an Chláir- at New Road, Ennis prior to a monthly meeting of Clare County Council.
Afterwards he renewed acquaintances with the Mayor of Clare, John Crowe, council members and officials. He met many of them when they travelled to New York for the 125th year celebrations of the Clare Association last year and for the St. Patrick’s Day parades.
His itinerary also included a visit to Tulla to meet members of the Tulla Pipe Band. Last year they invited the band to lead them up 5th Avenue in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The band also marched in Brooklyn and gave a memorable performance at the National Park on Ellis Island.
Bill Lewis told The Clare Champion that the Clare Association in New York is going well. They recently held their annual dinner dance and their annual general meeting. They are also preparing for their participation in the St.Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17.
Above article and photograph by Tony Mulvey reproduced with permission from the Clare Champion, 13 November, 2014