Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe (patron)
Committee 2023
Mary Browne, Martin Vaughan, Michael Clancy, Michael Anglim, Tom Hillery, Ita O’Looney, Mary Barry, Paddy Kelly, Michael Kelleher, Mary Kennedy, Michael Forbes, Patrick MacNamara, Kieran O’Connell.
The Clare Association Dublin is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Awards, to be presented at the Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday, 6th September 2025, at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon.
Clare Person of the Year – Mary ConsidineMary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group and a native of Lissycasey, has been named Clare Person of the Year 2025. A trailblazer in Irish aviation, Mary is recognised for her outstanding leadership and deep commitment to regional development — making her a proud and inspiring ambassador for County Clare.
Hall of Fame – Professor Michael KerinProfessor Michael Kerin, originally from Kilnamona, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his exceptional contributions to cancer surgery, research, and education. He currently serves as Chair of Surgery at the University of Galway and Vice-President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Event Details
Venue: Falls Hotel, EnnistymonDate: Saturday, 6th September 2025Entertainment: Live performance by the Patrick Roche Band
The event is a highlight of the Clare calendar, bringing together the Clare community, friends, and supporters. Guests will enjoy a three-course dinner, musical entertainment, and heartfelt tributes to our honourees.
The Association is also proud to induct Professor Michael Kerin into its Hall of Fame, in recognition of his extraordinary career in cancer surgery, research, and education. Originally from Kilnamona, Professor Kerin is Chair of Surgery at the University of Galway, Clinical Director of the Saolta Cancer Academic Network, and Vice- President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. In 2024, he was conferred with the Doctor of Science (DSc) by the National University of Ireland for his published research in breast cancer. As Research Director of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute and a leader at the Lambe Institute for Translational Science, Professor Kerin has contributed to over 450 peer-reviewed papers, mentored more than 50 MD and PhD students, and helped shape cancer care policy nationally and internationally.
Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group and a native of Lissycasey, has been named Clare Person of the Year for 2025. Mary has shown outstanding leadership in Irish aviation and regional development. As the first female CEO of Shannon Airport, she has steered the organisation through both major challenges and renewed growth, ensuring its long-term sustainability and strategic importance to the West of Ireland. Under her guidance, Shannon has become more than an airport—it has become a vital economic driver for Clare and the region. Her commitment to balanced regional development, innovation, and community partnership has made her a trailblazer in her field and a proud ambassador for County Clare.
One of the most successful football managers in the history of Clare GAA, Colm Collins played football with Kilmihil with whom he won under 21 honours and was a member of the Kilmihil team which won the club’s only senior football championship title in 1980.
He took over as Clare senior football manager in 2013 when Clare were playing in Division Four of the Allianz National Football League. He led them to Division three, then to Division Two and was very unlucky on two occasions not to have them promoted to the top division. Under his management Clare played Division Two football for ten consecutive years. He managed Clare when they reached the Munster SFC final in 2023 and the guided them to contest two All-Ireland quarter-finals.
At local level he steered Cratloe football teams to win county championship titles including two senior titles with his sons Sean, Podge and David involved.
Meanwhile members of the Clare Association Dublin are also making plans for their annual charity walk which will be held on September 29. This year it will honour the late Ita O’ Looney, who died earlier this year. A native of Inagh, she was a supporter and popular member of the Clare Association. Proceeds from the walk will go towards the Clare Crusaders Clinic in Barefield.
Only the second woman in history to serve as Deputy Commissioner, Anne Marie McMahon held the role in an acting capacity in 2020 following in the footsteps of Noirin O’ Sullivan. She joined the An Garda Siochána in 1986 and served in Coolock (Dublin), Henry Street (Limerick) and with the United Nations in Cambodia. She was previously Assistant Commissioner Southern Region from 2016 to 2020 and before that was Director of Training and Development, Garda College in Templemore.
Among the senior roles she held in An Garda Siochána were Chief Superintendent of the Garda Community Relations Bureau and Superintendent in both Roxboro Road (Limerick) and Bruff, Co. Limerick and Inspector in Henry Street (Limerick). She retired as Deputy Garda Commissioner earlier this year. She holds an MBS (honours) Human Resource Management from the University of Limerick and a BA (honours) in Police Management, Garda College. She also received a Diploma in Business and Executive Coaching ( Distinction) Smurfit Business School.
She is the second Kilmurry McManon native to receive the Clare Person of the Year award. A previous winner in 2002 was the late Brother Sean MacNamara, Ennis CBS, one of Co. Clare’s best known personalities for many years and whose death occurred on June 17th 2023.
This year’s 2023 Hall of Fame Award goes to Kieran Hanrahan for his lifelong dedication and promotion of traditional Irish Music both at home and abroad. An native of Ennis, Kieran Hanrahan is a well-known musician and radio broadcaster. He is best known for his contribution to traditional Irish music and his tireless efforts in promoting the music of his native country. He is one of the founding members of Stockton’s Wing, Inchiquin, and the Temple House Ceili Band. Kieran achieved a 1st Class Honors master’s degree (M.Mus. Hons) and was also awarded the DIT Gold Medal for Academic Achievement in 2012.
He has also played on three film soundtracks with the Chieftains and recorded with them on the Grammy Award winning CD The Long Black Veil which also featured Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones, Sinead O Connor, and Tom Jones. He co-arranged and performed the traditional music in the Jim Sheridan movie, The Field. In addition he arranged the traditional music and played in the Aidan Quinn movie This is My Father. Other recordings were with Tommy Hayes and Ronnie Drew. He also has a solo recording to his credit The Irish Tenor Banjo. He has been invited to attend festivals all over Ireland, France and the US and has taught in the University of Limerick and Boston College. A music broadcaster with RTÉ since 1991, he has presented shows such as The Fleadh Club, Both Sides Now and of course Céilí House, the flagship traditional music programme.
(Special thanks to Tony Mulvey for the biographical details above)
Professor Peter Daly, Clareperson of the Year, 2023
This year’s 2023 Clare Person of the Year Award goes to Professor Peter Daly for his work in oncology. An Ennis native, Professor Peter Daly, received his early education at Kilmaley NS and St. Flannan’s College, Ennis. He studied at St.Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and UCD. He undertook basic medical training at at Mater Misericordiae, St. James’s, the Royal City of Dublin( Baggot Street) and Sir Patrick’s Dun’s hospitals before becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1975. Between 1976 and 1979, he was a Fogarty International Fellow at Baltimore Cancer Research Centre of the National Cancer Institute (US-NCI), completing a three-year fellowship in medical oncology.
He was appointed a consultant physician with an interest in malignant diseases to Mercer’s and St James’s in 1979 and, with the closure of Mercer’s in 1983, he became Consultant Physician/Medical Oncologist at St. James’s. This was the first post in the Irish health service to have the medical oncologist designation conferred by Comhairle na nOispideál.
In the academic environment, he was successively lecturer, senior lecturer and Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). In these roles, he taught successive generations of medical students, nurses and other disciplines related to medicine. He became a Fellow of RCPI aged 36 in 1983 and was an active participant in the affairs of the college into his retirement, serving on its council from 2007-2013.
Between 2002 and 2008 he served as National Speciality Director for Medical Oncology within the Irish Committee for Higher Specialist Training (ICHMT) and mentored the majority of those holding consultant positions in the field to-day. He served for many years as national representative on the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) as well as being a member of its education committee. Part of that was devising and conducting examinations for ESMO membership and accreditation. He was a founder member of the Irish Society of Medical Oncology (ISMO) in 1997, becoming its first secretary/treasurer and second president.
At St. James’s he established a joint department with Clinical Haematology and this has evolved into one of the main cancer centres in Ireland which includes the National Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation service for adults. The department-later the HOPE directorate- played an important part in the development of cancer services through developing excellence in care, education, training and collaboration with other centres throughout the world. Professor Daly served on numerous national, European and international committees including the first and second National Cancer Forums, the steering group which established BreastCheck, the EU Cancer Experts Committee of the Europe Against Cancer programme and the US-NCI/Ireland/Northern Ireland initiative on cancer established on the back of the Good Friday Agreement.
In the face of all this the Clare born professor continued with a heavy clinical workload being a lone consultant in his discipline at St. James’s for almost twenty years. He managed to maintain an interest and activity in clinical research and was author/co-author of about 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
One of his greatest achievements was to lead a small team of Irish researchers which contributed to the discovery of the BRCA2 cancer- predisposition gene. The 25th anniversary of that achievement was celebrated at St.James’ in November 2019 by the unveiling of a sculpture titled ‘Structural Symmetries’. The event was attended by Professor/Sir Michael Rudolf Stratton, Director of the Sanger Institute, who was leader of the international consortium in 1994 and who has always warmly commended the Irish contribution. The relevant paper was published in ‘Science’ and the sculpture sits in the main concourse at St. James’s.
In retirement since 2008, Professor Daly was active for a few years at RCPI and ICHMT, chairing assessment and interview panels as well as participating in hospital assessments throughout the country to determine suitability for training. He also served on the council of the Irish Hospitals Consultant Association between 2009 and 2015, representing retired colleagues. In the later years he has restricted himself to serving on the boards of several charities, notably the Mercer’s Hospital Foundation (MHF) from 2002 to the present time, St. Francis Hospice Dublin (SFHD) 2008 to the present time and the Bobby Bastow Genetics Foundation (2014-2021). MHF is the legal successor to Mercer’s Hospital and, with the return on investment on money from the sale, it has supported numerous healthcare initiatives to the tune of over €5 million since 1987, including the Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing at St. James’s. The new hospice at Blanchardstown has been built and opened since Professor Daly joined SFHD and presently he serves as chair of the Quality and Safety Committee and as a member of the Fundraising Advisory Group during the development and early years of Blanchardstown and, to the credit of all and especially the local population, the €22.5 million building cost has been paid and, as they look forward to the re-development of Raheny, SFHD is debt free.
With a life lifelong interest in history, Professor Daly has written some works in retirement. Most recently he has been working on a summary of the heritage of Mary Mercer as the 300th anniversary of the building of her first house at the location of the hospital will occur in 2034. That has been submitted and he is now working on a biography of his great granduncle, Professor Brian O’ Looney of Monreel, the 200th anniversary of whose birth will occur in 2028.
The Clare Association, Muintir An Chláir is pleased to announce that our 2023 Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday the 2nd of September, 2023 at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. Entertainment on the night will be provided by the Kilfenora Céilí Band.
Clareperson of the Year 2023
This year’s 2023 Clare Person of the Year Award goes to Professor Peter Daly for his work in oncology. An Ennis native, Professor Peter Daly, received his early education at Kilmaley NS and St. Flannan’s College, Ennis. He studied at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and UCD. He undertook basic medical training at at Mater Misericordiae, St. James’s, the Royal City of Dublin( Baggot Street) and Sir Patrick’s Dun’s hospitals before becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1975. Between 1976 and 1979, he was a Fogarty International Fellow at Baltimore Cancer Research Centre of the National Cancer Institute (US-NCI), completing a three-year fellowship in medical oncology.
He was appointed a consultant physician with an interest in malignant diseases to Mercer’s and St James’s in 1979 and, with the closure of Mercer’s in 1983, he became Consultant Physician/Medical Oncologist at St. James’s. This was the first post in the Irish health service to have the medical oncologist designation conferred by Comhairle na nOispideál.
In the academic environment, he was successively lecturer, senior lecturer and Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). In these roles, he taught successive generations of medical students, nurses and other disciplines related to medicine. He became a Fellow of RCPI aged 36 in 1983 and was an active participant in the affairs of the college into his retirement, serving on its council from 2007-2013.
Between 2002 and 2008 he served as National Speciality Director for Medical Oncology within the Irish Committee for Higher Specialist Training (ICHMT) and mentored the majority of those holding consultant positions in the field to-day. He served for many years as national representative on the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) as well as being a member of its education committee. Part of that was devising and conducting examinations for ESMO membership and accreditation. He was a founder member of the Irish Society of Medical Oncology (ISMO) in 1997, becoming its first secretary/treasurer and second president.
At St. James’s he established a joint department with Clinical Haematology and this has evolved into one of the main cancer centres in Ireland which includes the National Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation service for adults. The department-later the HOPE directorate- played an important part in the development of cancer services through developing excellence in care, education, training and collaboration with other centres throughout the world. Professor Daly served on numerous national, European and international committees including the first and second National Cancer Forums, the steering group which established BreastCheck, the EU Cancer Experts Committee of the Europe Against Cancer programme and the US-NCI/Ireland/Northern Ireland initiative on cancer established on the back of the Good Friday Agreement.
In the face of all this the Clare born professor continued with a heavy clinical workload being a lone consultant in his discipline at St. James’s for almost twenty years. He managed to maintain an interest and activity in clinical research and was author/co-author of about 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
One of his greatest achievements was to lead a small team of Irish researchers which contributed to the discovery of the BRCA2 cancer- predisposition gene. The 25th anniversary of that achievement was celebrated at St.James’ in November 2019 by the unveiling of a sculpture titled ‘Structural Symmetries’. The event was attended by Professor/Sir Michael Rudolf Stratton, Director of the Sanger Institute, who was leader of the international consortium in 1994 and who has always warmly commended the Irish contribution. The relevant paper was published in ‘Science’ and the sculpture sits in the main concourse at St. James’s.
In retirement since 2008, Professor Daly was active for a few years at RCPI and ICHMT, chairing assessment and interview panels as well as participating in hospital assessments throughout the country to determine suitability for training. He also served on the council of the Irish Hospitals Consultant Association between 2009 and 2015, representing retired colleagues. In the later years he has restricted himself to serving on the boards of several charities, notably the Mercer’s Hospital Foundation (MHF) from 2002 to the present time, St. Francis Hospice Dublin (SFHD) 2008 to the present time and the Bobby Bastow Genetics Foundation (2014-2021). MHF is the legal successor to Mercer’s Hospital and, with the return on investment on money from the sale, it has supported numerous healthcare initiatives to the tune of over €5 million since 1987, including the Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing at St. James’s. The new hospice at Blanchardstown has been built and opened since Professor Daly joined SFHD and presently he serves as chair of the Quality and Safety Committee and as a member of the Fundraising Advisory Group during the development and early years of Blanchardstown and, to the credit of all and especially the local population, the €22.5 million building cost has been paid and, as they look forward to the re-development of Raheny, SFHD is debt free.
With a life lifelong interest in history, Professor Daly has written some works in retirement. Most recently he has been working on a summary of the heritage of Mary Mercer as the 300th anniversary of the building of her first house at the location of the hospital will occur in 2034. That has been submitted and he is now working on a biography of his great granduncle, Professor Brian O’ Looney of Monreel, the 200th anniversary of whose birth will occur in 2028.
Hall of Fame Award 2023
This year’s 2023 Hall of Fame Award goes to Kieran Hanrahan for his lifelong dedication and promotion of traditional Irish Music both at home and abroad. An native of Ennis, Kieran Hanrahan is a well-known musician and radio broadcaster. He is best known for his contribution to traditional Irish music and his tireless efforts in promoting the music of his native country. He is one of the founding members of Stockton’s Wing, Inchiquin, and the Temple House Ceili Band. Kieran achieved a 1st Class Honors master’s degree (M.Mus. Hons) and was also awarded the DIT Gold Medal for Academic Achievement in 2012.
He has also played on three film soundtracks with the Chieftains and recorded with them on the Grammy Award winning CD The Long Black Veil which also featured Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones, Sinead O Connor, and Tom Jones. He co-arranged and performed the traditional music in the Jim Sheridan movie, The Field. In addition he arranged the traditional music and played in the Aidan Quinn movie This is My Father. Other recordings were with Tommy Hayes and Ronnie Drew. He also has a solo recording to his credit The Irish Tenor Banjo. He has been invited to attend festivals all over Ireland, France and the US and has taught in the University of Limerick and Boston College. A music broadcaster with RTÉ since 1991, he has presented shows such as The Fleadh Club, Both Sides Now and of course Céilí House, the flagship traditional music programme.
Tickets are now on sale for the award ceremony and dinner dance. Please contact association officers Tom Conway (0864640085) and Gerry O’ Reilly (0868498192) or email muintiranchlair@gmail.com .
All are welcome to attend! Fáilte roimh chách!
(Special thanks to Tony Mulvey for the biographical details above)
The Clare Association Dublin – Muintir an Chláir is delighted to announce that the Awards Dinner will be held in the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon on 1st October, 2022 following the postponement of the Annual Awards Dinner in 2020 due to the pandemic.
For tickets please contact Gerry O’Reilly at 086-8498192
Clare Person of the year 2020/22
Dr Susan Crawford
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 2020/22
Mary Fitzgerald of Clare Haven Services
The Clare Association has 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.
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
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.
Meitheal Award
A Meitheal 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.
