Kilrush Shamrocks are a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)

Gaelic Athletic Association

The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...

 club in Kilrush

Kilrush

Kilrush is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is a town of great historical significance, being one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland.-History:...

, County Clare

County Clare

-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...

, Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. They have won the Clare Senior Football championship 21 times, more than any other club in the county, the last title coming in 1987 when the Shams beat Doonbeg.

History

Kilrush Shamrocks GAA club was founded in 1886 under the patronage of Revd. Dr. Dinan PP. Prior to 1900 the club was known as the “Shannon Sweepers”. Fiercely competitive street leagues provided the basis for a first senior county championship title in 1902. The Shamrocks have gone on to record a total of 21 county titles. The 1930’s, 1950’s and early 1960’s were very successful years for the club, with the club reaching its greatest heights in the 1970’s. Throughout these years the local schools and numerous former stalwarts continued to foster and promote Gaelic football in the parish.

Captain Tubridy Memorial Park, affectionately known as “The Cricket Field” is located 1 mile south of Kilrush, on the road to the Killimer car ferry. The new clubhouse which opened in 1987 incorporates 4 dressing rooms, showers, and a bar & function room.

The greatest achievement of Kilrush Shamrocks was recorded in 1979 when the club won a fifth senior county title in a row. This unique feat owes much to the legendary coaching ability of Raymond Clancy, coupled with one of the most talented groups of club players ever to emerge from Kilrush.

Former Kilrush captain Tommy Mangan is the clubs greatest ever player. Along with captaining The Shamrocks to numerous county titles, in 1953 he captained the Clare minors to a Munster Championship and an All-Ireland final appearance. Other Kilrush players on that team included Joe Carmody, P. O’Dea and P.Griffin.

Club Officers 2009

Chairman - Pat Clancy

Senior Team Manager - Frankie Griffin

Senior Team Captain - Donal O'Sullivan

Patron - Fr. Michael Collins

President - Martin Michael O'Shea

Vice Presidents - Tom Daly & Tommy Mangan

Vice Chairman - Niamh Madigan

Secretary - Pat Kelly

Assistant Secretary - Joey O'Connell

Treasurer - Martina O'Brien

PRO - David O'Shea

Registrar - Joey O'Connell

Youth Officer - Kieran O'Sullivan

Kilrush Senior Football Team 2009

The following is the starting team that lost the Clare Senior Football Championship Semi Final to Kilkee in October 2009 :

Number	Player	Position
1	Tony Burke	Goalkeeper
2	Chris Dixon	Right Corner Back
3	Martin Griffin	Full Back
4	Danny Lynch	Left Corner Back
5	Con O'Brien	Right Half Back
6	John Hayes	Centre Back
7	Matthew Moloney	Left Half Back
8	Donal O'Sullivan (Capt)	Midfield
9	Patrick Clancy	Midfield
10	Cathal Lyons	Right Half Forward
11	Brendan Crowley	Centre Forward
12	Alan Daly	Left Half Forward
13	Rory O'Connor	Right Corner Forward
14	Peadar McMahon	Full Forward
15	Jim Young	Left Corner Forward

Donal O'Sullivan - Captain

Name: Donal O'Sullivan

Age: 35

Height: 6 ft 0 in

Weight: 12 st 0 lbs

Position: Midfield (no. 8)

Nickname: Sully

Honours: Munster SFC Runners-up with Clare in 2000 (lost to Kerry on a scoreline of 3-15 to 0-08)

Honours

• Clare Senior Football Championship winners 21 times (last in 1987)
• Clare Senior Football League champions 12 times (last in 1999)
• Clare U21 Football champions 1975 & 1994
• Clare Minor Football Champions 17 times (last in 1990)