Athletics

The one sport in which Killimer really was successful at national level was athletics. Patrick Casey from Poulnadaree made a name for himself in Australia towards the end of the 19^th century. It seems that he was unbeatable for a number of years. He returned to live in the parish at the beginning of the 20^th century and inspired many young men to take up athletics.

Records are scant up to about 1938. In that year many from the parish competed with Kilrush N.A.C.A. to win the All- Ireland Junior Championship in Belfast. John Hassett from Burrane was first home; the other scoring members were Dan Cunningham (Donail), Joe McInerney (Donogrogue Castle), Jim Galvin (Tarmon), Jimo Fitzpatrick (Knockerra) and Timmy Ryan (Knockalough). John Hassett went on to win the All- Ireland Senior Individual title that same year.

 Sample of Medals Won by James (Jimo) Fitzpatrick;

• All Ireland Cross Country Winning Team Medal – 1938
• Clare Senior C.C.C. Winning Team 1937-38
• Clare Senior C.C.C. Winning Team January 1939

In former years athletes such as Jack Reidy, Johnny Collins, Tom Conway, Michael Murphy, Mattie Hassett, Mattie Mulqueen, Peader Nugent, Paddy Nugent, Paddy Behan and John Behan all competed successfully with Kilmihil club.  The veteran Peader Nugent is winding down his very successful athletic career having competed for the 37^th time in the Dublin City marathon, 37 Dublin Marathon medals, hard to beat that record!

In the early 1950’s the St Imy’s N.A.C.A. club was very successful.  Athletes included Michael Coughlan, John McMahon, John McMahon, Tom McMahon, Kieran Murphy, Martin Mulqueen, Dan Madigan, Michael O’Brien, Francis Browne, Christy Madigan, Paddy Madigan, Morgan Walsh and Stephen Grogan (who served as Chairman and later President of the club). Stephen represented Clare for many years and finished 8^th in the All- Ireland Juniors. He also won many trophies in Track- and-Field. John Pyne was a noted high jumper and ‘hop step and jump’ athlete; he also competed in discus throwing.

The club lapsed for a number of years  and was reformed in 1969 by Stephen Grogan, Tommy Power, Paddy Madigan, Senan O’Driscoll, Peader Nugent and Michael Madigan. It was not long before the club hit the headlines once again, when it captured the County Novice, Junior and the Munster Novice titles in 1970. Prominent members at the time were Vincent Fitzpatrick, Sean Cunningham, Michael Madigan, Johnny Miniter, Denis Hassett, Jimmy King, Ray Grogan, Timmy McInerney, Noel Mulqueen, Paddy Culligan and Jimmy Callaghan. They also won the Munster Junior Club and All Ireland Novice Club, as well as Clare Junior and Intermediate in 1973. Also in that year Sean Cunningham was second in the All- Ireland Junior, as well as scoring for the county team in the Munster Senior Championship competition.

The club had very prominent juveniles in Michael Murphy, John Grogan and Gerry Galvin, who won Clare, Munster and All Ireland honours. We had many successful female athletes in that era. Kathleen De Hora won every honour in Ireland and represented Ireland at international level. Patricia Cunningham (Tiervana) won medals in every grade at juvenile level in the country. Paul Talty and Andrew Redhead were our next athletes to make the headlines in Track-and-Field, winning county, Munster and national titles in both Cross Country and Track-and-field. Both were holders of the Irish National Mile record at U-14, and U-16. Michael Madigan and Pat Fitzpatrick, Tarmon also won Munster medals in Track-and Field. Both were very successful at sports events all over Ireland. In the late 1970’s the club again won the County Novice Junior and Intermediate titles. Scoringmembers at that stage were Michael Murphy, John Grogan, Paul Talty, Gerry Mulqueen, Michael Madigan, Andrew Redhead and Gerard Breen.

In 1980 the club had its greatest day when four club members, Michael Murphy, John Grogan, Paul Talty and Michael Madigan, helped Clare to win the Munster Junior and the club took the silver medals also in that year. Also in that year the club made its first international trip to Evere, Brussels and captured the U-16 title race. The senior men’s team finished 8^th in Europe. The club again made the trip in 1981 and finished 6^th and were really beginning to make a name for themselves.

In the 1981-2 season the senior team won every road race in the county and finished 2^nd in the Clare Senior. Michael Madigan, Paul Talty, Eileen Cunningham, Monica Collins, John Grogan and Michael Murphy have won many prizes at sports venues all over the country. The club also made another trip to Brussels that year bringing 18 members. The Senior team finished 4^th in Europe, which is a phenomenal achievement.

During the early 1980s a number of members from outside the parish joined the club, namely the Kenny Brothers, James and Vincent (Cooraclare), also Aidan Galvin (Moyasta). This made the club very strong and in the 1983-84 season and they won almost every adult competition in Clare, Munster and Ireland. Included were the Clare Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Senior, Munster Novice, Junior, Senior, All Ireland Novice, Junior and 3^rd club in Senior. St Imy’s also provided members for the county teams, which also won many championships. A relay team consisting of Michael Fennell, Martin Fennell, John Clancy of Kilrush and Michael Madigan also competed very successfully for a number of years, winning several County and Munster Championships titles.

The club also supplied officers at county and national level. Michael Madigan was Secretary of Clare County Board, Secretary of Munster Council and a member of the National Council, as was Stephen Grogan. John Grogan also served as County Secretary.    

The club continued very successfully until the early 1990’s when retirements and lack of new members took their toll. Though the club had many talented athletes, who competed and won many significant races from County to All Ireland, they turned their attention to a different sport.  Photos from the era recall the names of younger athletes in the 1980’s, who are not listed in the Roll of Honour. These remind many who were involved, of those days sporting the St Imy’s jersey, trips to Siamsa Cois Laoi, Ballyloughlan and the Rose of Tralee.

Our youth took up football, both boys and girls, which was the start of another wonderful era in Killimer sport. Since, c. 2000, all those interested in athletics are catered for by our neighbouring club St Mary’s, A.C. Kilmurry McMahon. Our first athletes to make an impact with St. Mary’s were Edel Fitzpatrick and Adrian Fitzpatrick. Tommy McCarthy took a keen interest in the training and athletic development of Edel and Adrian and also in other members, who joined at a later date. At present training takes place in Killimer GAA pitch. There has been an upgrade of facilities to cater for Track-and-field events.

The following boys and girls are now achieving in their particular age groups: Luke Callinan, Kevin Hassett, Donnacha Madigan, James Browne and Paul Fennell. Deirbhile and Ashling Browne, Mairead Grogan and Ruth Callinan have  won many honours with St Mary’s in both individual and team events and have been very successful at county and national level.

There are many athletes, coaches, trainers, landowners and drivers who perhaps are not listed here, but who contributed to the successes of many generations of Killimer youth. Their involvement and commitment is a core element of these achievements.

Memoirs of Sean Cooper (Donail)

Sean Cooper has a vivid memory of his win in an U-8 race which took place in 1949 in Flanagan’s field in Coolminga. This sports day was organised by Michael O’Dea, who himself competed in the Shot Putt, Hop Step and Jump, and throwing the Discus. Sean was first on the day with Tony Clancy (Carhuefree) second and Michael Galvin (Tarmon) third. There was also a High and Long Jump event, as well as a fancy dress. Sean recalls a bazaar held, in Doyle’s of Poulnadaree, in 1949, organised by Lott O’Neill of Burrane and Sean’s uncle Willie Cooper. This event was a fundraiser for the Legion of Mary. Though he was quite young he enjoyed watching the events of the day, i.e. races, throwing of horse shoes, and jumps, particularly the three-mile cycle-race championship of Clare, which took place circuiting the field. The winner that day was local man P.J. Neenan (Chapel Hill), second P.J. Lynch (Mullagh) and third was Mycko Grogan (Brisla).He also recalled sports held in the late 1940’s in Malone’s field, Burrane Lower, where again he won the U-8 race.