Anne Best In Ireland
Kilnaboy woman and local post-person, Anne McNamara, was the recipient of a Board Gais Energy award which sought to reward the most helpful people in Ireland. The Best In Ireland competition was run in conjunction with Today FM and Anne was featured on the Ray Darcy show on Friday last as one of the award winners. Anne who is the postie in the Ruan and Dysart areas was nominated by Marie Casey of Rathkeane and was selected as a finalist from thousands that were nominated from all over Ireland. The judging panel was made up of Derval O’Rourke, Conor Pope, Colm O’Gorman, Evelyn Cusack, Irene Gowing and Tony Fenton.
Christmas Fayre
There will be a busy and festive evening in Corofin village on this Friday December 12th as Christmas fast approaches. Santa will be at the Centra store from 3.00pm until 5.00pm while Corofin Youth Club will be involved in carol singing beside the crib in Main Street from 6.00pm. The Christmas Market featuring several stalls offering a wide variety of products and services will be held from 7.00pm and many local shops in the village also have late opening that evening. The marker will also incorporate the annual Craft Fair at Bofey Quinns and a pop-up shop at the Cupan Tae café. Locals are encouraged by Corofin Tourism Association to come along and support this market.
Youth Club News
Youth Club members will perform a Christmas Carol service at the crib in Corofin village on this Friday evening at 6.00pm ahead of the Christmas Market. Club members will then travel to Limerick for an evening of ice skating which should prove most enjoyable. The club will also be organising the annual Santa visit to the village on the week-end before Christmas and are asking locals to put this in their diary.
Hamper Outing
Corofin Golf Society will hold a Christmas Outing at Gort Golf Club on this Saturday December 13th. The tee is reserved from 10.00am and the winners will receive hampers. The local club is hoping that as members as possible will take part in this event.
Super Gamble
A 45 gamble is being held at Daffy’s Bar, Corofin on Sunday next December 14th featuring the old game. This now annual event is being organised by the Scoil Mhuire Parents Association and helps to raise funds for much needed school equipment. The gamble gets under way at 4.00pm and usually attracts card players from throughout North Clare and elsewhere. There are valuable team prizes to be won and the ladies committee will be on hand to provide refreshments.
Davey’s Visit
Guest of honour at Corofin GAA club on Friday night last was none other than Clare senior hurling manager Davey Fitzgerald. He was on hand to present medals to the successful Corofin u-14 team which won Feile 2014. There was a great attendance for this function where Davey gave an inspirational speech to the young hurlers of the parish. Afterwards he stayed on to meet with the locals and pose for photographs with all-comers.
Camogie Officers
The Annual General Meeting of Corofin Camogie Club was held recently and the following officers were elected for 2015. Chariman: Pat Lane, Vice Chair: Kevin Collins, Secretary: Sue Harrison, Ast. Secretary: David Henry, Treasurer: Paul Kinnane, Ast. Treasurer: Margaret Heagney, PRO: Aisling Collins, Ast. PRO: Caroline Fitzpatrick and Registrar: Angela Danagher.
Lighting Up:
The Christmas Lights in the village were switched on last Monday evening and provide a real festive atmosphere in the village. The local Christmas Lights committee has invested in new LED lighting for this year which it is hoped will be easier to operate and improve on in the coming years. The lighting up ceremony was preceded by a candlelight procession from Corofin Church and a choir service in Mani Street performed by Friends of Corofin National School.
Harps In Seventh Heaven
Corofin soccer teams have suffered many defeats at the hands of Avenue United over the years but the tables were turned in some style on Sunday last when Corofin Harps A took on Avenue United A at the latter’s home ground in Roslevan in the Clare Premier League. Harps, thanks mainly to a number of superb saves from Mikey Concannon, survived an early onslaught from the home side before taking control and going 2 – 0 ahead through goals from a Jason Tierney spot-kick after Jason O’Connor was upended and a Shane Constable free kick. The Ennis side fought back to level the scores at the break. Stephen Keane restored Harps lead early in the second half only for Avenue to equalize once more, this time through a penalty. Harps picked up the pace again and John Keane powered a header to the net to put Corofin ahead again and Shane Constable made it 5 – 3 when he scored his second of the game. Avenue were reduced to ten players following a red card and O’Connor got on the score-sheet to extend Harps lead. Substitute Damien Ryan completed the scoring for Harps who emerged 7 -3 winners from this amazing encounter.
There was also joy for Corofin B who are strong contenders for Division Three honours this season, winning 5 – 3 away to Sporting Ennistymon. A brace from Dean Hafield as well as goals from Brian Halpin, Brian McGauran and Darren Malone sealed the points for Harps. The club has published a 2015 calendar which is on sale from club members. The publication features Corofin soccer teams from 1972 down to the present day and should be of interest to all local soccer supporters.
Graveyard Publication
A new local history publication was launched last week by the Kilnaboy History & Heritage Group. The very attractive book features all legible gravestone inscriptions from both Coad and Kilnaboy graveyards. It also provides detailed maps of the layout of both cemeteries showing all of the graves numbered making the various family plots easy to locate. In addition to the information on the graveyards themselves the publication also includes additional local history information and is something which should be of interest to members of the community at home or abroad.
GAA Officers
Officers were recently elected to both the Corofin senior and minor GAA clubs. The officers elected are as follows, Senior Club Chairman: Kieran Carkill, Vice Chair: Tony Killeen, Secretary: Peadar O’Brien, Ast. Secretary: Brian Gillespie, Treasurer: Willie Corbett, Ast. Treasurer: Donal O’Loughlin, Registrar: Mary Neylon, Field Secretary: David O’Loughlin, Board delegates, Peadar O’Brien and Pat Curtis. Minor Club Chairman: John Williams, Secretary/Child Protection Officer: Brian Gillespie, Treasurer: Donal O’Loughlin, PRO: John Fitzgerald, Bord na nÓg delegates: Joe Cahill and Stevie Malone.