Catchment Area: Town and parish of Kilrush, population 3500 approx; chief town of West Clare, located on Shannon Estuary.

Location and Building: “Captain Tubridy Memorial Park”, affectionately known as “the Cricket Field”.  Located 1 mile south of Kilrush on the road to the Killimer car ferry. New clubhouse incorporating 4 dressing rooms, showers, bar+function room opened in 1987.

Trophies Won: Kilrush lead the role of honour in Clare with 21 County Senior Championships (finalists on 17 other occasions), 2 under 21 titles, 19 minor titles and numerous other junior and juvenile county titles.

 

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 stalwarths have continued to foster and promote Gaelic football in our parish. As we enter the new millenium, mindful of the proud tradition handed down to us, we will endeavour to maintain those high standards set in bygone days of yore.

 

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.

In 1987 Dr. Mick Loftus, then President of the GAA, opened a splendid clubhouse.  This proud day in our clubs history owes much to the generosity of our local community and the efforts of the clubs development committee, ably led by Liam Clancy.

Since 1994 Clare and Meath have competed on an annual basis for the Noel Keating Memorial Cup, with the match alternating between Kilrush and a Meath venue. This is a fitting tribute to a great Shamrock, whose Kepak Group have been official sponsors of Meath since 1991.

Throughout its history Kilrush Shamrocks has been blessed with many great players, coaches and administrators.  In 1917 the Clare senior footballers reached the All-Ireland final, Jack Carmody, Noel McNamara and Michael McMahon were part of this team. Capt. Michael Tubridy from Moore St won an All Ireland with Jack Lynch’s-led Cork team in 1945. He went on to represent Ireland in showjumping, winning competitions worldwide.

In 1953 Tommy Mangan captained Clare the All Ireland minor final. Other Kilrush boys on that team included Joe Carmody, P. O’Dea abd P.Griffin.

Current manager Frankie Griffin was wing back on the famous Munster Championship winning Clare team in 1992. Frankie was also a member of the Ireland squad in the 1986 international series against Australia

Many others have steered Kilrush towards success including Jonny Carey, Patrick O’Reilly, Johnny Griffin, Bill Ahearne, Andrew MacNamara, Fr Seamus Mullins, Martin Hedderman, Francis Meaney, Raymond Clancy and countless more.