Clara GAA
Encyclopedia
Clara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association
club situated in the small parish
of Clara
in County Kilkenny
, Ireland
. Focused mainly on hurling
and camogie
, the dominant sports in the county, Clara's greatest achievement to date was victory in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship in 1986, their first and only county title.
Despite limited success at county level, Clara has produced several hurlers who have gone on to enjoy inter-county success with Kilkenny
. Jim Langton
was born in the area, a winner of All-Ireland
medals in 1939 and 1947, and a place on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
chosen in 1984. More recently, Paddy Prendergast
was a fixture in the Cats' defence in the 1970s and 1980s, winning three All-Ireland medals and three National Hurling League
Medals. Harry Ryan played in the Kilkenny forward line in the 1980s, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1983.
Clara is the only team in the county to have players chosen on both the hurling and camogie teams of the century - the aforementioned Jim Langton, and Liz Neary
who won seven All-Ireland camogie titles with Kilkenny.
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 situated in the small parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Clara
Clara, County Kilkenny
Clara is a parish in County Kilkenny in the Republic of Ireland. The parish consists of around one thousand inhabitants, and is situated three miles east of Kilkenny city. Saint Colman's church is situated at the centre of the parish, and Saint Colman is considered the patron saint of Clara...
in County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, 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,...
. Focused mainly on hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
, the dominant sports in the county, Clara's greatest achievement to date was victory in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship in 1986, their first and only county title.
Despite limited success at county level, Clara has produced several hurlers who have gone on to enjoy inter-county success with Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. Jim Langton
Jim Langton
Jim Langton was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1954. Langton's inclusion on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium mark him out as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Langton played his...
was born in the area, a winner of All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
medals in 1939 and 1947, and a place on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
GAA Hurling Team of the Century
The Hurling Team of the Century was chosen as part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's centenary year celebrations in 1984 to comprise, as a fifteen-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwardss and three full-forwards, the best hurling players of...
chosen in 1984. More recently, Paddy Prendergast
Paddy Prendergast
Paddy Prendergast is former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Clara and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.-Club:...
was a fixture in the Cats' defence in the 1970s and 1980s, winning three All-Ireland medals and three National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
Medals. Harry Ryan played in the Kilkenny forward line in the 1980s, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1983.
Clara is the only team in the county to have players chosen on both the hurling and camogie teams of the century - the aforementioned Jim Langton, and Liz Neary
Liz Neary
Liz Neary is a retired Irish sportsperson. She played camogie at various times with her local clubs St. Paul's and Austin Stacks and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1987...
who won seven All-Ireland camogie titles with Kilkenny.
Honours
- Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championships: 1
- 1986
- leinster div.4 club leagues: 1
- 2010
- leinster div.1 club leagues: 1
- 2011
Famous Hurlers
- Jim LangtonJim LangtonJim Langton was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1954. Langton's inclusion on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium mark him out as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Langton played his...
- Paddy PrendergastPaddy PrendergastPaddy Prendergast is former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Clara and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.-Club:...
- Harry Ryan
- Lester RyanLester RyanLester Ryan is a former Irish sportsman from County Kilkenny, who played hurling with his local club Clara and with the Kilkenny intercounty team. Ryan has won two All-Ireland Minor Hurling medals, three Leinster Senior Hurling medals and has appeared in two All-Ireland finals.Ryan's nephew, also...
- Conor Phelan