The Early Years of Hurling at Carrahan

The Early Years of Hurling at Carrahan - by Maura O'Loughlin

The game of hurling is an ancient pastime mentioned in many Irish legends, the most famous being about Cuchulainn...........

The extent to which it was played is evidenced by the fact that the Crown forces prohibited its play in the Statutes of Kilkenny in 1367 and in 1695 there was a fine to be imposed on anyone found hurling on a Sunday. Instead of having a debilitating effect on the game it is how it flourished.

There is little documentary evidence of hurling in Clare in the 18th century, but there is an account of a match between Clare and Galway in the 1750's. Hurling continued to be played into the 19th Century but written reports were few and only available when an incident happened as in the case of Spancilhill in 1841 when, after the match started a fight broke out and one player was seriously injured. The hurling rules were few and the number of players varied from 20 upwards however the custom was to adjourn to the ale house afterwards for drinking, singing and dancing.

The horrors of the famine in the 1840s followed by the advent of diseases of all kinds to an already weakened populace made survival the name of the game and all pastimes such as hurling were in rampant decline. The exodus to foreign lands by many of our young hurlers and the introduction of cricket to almost every town in Ireland

proved another threat to the game of hurling. However in 1884 the G.A.A. was founded by Michael Cusack because morale was at a very low ebb and he decided that he would try to build up the self-esteem and pride In the Irish people for their parish initially and later their country by promoting their national games. He set about reviving and restructuring the game - pitch specifications were laid down and there were definite rules regarding play and officials. Up to 1892 a goal had no equivalent so no number of points could equal a goal, the team scoring the greater number of goals won.

In 1892 a goal was equal to 5 points and in 1896 to 3 points. As regards players - the number was specified in 1885 as being 21, it was reduced to 17 in 1892 and to 15 in 1913.

Under the new organisation the first county hurling championship was played in 1887 and Garranboy (near Killaloe) defeated Ogonnolloe in the final. The following year Ogonnolloe won the championship by beating Tulla in the final but all attention was focused on the Carrahan Tournament which commenced in September. The coveted prize was a banner 5ft. x 4ft. depicting a hurler with a caman and sliotar in a rural background. This is known as the Carrahan Flag and is one of the oldest known G.A.A. Trophies. Two teams from Quin and two teams from Clooney participated in the tournament. It could not be

completed that year and it was due to recommence in February '89, but due to the shooting of a local landlord, Arthur Creagh it was further postponed until May. On Sunday May 18th, 1889 the final was scheduled for Carrahan between Tulla and Feakle with the flag being displayed during the match as an added incentive. Tulla's team were "remarkably active" and proved too good for the "strength and swiftness" of the Feakle teams winning by 2-3 to 1-2.

The first half of the 1890's saw the dissolution of the Clare G.A.A. Board due to dissenting political views regarding Parnell. By August '96 the G.A.A. was reorganised and Tulla were county champions for '96 and '97.

In 1898, there was a great spirit of nationalism about as it was the centenary of the '98 rebellion in Wexford. Public meetings and commemorative marches were a regular occurrence and in December a large monument was unveiled to Denis O'Duffy in Clooney graveyard for the part he played in the '98 Rebellion. This upsurge of nationalism gave a great boost and revival to the game of hurling. The '98 championship was postponed due to an incident in July at a match in Rine, Tulla where a young Tulla supporter Tom O'Neill was struck and consequently died. The Clare Journal of November 14th informs us that a County Board Meeting was held in Carrahan at which Mr. J.P. Clancy, Kilrush, presided. The draws for the completion of the hurling championship were made there:- Ruan v Clonlara on November 20th. Tulla were to play the winners.

Ruan defeated Clonlara but Clonlara objected to the composition of the Ruan team and won this objection. Tulla overcame the challenge of Clonlara and the final was fixed for Quin on December 18th, 1898 against Carrahan who had already defeated O'Brien's Bridge. The Tulla team did not turn up, the Carrahan team lined out but did not claim

the match. It was rescheduled for Carrahan on January 15th, 1899. Tulla objected to the non-neutral venue and did not attend. The Carrahan team claimed the match. However their claim was later negatived at the next County Board Meeting by two votes to one vote with Con Cearney abstaining. The match was refixed for Carrahan on February 12th. There is no account of a match but the Carrahan team were presented with their medals at the Clare G.A.A. County Convention, held on St. Patrick's Day 1899.

The County Board decided to get special Centenary medals manufactured for the hurling and football championships. These medals were designed and manufactured by Stewarts' O'Connell Square, Ennis and were displayed in their premises. They had the engraving "Clare '98" on them and they showed two banners representing the Banner County and two hurleys lying against a shield.

The members of the Carrahan team were: Corney Cearney (Capt.), Din Cearney, Dan Cearney, Pat Cearney (brother of Con), Carrahan, John Flanagan, Pat Duffy, John Reddan, Ballyvrahane, Thomas Clune, Daniel Clune, James Cusack, Ballyvirgin, James Hehir, Brian Cearney, Stephen Clune, Rylane, Michael McNamara, Daniel Sweeney, Rathclooney, Patrick and John Culligan, Spancilhill and Michael Meehan, Shraheen.

The Carrahan team were also County Champions in 1900 and members of the team went on to greater success - Con Cearney became Secretary of the County Board, James Hehir and John Flanagan lined out for Clare and John Flanagan along with Amby Power and Joe Power from Quin won All-Ireland medals in 1914. Thus ended one century of hurling in the parish and the success of those years had a great influence on the game during the early 1900's.

CLARE SENIOR TEAM 1903 - Back row, left to right: J. O'Regan (Sixmilebridge), T. Coughlan (Tulla, 1st Chairman of Co. Board), J. Kelly (O'C Mills), Jas. Hurley (O'C Mills), T. Sheedy (Barefield), D. Callaghan (O'C Mills), S. Clune, N.T. (Own), J. Laurence (Tulla), A.N. Other, M. McDonnell (Kilnamona), H. Power (Tulla), W. Flanagan (O'C Mills), T. Cullinan (Kilnamona), C. Kearney (Carrahan, Sec., Co. Board). Front row: T. 'Feather' Henchy (Feakle), M. Ryan (Tulla), J. Hehir (Carrahan), M. 'Curk' Lyons (Kilnamona), F. Power (Tulla), Capt., J. Keogh (Feakle), J. Mclnerney (Barefield) goal, J. Power (Tulla).