Gaelscéalaí Inis Eoghain
August 12, 2015A weekly insight into the GAA in Inishowen, our peninsula's beating heart.
An egg-citing season for CLG Iorras!
By Gaelscéalaí Inis Eoghain
If, as Napoleon Bonaparte contended, an army marches on its stomach, Clonmany's festival-goers and Croke Park-ers made a cracking start on Saturday morning!
According to CLG Iorras Children's Officer, Susan McCarron, St Mary's Hall was bursting at its seams during the club's annual Big
Breakfast.
She added: "Fair play to our completely unflappable cooks, Lola Kelly and Karen O'Donnell. They just kept the delicious breakfasts coming, aided by a team of brilliant volunteers who served up, washed up and tidied up. The whole event was a fantastic success. A special word of thanks must go to our home bakers. Their scones got a mention on Facebook they were so tasty!
"It's just a pity the result in Croke Park wasn't as good," mused Susan ruefully. "Thankfully Donegal Ladies are still flying the yellow and green flag for senior football. They face Armagh in the All Ireland Quarter Final in Clones on August 22. The throw-in is at 12.30pm and the match is being televised on TG4. So it's fingers crossed for a good result."
CLG Iorras has the distinction of being the first club in Inishowen to establish a senior ladies football team.
"That was back in the early 1990s," said Susan. "I joined in my teens and played right up until I got married. The team went for a good few years and then it stopped for a wee while. About three years ago David Hession decided to revive it. He was our manager that first season.
"David currently manages the u-16 boys who did very well this season. They won the Darren Downey / Gary McLaughlin Cup.
"I played in goals for the senior ladies team last season but unfortunately I broke my wrist and have since retired. Our manager was Anne Harkin, a former player, who now coaches the u-8 girls along with Nicola Lagan and Anne Marie McCaul. Nicola and Anne Marie are also former senior footballers. I have to say, ex-players are making a huge contribution to CLG Iorras' underage success. We had an amazing Cul Camp here in July," added Susan, "161 youngsters turned up."
Danny Kelly is managing the CLG Iorras senior ladies team this season, ably aided and abetted by Neil Gabriel McLaughlin.
Susan said: "The team is doing very well in spite of having to organise matches around the exam and work commitments of our players. County fixtures have also led to the postponement of several club matches. But I am ever optimistic. We have a few more matches to play in the league and we have reached the semi-finals of the Donegal championship.
"John Canny, Paddy Harkin and myself are now coaching the u-12 boys, who recently won the Maurice McMenamin Memorial Cup B competition and were delighted. Not to be outdone, our U12 girls won the county blitz in Ballybofey at the end of July!
I also coach the U12 girls, along with Marie Harkin, who is originally from Inch. CLG Iorras currently has 25 girls registered at this age group and the numbers are growing all of the time.
"I think one of the biggest boosts CLG Iorras ever got was Donegal winning the Sam Maguire in 2012. Since then our underage membership has soared, with the support of local parents. Our new clubhouse has also helped," added Susan proudly.
Many talented CLG Iorras players have also broken through at county and schools' level.
Susan revealed: "Nicole Gordon and Lauren Creggan are both Donegal minor and CLG Iorras senior players. Danny Devlin was on the u-21 county panel, which got to the Ulster final this year. In addition, Gary Doherty and Kevin McLaughlin were in the Collagist Inks Engrain College's team, which got to the Macaroon Cup Final on St Patrick's Day 2014.
"I nearly forgot about the Joe McGeady Memorial Cup, which was won by CLG Iorras' U14 boys, who have had a very, very successful season with manager, Mark Doherty. Also managed by Danny Kelly and Mark Gilmore, our senior men's team won the Junior B Championship last season. Unfortunately they were beaten by The Rock from Tyrone in the Ulster final."
CLG Iorras has also enjoyed great success of the pitch.
Susan said: "The club always puts a big effort into Scór. Our Irish dancers won the Donegal final this year and so did our traditional group. Evelyn McGonigle also won the county final solo singing competition. We were chuffed when Evelyn was asked to sing Amhrán na bhFiann at the first Ulster championship match this season. It was Tyrone against Donegal in Ballybofey."
Not content with big breakfasts, CLG Iorras is now selling horses for its night at the races on August 15 in The Rusty Nail.
Smiling, Susan said: "Anyone who wants to buy a horse or sponsor a race for club funds should contact CLG Iorras treasurer, John Friel. Hay'll not turn you away."
