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A history of the G.A.A in County Clare, from its origins in 1884 when Clareman Michael Cusack lit the torch that led to the founding of the organisation.

With a Clareman, Michael Cusack from Carron, being the person who lit the torch that led to the founding of the GAA in 1884, it is not surprising that the county took an active part in the activities of the new association from the very beginning.

When the first County Board was formed in February 1887, twenty clubs were represented at the meeting in Ennis. Clare teams, hurling and football club champions, participated in the first All-Ireland Championships in 1887, the only occasion in which they were held in an open-draw basis. Both teams received walkovers from the Wicklow champions in the first rounds, which were scheduled for Athlone on July 19th, 1887.

Clare’s first year of glory came in 1914, when both the Senior and Junior hurlers won the All-Ireland titles, the first time this was achieved by any county. Laois were the opposition in both All-Irelands, and Cork had been conquered in the Munster finals.

Clare won the Munster Senior Football Championship for the first time in 1917. They defeated Galway in the All-Ireland Semi-Final, but lost to Wexford in the final.

Produced by Michael Holmes

Presented by Breandan O’ Heithir

First broadcast 26th November 1984

RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, Monday 16 December at 5pm