Clarinbridge out in force to welcome home the champions

Date Published: 23-Mar-2011

They might just have built up a reputation as slow starters over the past couple of games, but the joyous cavalcade pulled into Clarinbridge right on time as an entire community turned out in force for a St. Patrick’s Night celebration which will never be forgotten in the South Galway village.

There were over 2,500 people in the heart of the village to welcome home the new All-Ireland club champions and, if the first title is the sweetest, there was no disguising the joy on the faces of team captain Paul Callanan, manager Micheal Donoghue, and the players.

All talk of the nation’s economic woes was banished from around the N18 as the team bus pulled into the heart of the village, where a temporary stage had been erected so that the elated supporters could give a hearty welcome to the management and players.

Many of the players had waited nine years for such a joyous

occasion, after losing their only other All-Ireland final appearance in 2002, and the pride in their home place was evident as Callanan held the Tommy Moore Cup aloft on the back of a truck, to a rapturous reception.

On a glorious, bright, moonlit night, bonfires had already blazed along the Killeeneen Road from Craughwell, as Miko Donoghue’s bus negotiated the back roads where so many friends and neighbours stood outside their houses to welcome their local heroes.

A huge roar greeted the players when they emerged from the bus . . . and it could be argued that the locals have not stopped shouting since, as the celebrations have continued for the best part of a week. Many of the players were only due back at work yesterday (Wednesday) after bringing the Cup on a tour of the local schools on Tuesday.

“It was unreal,” admitted club secretary Damien McGrath. “We met in Craughwell and did a tour around the middle of the parish before coming into the village. There had been a huge cavalcade with us from once we crossed the Shannon. We couldn’t believe the size of the crowd and the huge reception the players received when we got back to Clarinbridge.”

See full report with pix – and four pages in sport in this week’s Connacht Tribune.