Ballyvaughan/Fanore GAA Club

The Club was formed in 1890. During that period memorable games took place with a neighbouring parish, Glenamanagh (Bellharbour). Our heroes were the McGanns of Gregans and Johnny O’Brien, Feenagh.
The 1917 era will not be forgotten – the day the late John Irwin broke his leg (in the County final) against Bealaha and names like Tim Kerin, Ned O’Loghlen, Sean Keavney, Micko and Martin O’Loghlen, Paddy and Tony O’Donoghue, Micko Connors, Mick and Paddy Fahy, John Quinn, Patrick Flanagan, Sonny Mooney Hynes, Martin Keane, Paudge Linnane and P. Power in their lily white jerseys will always be associated with that great era.

In 1923 Thomas O’Donohoe, then a student of St. Mary’s College, Galway, together with the late Jimo Keane held a collection to restart the Club. The total receipt was for £2.50 with Fr. McCarthy’s contribution of 50p topping the list. Also at that time transport was provided by Alphie Comyn and James Burns in Model T Fords.

In 1925 Miltown Malbay beat us by 1 pt in a game played at the Blue Meadows, Kilfenora. The feats of our boys in their red jerseys particularly Martin and Micko O’Loghlen, Paudge Linnane and John Quinn are still talked about to this day. During this period matches were played against Kilfenora – Pakie Considine being the star for Kilfenora. Matches were also played against Toovahera – one at Gregans Castle and the other at Ballyconnoe. Maude O’Callaghan was the star for the opposition. Who can remember the games against Gort at Gerry’s field in 1928?

The Clare senior footballers trained in Ballyvaughan in 1934 That same year Fr. Moran had a set of Green Jerseys presented to the Ballyvaughan Club. They were hand-woven and made in Connemara.

In 1934/35 Doolin played Kilfenora in some epic games at Ballyvaughan. Six bus loads of supporters travelled to cheer for their respective Clubs and names like the Shannons of Doolin, Jimmy Sweeney, Tommy Hogan, the Begleys of Kilfenora are associated with those memorable matches.

In 1936 Mac Neill O’Loghlen stared with the Clare Minor Football team and together with Johnny Birmingham, Pap Guthrie, Pappy Carthy and Frank Roche won Junior and Intermediate Medals with a North Clare amalgamation – many of whom are in the 1934 Team Photograph.

Change of Colours
1st Red with white hoops (known as the sugar sticks)
2nd 1934 changed to Green
3rd Green and white – 1960
4th Black and amber – Kilkenny colours.
Present day Tangerine and Black

County Colours
First to wear the Saffron and Blue were Paddy O’Donoghue (grandfather of Patrick O’Donoghue) Micko and Martin O’Loghlen – all played at Croke Park when Wexford beat Clare in 1917 – All Ireland Senior Final. Brendan O’Donoghue (Patrick O’Donoghue’s father played Minor Football with Galway. In later years, so did Mac Neil O’Loghlen, Mickey Quinn and Johnny Birmingham, John Joe Fahy and Michael Greene.

In more recent times many more from the Parish have donned the County Jersey.
As a matter of interest, Fanore fielded its own team and played in a Junior Football final in the late 1940’s