Councillor calls for League of Ireland team to be set up in Clare
At last night's June meeting of the local authority Sinn Féin councillor Tommy Guilfoyle had a motion on the agenda calling for "the appropriate personnel in Clare County Council to come together and set up a discussion to explore the possible setup of a League of Ireland soccer team in the Banner County with all the relevant stakeholders".
While the meeting over ran and the motion was deferred to the July monthly meeting, Councillor Guilfoyle is adamant that there is sufficient demand for a League of Ireland team in the county.
"For years I've lived in this community, and I've seen the wealth of young people who play soccer," the Clarecastle-based councillor said.
"So, we have all these kids playing soccer in county Clare but the majority of them if they want to play League of Ireland are going to Treaty United in Limerick or Galway United," he added.
As to who would finance the early stages of this potential project, Councillor Guilfoyle said that it would not be the local authority.
"I wouldn't be putting that to the council at all," he said.
"My view of the council getting involved is to bring parties together.
"We have an economic development department, we have a tourism department and we have a sporting department.
"Three people from those departments could come together, call in others, sit down and have a conversation about this."
"That conversation would itch the ear off an investor. I know it would," Councillor Guilfoyle predicted.
"And what happens then is investors ears cock," he added.
In 2023 Newmarket Celtic became the first Clare club to win the FAI Junior Cup while Avenue United reached the final of that competition in 1990.
Alan O'Callaghan who is Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council is supportive of the concept of a League of Ireland team being based in the county.
"We're sowing a seed into people's heads at a higher level like the FAI," he said.
"There are going to be huge challenges with funding but hopefully something might come out of it, you'd never know."
"There might be someone that would be willing to say, 'this is not a bad idea,'" he suggested.
Funding from county council ruled out
However, Councillor O'Callaghan ruled out any source of funding from the county council.
"We don't have that kind of money but there are different programmes that do pop-up for funding through Sports Capital Grants.
"Maybe the council can put one forward and maybe identify a site."
In Lees Road municipal sports ground in Ennis a number of people were supportive of a Clare bid to hosting League of Ireland soccer.
"I travel up to Sligo, to Treaty [Limerick] and to Galway to watch League of Ireland. I would much prefer to watch a team in Clare. I'd have more of an emotional attachment to that," one person said.
"I think it would be a great idea. There's lots of interest in soccer in Clare. It would be worth giving it a try and see what happens," another added.
"The more soccer we have here the better. Anyone interested in soccer in Clare is going to Limerick or Galway to see League of Ireland matches," a third person pointed out.
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