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When Clare Camogie Chairperson, Joe Robbins, addressed all those present at the Official Opening of the Club House at Fr McNamara Camogie Park on Saturday afternoon last, he concluded with a quote from Seamus Heaney with the last line paraphrased to say “In Clare camogie nothing is beyond us”, there was complete agreement from those listening and a sustained round of applause. Because, for all those present, the determination and focus shown by the current and previous Executives of the Clare Camogie Board in their pursuit of a place Clare Camogie could call their home; the overcoming of obstacles along the way; the fact that despite a hurricane and Atlantic storm encompassed the Banner county the week of the event, the opening went ahead.

From 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon people started to arrive at the newest Camogie facilities in the Country, located at Bunnow on the Quin Road. There was excitement and delight to know that finally, a dream which started in 1974 was finally coming to fruition. Club players and administrators, Camogie and GAA people, representatives from both the National and Provincial Camogie Associations, local and national Government officials all shared one thing in common – a smile that was brighter than the wintery sun that was trying to break through the clouds of Storm Brian.

With the event being broadcast live on Scariff Bay Community Radio, Master of Ceremonies for the day, Munster and Clares Brid MacNamara gave the five minute warning that events were about to start. Those that were down the corridor admiring the dressing rooms, those that were gathered in the hall reminiscing about the great days portrayed by the pictures on the Wall of Fame, those that were enjoying a cup of tea, all moved forward to gather in the McNicholas Meeting Room.

McNamara in her opening address paid tribute to Clooneys Mick Hennessy who started Camogie in Clare back in 1934. When she spoke of Clares first National title when they won the Junior All Ireland Championship in 1974, she referred to one woman in particular, Kitty McNicholas, “a woman who dreamed big, who dreamed bold and who started us on the journey that finally sees fruition 43 years later and who I am thrilled to say is here with us today” there was a spontaneous round of applause for the woman for whom the Meeting Room at these facilities is named.

Chairman of Clare GAA Joe Cooney paid warm tribute to the Board on the work that had been done by so many to arrive at such a special day in their history.  He spoke of the great working relationship between both bodies and wished Clare Camogie well for the future.

Minister for Trade, Pat Breen spoke next and congratulated all present on the work they had done to arrive at this day, he paid special tribute to the hard work done down through the years by individuals who were no longer with us. In his address, Minister Breen referenced the funding received and expressed his delight the Camogie Board were recipients of Sports Capital funding which helped hugely with the completion of the project.

Councillor Claire Colleran Molloy of Clare County Council who was deputising for Councillor Tom McNamara also congratulated Clare Camogie on their new facilities and ended by wishing the Clare  All Star nominees good luck at the upcoming All Star Ceremony in early November.

Both the Camogie Association President, Catherine Neary and Ard Stuirthoir, Joan O’Flynn were in attendance. President Neary spoke of the emerging talent within Clare and the strides the County is making at National level in the game. She warmly congratulated Clare Camogie on the opening of the facilities and wished them well in the years to come.

Before introducing the penultimate speaker of the day, NcNamara acknowledged all the local media in Clare, both print and radio, and thanked them for their continued support.

As Chairperson, Joe Robbins took to the podium, it was evident what this day meant to him. He spoke of the journey that McNicholas had started in 1974 and which was continued on through the years by previous Executives and was finally seeing the light of day. He paid tribute to all those who had worked on the building plans, the completion of the works and those who had helped in any way during the years. He spoke highly of the work done by his fellow officers which allowed him focus his energies on delivering the facility. A visibly emotional Robbins spoke of how he is encouraged by the determination of all involved in the sport of Camogie in Clare and he praised the fundraising efforts of the Finance Committee and Camogie Clubs which contributed approximately fifty thousand euros to the overall cost of the project in recent years.

Mr Robbins dedicated the Meeting Room to Kitty McNicholas as a worthy tribute to a woman who had done so much to secure a home for Clare Camogie.

RTEs Eileen Dunne was the final speaker of the day and she spoke of the love her father, the late Mick Dunne had for Camogie, and how following his death the family had worked with the Camogie Association to bring about the Mick Dunne Memorial Awards to acknowledge the work done in counties to promote the game of Camogie. She paid warm tribute to the efforts of Clare Camogie Board who have been consistent recipients of these awards. She wished Clare Camogie all the best for the future and then invited those present to join her out front for the official unveiling and the cutting of the ribbon.

Chairperson Joe Robbins joined Ms Dunne for the unveiling of the plaque at the entrance to the building and it was to very warm applause that Ms Dunne with Kitty McNicholas by her side cut the red ribbon at the entrance.

Fr Arnold Rosney of Shannon and a Trustee of Shannon Camogie Field, blessed the Building and said a prayer for all those who would use the facilities.

With that the honour of being the first person to enter the building now that the official opening was completed, fell to Kitty McNicholas, a woman whose forward vision and bold dreams to have a home for Clare Camogie, had just become a reality.