Sport Clare Echo THE
04-02-21
pg 25
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One of Clare’s top sportsmen Paul Costelloe dies SEAMUS HAYES
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HE death took place at the weekend of one of Clare’s best known sportsmen, Paul Costelloe. A native of Kilkee, he achieved success in a variety of sports including football, badminton and squash. He played football for his beloved St Senans, Kilkee for many years helping them to gain senior status in 1970 when they swept the boards at junior level. In the league final that year they scored a one point win, 1-8 to 0-10 over Lissycasey with Paul scoring the all important goal. He served as club secretary for a decade, was a selector with and helped train a number of club teams. Paul also had a keen interest in
Clare’s first squash champion Paul Costelloe (second from right) at the 21st anniversary of Clare Squash with (l-r) ladies champion Margaret Lacheiner, Willie Griffin and Mike Conlon
hurling and helped train a number of Kilkee-Bealaha teams He was particularly prominent at basketball and he helped Clare win two Munster basketball titles in the early seventies. In 1976, he joined the One Mile Inn squash club and he had the distinction of winning the first Clare squash championship, the competition being organised for the first time at the end of the 1976/’77 season. In the final he defeated Colm McLoughlin, now the CEO of Dubai Duty Free. Costelloe was a member of the One Mile Inn team which captured the Limerick area league title that season. They were runners up in Munster where they lost out to Minnies from Dungarvan. The other members of that squad were Denis Maurer, Colm McLaughlin, Dickie Pyne, Rory O’Keeffe, the late Tony Lillis and the late Paddy Kelly. When Kilkee golf club built a squash court, Paul helped coach
and train the members while he managed teams from the club competing in the Clare leagues. Paul was also a keen badminton player. He was also part of the committee which wrote ‘A Sporting Odyssey’, a history of sport in Kilkee. Published in 2009, the book took three years of research, Paul worked on this alongside Ger Keane, Paddy McDonnell, Jimmy Fitzpatrick and Danny McCarthy. A private cremation took place with a funeral service and interment of his ashes to be held at a later date in Kilkee. Paul is survived by his brothers Eugene (KIlkee), John (England), sisters Mary (Kilkee), Teresa (England) and Monica (England), brother-in-law Tony and sister-in-law Marj, nephews, nieces, cousins, neighbours and friends.
Clare duo signed up PÁRAIC MCMAHON
Caoilfionn Madden has joined Galway WFC and (inset) Amy Madden has teamed up with Treaty
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WO Clare teenagers have put pen to paper on new deals with U17 League of Ireland sides. Caoilfionn Madden has signed for Galway WFC and will line out with their U17 side. She had previously been a key player on underage teams for Tulla Utd and also at Gaynor Cup level for her county. In a statement paying tribute to her move, Tulla Utd said Caoilfhionn’s departure brought “pride and lots of sadness”. She featured on club teams at U14 and U16 level last season. “She has been with Tulla Utd AFC since she started playing four years ago. We have seen her develop into an outstanding player over the years. We will miss not only her ability on the field but her wonderful attitude off it”. Amy Madden will also be competing in the U17 League of Ireland. The Newmarket-on-Fergus native has transferred from Ballingarry AFC to Treaty Utd. A second year student at St Patricks Comprehensive in Shannon, Amy is also a noted camogie player with the Blues, her mother Elaine McMahon was
the first woman to captain Newmarket-on-Fergus to senior championship glory in 2001. Amy also represented Clare at Gaynor Cup level and featured in the U15 Munster Schools competition. Newly appointed Treaty Utd U17 manger, Craig Hurley welcomed Amy’s addition as an “excellent singing”. He succeeded Ennis woman Irene Hehir as manager last month.
