Three of Clare’s highest achieving athletes have been honoured by their native county at a ceremony in Aras Contae An Chláir in Ennis.Clare County Council last night held a Civic Reception honouring Grand Slam rugby star Marcus Horan from Clonlara, retired Munster and Ireland player Anthony Foley from Killaloe, and Special Olympics World Winter Games Silver Medallist Cathal Murphy from Scariff.
Mayor of Clare Cllr. Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that a Civic Reception was the highest accolade at the disposal of Clare County Council for any individual, group or organisation. She added, ‘This Civic Reception is being held in celebration of the achievements of three wonderful athletes who have represented County Clare with distinction at national and international level. Each of the recipients of this Civic Reception have further enhanced Clare’s proud sporting tradition and ability to compete at the top level’.
Anthony Foley retired from rugby in 2008 having played 62 times for Ireland and made a record 86 Heineken Cup appearances for Munster. During his career, Foley won two Heineken Cup trophies with Munster, and was team captain during the side’s first Heineken Cup win in 2006 in Cardiff. He played all 3 games in Ireland’s 2004 Triple Crown success. The Killaloe man has scored 23 tries in Europe for Munster and 6 tries for his country. Foley holds the record for scoring Munster’s only hattrick of tries in Biarritz in January 2001. Him and his father Brendan (11 caps from 1976-1981) are one of twelve father and son combinations to have worn the Irish jersey.
Munster and Ireland prop forward Marcus Horan was instrumental in Ireland’s RBS Six Nations Grand Slam victory this year, the nation’s first win since 1951. Horan has picked up 66 international caps and scored 6 tries for Ireland since his debut in 2000. The Clonlara man has also won two Heineken Cups with Munster, for whom he has played on 156 occasions.
According to Mayor Taylor Quinn, ‘Both Marcus Horan and Anthony Foley have been outstanding servants of Irish and Munster rugby. More importantly, they have acted as wonderful ambassadors for Clare, Munster and Ireland. Their achievements on the pitch have helped encourage more people to participate in sport while off the pitch they give generously of their time to serve as ambassadors for the sport. I would like to especially wish Anthony Foley the very best of luck in his coaching career.’
Commenting on the achievements of Cathal Murphy, who is visually impaired, the Mayor said, ‘I wish to congratulate Cathal for achieving international success in a very challenging sport, namely the Grand Slalom. His medal success at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho is an enormous source of pride and inspiration for the people of his native Scariff, the wider sporting community and persons with a disability. I wish to pay tribute to Cathal’s family and friends and his skiing instructor Eddie Sythes from Kilternan Carvers Special Olympics Ski Club in Dublin’.
