Hall of Fame Winners – 2015 Munster GAA Awards

PRESS RELEASE MUNSTER GAA AWARDS – WEDNESDAY DEC 10

Hall of Fame Winners Announced for 2015 Munster GAA Awards – Clare and Cork Legends to join elite band

Clare hurling hero, Ger Loughnane, and Cork star dual player, Ray Cummins, are the latest Munster legends to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, it was announced today. The two greats will receive their awards at the Munster GAA Awards Gala Dinner on Saturday, December 12 in Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare.

Ger Loughnane is renowned as one of Clare’s greatest ever hurlers and as manager he went on to lead Clare to two All-Ireland senior hurling titles in 1995 and 1997 and 3 Munster championship victories. He joined the Clare senior panel in 1972 having represented the county at both minor and under 21 and enjoyed a long career winning National league medals in 1977 and 78 but a Munster championship eluded him as he played on 5 losing Clare teams. Ger was Clare’s first All-star in 1974 and won his second in 1977. As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team at various times throughout his career, Ger won played a leading role for Munster in winning three Railway Cup medals in 1976, 78 and 81. At club level he won a Clare county senior hurling championship with Feakle in 1988. He subsequently managed Galway for 2 years. He has been a highly regarded analyst on RTE’s The Sunday Game for many years and is a passionate advocate of hurling and the Munster championship.

Ray Cummins holds an honoured position in the annals of the GAA. He is a member of the select group of players who won All-Ireland senior medals in both codes, the first of four players in the history of the All Stars to become a dual award winner. He is also one of only three Cork players to win twelve Munster senior medals. He won Munster minor football and hurling medals in 1966. Ray won a football All Star in 1971 at centre-forward and one year later he was a key member of the Munster team which won the Railway Cup title for the first time since 1949. However, it was his leadership role in the Cork attack in 1973, highlighted by his excellence as play-maker and score-taker in the team’s All Ireland winning campaign, which propelled him into national prominence. He consolidated his reputation as one of the best dual players in the history of the game as a member of the Cork three-in-a-row hurling team and captained the 1976 team

Commenting on the announcement of the Hall of Fame winners for 2015, Robers Frost, Chairman of Munster Council said: “Ger Loughnane was a great player and as manager brought unprecedented success and pride to Clare hurling. Ray Cummins was one of the greatest ever dual players and was instrumental in Cork’s All Ireland senior football triumph in 1973. Their many achievements are worthy of recognition and I am delighted to see them honoured with this year’s Hall of Fame awards”
Other 2015 award winners also announced today are Paul Collins of Tipperary who receives the Media Award; Michael Wadding of Waterford who receives the Services to Refereeing award; Michael Ryan of Waterford who is given the Special Merit Award for his contribution to Gaelic Games in his native Waterford and further afield; Limerick’s Diarmaid Byrnes for Intermediate Hurling Award and Conor Cox of Kerry for Junior Football.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Ger Ryan, Munster GAA PRO, Email: pro.munster@gaa.ie Tel: 086 8149146