Enda O’Connor, a prominent figure in Clare hurling, resides in Tubber, rural Clare, where the family company Conor Engineering is situated; a marker of achievement in the midst of pastoral tranquillity. This established business has been under his supervision for approximately four decades. His domestic setting, shared with Carmel, is adorned with relics from previous times when his participation in a team was essential. Together with his siblings, he represented Clare and was a crucial component of the sole Tubber team ever to reach a senior county final.
Enda has a collection of national league medals from 1977 and 1978 where Clare overcame Kilkenny. However, in intensely competitive Munster finals, Clare were unable to defeat the reigning top team of the era, Cork, who triumphed in the All-Ireland championship three times consecutively from 1976-78. Ironically, despite not emerging as champions in Munster, Clare has twice managed to hoist the Liam MacCarthy; the county was victorious in overcoming their long-established rivals Cork in the decisive match of the season in both 2013 and this year.
Tubber comes alive with the saffron and blue flags following the All-Ireland final in August, which are eventually replaced by the maroon and white of Galway due to the close proximity of Gort. However, during the All-Ireland, at the age of 70, Enda found himself unable to concentrate on the game, a result of his ongoing fight against Alzheimer’s.
Reliving the glory days, the O’Connors recall Fr Harry still expressing his disdain for the dismissal of Jim Power during the 1977 Munster final just before the break, marking a significant turning point in the competition.
In the League Final that took place in April, Clare prevailed over Kilkenny, marking an impressive resurgence from their previously subdued record. Enda O’Connor was the key player who delivered Clare’s first goal, responding aptly to an initial penalty disadvantage. During the All-Ireland weekend of the present year, Enda’s daughter, Suzanne, shared a throwback YouTube video showcasing her father’s remarkable goal. The clip, forwarded numerous times, returned to her within just few hours.
One cannot mention Clare’s team of the 1970s without acknowledging Fr Harry Bohan, a manager renowned almost as much for his contributory off-field roles as a sociologist, rural economist, and community activist. Recalling 1977, Bohan implied his still-lingering disappointment by saying, “That was the year we could have clinched the All-Ireland”. Bohan is reasonably close to the O’Connor family, asserting that the O’Connors were among the few who acted while many merely watched or remained oblivious.
Undoubtedly, the O’Connors made their presence known, generating between 40 and 50 jobs over some periods. Though Jamie passed away quite early, when Enda and his wife Carmel took charge 40 years prior, the result was a thriving engineering business catering to exports. Pat, Enda’s other brother, has made significant strides in farming. Alongside these achievements, the trio also contributed substantially to a Clare team managed by Bohan during the 1970s, a team credited for instilling buoyancy in Clare hurling with the conviction that they could be on par with the victors of All-Irelands such as Cork, Kilkenny, and Tipp.
Enda, according to Bohan, was not only adept at skillful hurling but was also dauntless, unafraid to challenge anyone on the field. He embodied the spirit at the core of the O’Connors and this self-assured, fearless attitude that he exuded was a testament to his sense of individuality.
Enda O’Connor was a highly regarded forward in his heyday, remembered fondly for his unflinching, bold playing strategy. This ferocity on the field, recalled best as a charge towards the ball with the intent of scoring a goal, is particularly admirable for having been exhibited in a time before helmets were mandatory.
Enda, a prominent member of the team through the 1970s and the 80s, developed and maintained strong connections with John Callinan, Séamus Durack, and Barry Smith. Callinan, a fellow player and friend, recollects Enda’s impact both on and off the field. His business endeavours, noted Callinan, generated an infectious optimism, felt strongly among the team.
During his residence in Clarecastle, Callinan would often get a lift from Enda, who continually boasted an impressive collection of vehicles, thanks to the flourishing O’Connor family business. He fondly recalls a time when Enda drove a three-litre Capri, a car so speedy it could practically fly. Enamoured by Enda’s sunny disposition and unwavering positivity, Callinan and he became fast friends. In 1978, Enda even provided his own gleaming blue Mercedes for Callinan’s wedding, a generous act still remembered with beautiful photographs and heartfelt gratitude.
The contribution of the O’Connor clan to North Clare’s tertiary sector gave the region a much-needed economic boost. Although they did not consciously address it, the team drew a lot of their self-esteem from this success story. Enda’s determination to succeed, against all odds, was mirrored in the confidence of the team. Harry Bohan, understanding this, recalls Enda’s unwavering optimism and forward-thinking nature, particularly after a defeat.
In 1977, when he was enlisted as a last-minute replacement for the All Stars’ US tour, he quickly organized his visa, reinforcing his reputation as a man who could make things happen. His tenacity and ambition, on and off the field, were key factors in his success.
In a mini-doc aired by RTÉ in 1978, Doireann Ní Bhriain reports on that year’s Munster final, interviewing Harry Bohan and Ger Loughnane after the match. Bohan and Loughnane, who later guided Clare to win the All-Ireland in 1995, expressed belief in the potential of the 1970s lineup, despite their narrow loss of 0-11 to 13.
The Tubber team saw their most successful senior hurling season in 1981, making it to the county final but ultimately losing out to Newmarket-on-Fergus. Reflecting on that time, Carmel, the wife of an unnamed man who played multiple roles in the team, including being the captain and manager, recalls their journey to the county final.
That year was significant in other ways too, as their daughter Suzanne was born, who proudly recalls her birth coinciding with the memorable season. Their son Barry, currently heading the family business and also a former hurling player himself, recounts his father’s immense dedication to the club, evident in his multi-faceted involvement till his early 40s.
In a completely different setting, the couple went to Royal Ascot in 2007 to witness the Queen Mary Stakes. Being part of a syndicate that owned a horse named Elletelle, they experienced an unforgettable day when the horse, ushered by jockey Johnny Murtagh, won the race unexpectedly. This victory was sweeter for Enda who, as Carmel fondly recalls, described the day as the best of his life.
Elletelle’s 20-1 odds winning, having been at 33-1 ante-post, marked a significant turn of fortune. However, unfortunate circumstances kept Suzanne from witnessing the thrilling race in person as she had to look after a sick child.
The legendary ’90s team owes its roots back in the two years leading up to 1995. Ger Loughnane replaced Tipperary all-Ireland winner Len Gaynor as the manager while the other selectors included Fr Willie Walsh, who was soon to be named Bishop of Killaloe, and Enda O’Connor.
A number of promising athletes have had the opportunity to rise up in the ranks, including Brian Lohan who took the reins of this year’s All-Ireland champion team.
Carmel O’Connor, in a sombre mood, shares pictures of her husband’s earlier teams and proudly exhibits his achievements rendered in medals. She, alongside her children Enda, Barry, and Suzanne who help run the family enterprise, graciously entertain despite any encroachments on their private lives. James and Darragh, two absent children with the latter now employed in the family business, are also key members of the clan.
Enda has maintained his physical well-being, often vocal and introspective about his environment, notedly the formidable array of trees encircling their residence, all planted by himself.
Those who witness a loved one battle dementia are intimately acquainted with the periods of silence. They lower their tones in a futile effort to respect the silence, walking a fine line between accepting grim humour and feeling fatigued. Enda, a decade prior, started to exhibit signs of memory loss which eventually culminated in an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
The family are familiar with Eamon Ward, a photographer who attended a promotional event at their factory where the launch of a massive tanker for export to New Zealand was underway.
Barry noted, “That specific one was destined to cater to a farm of around 3,000 cows – think about moving that monumental amount of slurry. They purchased two of these tankers.”
Carmel, stepping away from the business, recalls times when Enda would short-journey to the engineering works. “His gradual withdrawal from the business didn’t deter him from contributing what he could in various minor tasks at the works until recently. Up till the start of this year, he was present every day. But that’s dwindled now.”
Carmel reflects, “He was a man of action. A business owner knows. He was fully committed in everything he did, even in the local gun club. He loved spending Sundays with his two dogs. He also developed commercial properties around Ennis. But now…now he lacks the physical ability. It’s devastating. He is unable to engage in any activity – television, reading, working, even walking the dogs become an impossible task. We strive to keep him engaged but it’s tough…What else can we do?”
The Alzheimer Society diligently provides sporadic, yet crucial support by sending a carer to supervise Enda, affording Carmel the opportunity to indulge in lunch or other distractions. Enda remains in his pleasingly comfortable habitat, a testament to his success, adorned by framed pictures on walls and a bearing witness to a dedicated famiIy nearby. He’s merely a stone’s throw away from his business, a venture that prospered due to sheer grit and perception over many years. Regrettably, this world that he resides in, is no longer accessible to him due to his condition.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland organises a national fundraising event, the Memory Walk, scheduled for Sunday, the 22nd of September. The event takes place in several venues, one of them being Ennis. For additional information, you can consult the webpage: alzheimer.ie/get-involved/fundraising-events/alzheimer-memory-walk/.