Michael Howard

Michael Howard was the founder of the One Mile Inn Squash Club in 1974. He saw before others the explosion in popularity of this sport throughout the 70's and 80's in the county. The club enjoyed success on and off the courts. The membership peaked at 220 in 1982, and its socials catered normally for over 300 people.  

  

Michael was born on the 19th Sept 1933 in Ballinalacken in North Clare. He was an only child born to Thomas and Bridget Howard. He was a relatively young man when his father Thomas passed away and so it was his mother who was to have a huge influence on his political life. She was the former Bridget Murphy from Ballymacraven in Ennistymon a cousin of Bill Murphy the former Fine Gael T.D. for North Clare. She encouraged Michael buying him books on Great Political Leaders throughout the World, so that he developed an interest in politics especially Fine Gael.

He came to Ennis in 1958 when he took up an appointment as the first Manager of Clare Marts. Ennis had the first cattle mart in Co. Clare and under Michael’s direction the mart thrived. He spearheaded the expansion of Clare Marts and saw the establishment of similar establishments in Kilrush, Ennistymon and Scariff. During this period, he also became active with the IFA and was appointed to the National Executive.

In 1963 he and his wife Breda purchased Claureen House and lands which he ran in conjunction with his home farm in Lisdoonvarna. They had eight children. Tom, Michael, Mary, Seamus, Elizabeth, Gearoid, Louise and Brid.

1970 saw the commencement of his career as a builder and publican. It was in that year that he built and established The One Mile Inn, a complex including bar, dancing facilities, squash courts and pitch and putt. He also reconstructed Claureen House as a tourist facility.



The opening of the pitch and putt club in 1975.
Michael on the far right

The One Mile Inn Squash Club ( 1974- 1991) was an enormous success. Throughout the 70's it was the club in Clare. Its teams were prominent in Munster and it ran and hosted the Clare Championships until 1982. This was then taken over by the newly formed and well organised Clare Squash Racquets Association.
 

 

At its peak in 1982 the One Mile had 220 members. It was so successful that it lead to the formation of 13 other clubs in Clare which subsequently led to its demise. In 1986 when I was Chairman the membership had dropped dramatically to 70. Michael had told us that at least 75 were needed for the club to be viable.   

To his eternal credit Michael then made a major investment in the Club. The pitch and putt course was reopened adjacent to the club, with all the revenue going to the squash club. A new glass wall and gallery for 50 people was built behind Court 2, so that the One Mile could run a very successful annual open tournament. 

 A new entrance and bar was built for the club with a trophy cabinet and piano included. He even sponsored competitions with holidays abroad as prizes.The 12 very competitive teams and players responded with unprecedented success. Everyone was determined that the club would not go under, However despite all our efforts including Michael's the club closed in 1991. Squash was on the decline, and no one could understand how its popularity dropped as sudddenly as it rose in the 70's.

I can only say it was a pleasure to have worked with Michael over those 4 great years. He had given Ennis a fantastic club that was enjoyed by many over its 17 years.
 



 

In 1987 Michael established his own building firm and commenced development of the housing project known as Brookville, which consisted of detached and semi-detached bungalows.



 

He was also Chairman of the Eire Og GAA Club, President of the Hermitage Soccer Club, a member of the Clare Agricultural Show Society and the Ennis Chamber of Commerce.

He was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat to the Dail in 1969, 1973 and 1981. However in 1974 he was elected as a Fine Gael member of Clare County Council which he held with distinction until 1991. In 1977 he won a seat in the Seaned on the Industrial and Commercial panel. His nomination came through the Licensed Vintners, having served as President of that organisation. He was Senator in the 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 20th Seanad's. He was also an associate member of the British-Irish Inter-Parlimentary Body in 1997. He lost his seat at the 1997 Seanad election and then retired from politics.

Michael Howard passed away on the 17th Februaury 2009. At his Graveside Oration, Deputy Breen stated " He loved life, he loved his family, he loved Fine Gael to which he devoted all his adult life, and he loved his native County Clare. A true patriot who was proud of his Country".  He was a great man.




  1988