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gaa · Sunday 12 July 2026 · Various 
Clare Senior Football Championship 2026 - Group Stage
At Various Clare GAA Grounds · Various, Co. Clare
At Various Clare GAA Grounds · Various, Co. Clare
The Clare Senior Football Championship is the top tier of club Gaelic football in the county, and the group stage fixtures starting in July are where the season properly kicks off. Twelve clubs contest the title across the summer - fierce local rivals competing since the very first championship in 1887. If you want to see Gaelic football played with genuine purpose rather than exhibition, this is it. The atmosphere at club level is different from inter-county games: supporters are closer to the pitch, the names on the jerseys mean something to everyone in the ground, and the stakes feel personal.
The Clare SFC runs a twelve-club group stage format, introduced in 2019 to give clubs more championship football and raise the stakes throughout the summer. Games are played at club grounds around the county from July, with knockout stages in August and September. The final is traditionally held at Cusack Park in Ennis in October.
Recent years have been dominated by Éire Óg of Ennis, who won in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025 - the last title completing a hurling and football double for the first time since 1929. Kilmurry Ibrickane, Kilrush Shamrocks and St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay have the pedigree to push them. July group stage games matter for seeding and survival into the knockouts - no coasting allowed. Check the Clare GAA fixtures page for specific venues and times as each round is confirmed.
Group stage fixtures move around club grounds across County Clare, so the location changes each round. Ennis is well served by Bus Éireann from Limerick (route 343) and Galway, and sits on the M18 motorway. Most club grounds have on-site or roadside parking; arriving early is sensible for a local derby. Check the home club’s social media close to matchday for any parking notices.
Ennis is a compact market town with a strong traditional music scene and a Franciscan friary worth a look before or after the match. There is more to see in Ennis and across Co. Clare.
Heading to Various Clare GAA Grounds in Ennis? Clare has plenty more to see. Read the Ennis area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.