Ger Loughnane

Ger Loughnane (born 1953 in Feakle) is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Feakle and with the Clare senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s. Loughnane has often been described as a controversial character in the world of hurling.

As a player Loughnane was involved with the Clare team of the 1970s, a team often described as one that under-achieved somewhat. In his senior inter-county career that lasted from 1972 until 1987 he won two National Hurling League titles and three Railway Cup titles with Munster. Clare came close to winning a Munster title in both 1977 and 1978, however, they were defeated by Cork on both occasions. Loughnane was also the first Clare person to be presented with an All Star award.

As a manager Loughnane has had remarkable success. As manager of the Clare senior inter-county team in the 1990s he guided his native-county to two All-Ireland titles and three Munster titles. Loughnane's achievements with Clare are all the more remarkable considering the fact that between 1933 and 1994 the county failed to win a provincial title. Loughnane later served as manager of the Galway senior inter-county from 2006 until 2008, however, in spite of promising an All-Ireland within two years his tenure at the helm was not a successful one.