AGM
There was a good turnout in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh on Sunday afternoon as Aodh Ruadh members assembled to reflect on the season past and plan for 2015. The following appointments were made during the election of officers. Patrons: Father Ó Fearraí and Monsignor Connolly; President: Owen Roe O’Neill; Chairperson: Diarmaid Keon; Vice Chair: Tom Daly; Secretary: Emma Gaughan; Assistant Secretary: Betty McIntyre; Treasurer: Catherine McKee; Assistant Treasurer: Sean O’Mahoney; PRO: John Hughes; Oifig na Gaeilge: Vacant; County Board Delegate: John Travers; Health & Wellbeing Officer: Gerard Ferguson; Child Protection Officer: John Travers; Director of Coaching: Vacant. Also elected to the committee were Mike Lynch, Eamonn McGrath Sr, Pat McGrath, John McGee, John Patton, Sylvester Maguire, John Keon, Terence McShea, Stephen Ward, Dinny Loughlin, Mick McGrath as well and the senior team representative and members of Park Committee and sub-committees. We thank all those who served during the season past for all their efforts on behalf of the club and wish all incoming office holders the very best for a productive and successful 2015.
The following motions were debated and decided upon.
When the county is involved in an All-Ireland final club tickets will be allocated as follows.
– Current members of Cairde Aoidh Ruaidh – one ticket.
– If sufficient tickets are available fully paid up members at the cut off point for the issue if tickets from Croke Park – one ticket.
– Notwithstanding 1 and 2 above the club executive (Chair, secretary and treasurer) reserve the right to allocate tickets to applicants in exceptional circumstances and to have a draw for a limited number of tickets in respect of club members joining after the above mentioned cut off point.
Passed with amendments
Reduce membership by €10 per person.
Amendment made, but voted down
That in light of the ongoing absence of a hard copy of the club constitution, a sub-committee be delegated to draft a club constitution based on the GAA club constitution template, and augmented with such successful club AGM motions as we have written record of. The constitution to be presented and approved at the first appropriate monthly meeting of the club executive.
Ruled out of order
That the AGM elect one only Club Assistant Secretary.
Withdrawn
That the AGM reduce the price of Club Membership for Year 2015 and review at Club AGM in Year 2015.
Proposed membership for 2015: Adult Playing member €50; Adult Non-Playing member €30; Youth Membership €20 and €10 according to current age structures.
Withdrawn
That a meeting of Club Committee is held every month of year except for month of AGM.
Passed
Football
Fortune has once again eluded Aodh Ruadh in a big match. They trailed by 0-4 to 0-3 in their under 21 championship quarter-final against Saint Eunan’s, but the Letterkenny goal had lead a charmed life as a number of chances for majors were denied. When Conor Patton’s goal finally did arrive in the second half it was unfortunately too little too late as the Saint Eunan’s ran out winner on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-6. We have a full match report and pictures from the game up on aodhruadh.org.
Hurling
On Saturday last we had our annual Juvenile Hurling Presentation night, and in keeping with other years, this years guest was another legend of the hurling world the great Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton from Antrim. Sambo enjoyed a 17 year playing career with Antrim. He played in the All Ireland Final in 1989 and won an All-Star in 1991, he is widely regarded as one of Ulster’s greatest ever hurlers. The regard in which he is held in the hurling world is shown by his inclusion on the Hurling Review Committee set up by President of the GAA Liam O’Neill last year. Juvenile Hurling Chairman John Rooney welcomed all to this year’s event especially all the players and their families. He was delighted to welcome the great Sambo to Aodh Ruadh. He also welcomed Donegal Hurler Paul Sheridan to the event and congratulated him on being awarded Donegal Hurler of the year for 2014.
Sambo gave a great talk which young and old learned a lot from, he covered topics such as his difficulties as a child with a speech impediment and weight issues, how he overcame these difficulties to go on and become the greatest hurler he could. He spoke of the last line in his much acclaimed autobiography All Or Nothing which was, “No regrets.” He advised all present to have no regrets, he said in his work in the pub business he hears plenty of bar room regret stories and advised the boys to give of their best in everything they do. He spoke of his love of hurling and of the great game it is, and he thanked the club for inviting him to our presentation night.
While we didn’t win any county titles this year we had competed at all levels from under 8s to minors with varying degrees of success. All of our teams achievements were recognised on the night and all players up to under 14 were awarded certificates as a recognition of their efforts all year. Sambo presented the certificates to all and posed for photos with everyone. Special guests also on the night were Creevy National School who recently won the Cummann na mBunscoil county final defeating Tooban National School, and claiming the title for the first time in the school’s history. Principal of the school Ms Aoibhinn Kelly along with teachers Geraldine Thomas, Carmel McGee and Paula Gibson were present and Ms Kelly proudly called her team forward to receive their medals from Sambo.
We then had a number of individual presentations, firstly to Declan Breslin, Nathan Owens Kelly, and Gavin McGarrigle recognising their participation with the Donegal under 12 development squad in the Activity Day in Croke Park, hopefully the first of many appearances for them on the hallowed turf. Senan Rooney received a presentation for playing in the INTO exhibition game at half time in the All-Ireland semi-final between Limerick and Kilkenny. Next to receive awards were our representatives on the county under 14 team Pauric Keenaghan, Aaron Peach and Liam O’Sullivan, three All Ireland medallists Stephen Anderson, Conall Sweeney and Paddy McCaffrey were next to be honoured, these three lads were on the Donegal under 15 squad who won the under 16 C All-Ireland title. We had three representatives on the Donegal under 16 squad Oisin Rooney (captain) Brendan Gillespie and Kieran Daly. Our next three award winners represented Ulster this year, Oisin Rooney and Brendan Gillespie were selected for the Ulster camp held in Jordanstown in July while Orlaith Gillespie was selected for the camogie camp also held in Jordanstown. Unfortunately Brendan was injured for the game against the Galway under 15s. Oisin made the team and scored two goals and was one of only three players outside of Antrim and Down who made the team. Orlaith is training away with the Ulster squad and hoped to make the team for a game against Dublin early in the new year, it was a great achievement by these three players to reach this standard. We had seven representatives on the Donegal minor squad who narrowly lost to Derry in the Ulster championship and lost after extra time to Roscommon in the All-Ireland B quarter-final, they were Eddie Lynch (captain) Ciaran Rami, Oisin Roper, Eugene Drummond, Oisin Rooney, Brendan Gillespie and Donal Sweeny.
The final presentation of the night was made by Club President Owen Roe O’Neill who presented Sambo with a memento of his visit to the club. There followed the usual great refreshments supplied by the parents where there was loads of food for everyone. Sambo then conducted a very open question and answer session with everyone and all got a great insight into his career, the difficulties keeping hurling alive in Ulster and many other issues.
On Sunday morning in poor conditions he conducted a very good training session for the under 16s and minors and from there he headed back to the Glens of Antrim, a very genuine man and a true GAA legend.
Thanks to Peter McIntyre of the Allingham Arms Hotel for his help with Sambo’s visit, Peter’s support is much appreciated. Thanks to Sean Cassidy who set up the TV in the Aras, thanks to Ronan Mathews for all his photography on the night and to John Hughes for his slide show, finally thanks to all who turned up on the night to meet this great character. You can see Ronan Mathews pictures from the night up on aodhruadh.org.
The club extends our congratulations to Paul Sheridan on being named Donegal hurler of the year for 2014. Well deserved for all his efforts with club and county over the past few years. Paul received his award at the Annual Donegal GAA Awards in the Abbey Hotel last Saturday.
Date for your diary annual Juvenile Hurling table quiz will take place in Owen Roes on the 18th December a great nights craic with lots of raffle prizes is guaranteed.
Park / Development committee AGM
The AGM of the Park/Development Committee took place on Sunday in association with the Club AGM. Officers elected for 2015 were Chairman: Tom Daly; Vice Chairman: John Magee; Secretary: Conal Gallagher; Treasurer: David McLoone; Assistant Secretary and Facilities Booking: Peter Conlon; Bingo Treasurer (Joint): Cathal Gallagher and David McLoone; PRO: Michael Daly.
Comprehensive Reports were presented to the meeting on activity in 2014, and on planned works and activity in 2015. The reports presented were unanimously adopted including the statement of accounts. The comprehensive coaching initiative which involves 13 structured weekly coaching sessions in the six primary national schools in the club area, and the impressive development work programme undertaken in 2014 at both Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh and Father Tierney Park were highly commended.
In order to complete the Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh developments in 2015 a further five volunteers are needed for the April 2015 Skydive. If you are willing to take part please contact co-ordinator Conal Gallagher by this weekend. A briefing will be held with all 10 participants over the Christmas period to give them a good opportunity to commence their fund-raising.
Bord na nÓg AGM
The Bord na nÓg AGM took place on Tuesday evening, 2nd December with a large attendance present in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh for proceedings. The following appointments were made. Chairman: Vacant; Secretary: Lisa McTernan; Under 6 management: Niall McCready; Under 8 management: Vacant; Under 10 management: Vacant; Under 12 management: Brian Roper; Under 14 and Under 13 management: Vacant; Under 16 management: Raymie Granaghan and Alan Sweeny; Minor management: Peter McKenna, David O’Donnell and Raymie Granaghan. We thanks outgoing officers for all their hard work over the past year and extended our best wishes to the in-coming officer holders for a successful 2015. If anyone is interested in any of the vacant positions, please contact a member of the committee. We would encourage parents in particular, to get involved in Bord na nÓg throughout the year either in the committee or by helping out with lotto, transport, laundry, refreshments, umpiring or in any small way they can.
Abbey Centre Bingo
The bingo jackpot of €400 was won by Mary Kilfeather of Grange. There was no winner of the winter snowball which now stands at €325 on 50 numbers or less. Many thanks to the parish of Saint Joseph’s for use of the Rock Hall last Friday night. Bingo this weekend returns to the Abbey Centre at 9pm, books costing €10 for a full book, €5 for a half.
Aodh Ruadh Lotto
There was no winner of the Aodh Ruadh Lotto Jackpot of €3,500. The numbers drawn were 4, 5, 9, 12, 17 and 18. In the lucky dip €20 went to Tom McLoughlin, Castlerard; Maura McGowan, Westport; Olivia Magee, Assaroe View; Johnny Gallagher, Clyhore; and Pauric Keenaghan, Wardtown. Next week’s draw for a jackpot of €3,600 takes place at 8.30pm in Pat’s Bar on Sunday.
The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra this Saturday is: BORD NA NÓG.
The lotto team for Kernan’s Spar this Saturday is: RESERVE FOOTBALLERS.
You can receive the club notes by e-mail every Tuesday morning. To subscribe, enter your details on the website, www.aodhruadh.org, or e-mail your request to info@aodhruadh.org.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Tue 9th Dec
