GRASSROOTS
AUGHRIM
Aughrim GAA held their annual AGM on Friday, November 29.
Our incoming committee for 2020 is as follows: Chairman: Eugene Ó Brien, Vice Chair: Liam Keenan, Secretary: John Keenan, Asst. Secretary: Patrick Fanning, Treasurer: Conor Phelan, Asst. Treasurer: John Gunning, PRO: Conor Lambert.
A huge thank you must go to our outgoing Chairman, Willie O’Loughlin. Willie has put in a tremendous amount of work in his term.
Well done to James, Pádraig, and Darragh Lambert and to Cian and Ryan Harper who competed in the Scór na nÓg Leinster semi finals on Saturday 7th of December in Birr. Unfortunately the didn’t qualify for the final, but they are talented musicians and they have a promising future ahead of them, and we are sure to see them in Scór na nÓg next year again.
Congratulations to Conaill O’ Brien, Charlie O’Connor and Jack Byrne who have been selected for the under 14 Garden County Academy Football panel for 2020.
Our Annual Juvenile Christmas Raffle takes place in Ó Tooles on Saturday, 21st December. This is always a well supported night and fundraiser. Tickets are available from all club members now. Thanks to all of our sponsors of the fabulous prizes for draw.
BLESSINGTON
These are the final notes for Blessington GAA for 2019. Wishing all our members and supporters a very Happy Christmas and New Year. We will need support for all teams in 2020 and would be grateful to get as many volunteers on board for the young players coming to play GAA in our club from Academy to Senior. #BlessoGAA2020.
U20’s – Blessington were up against Clara Gaels in the U20B Championship Final in An Tochar on Sunday, December 8.
Conditions were tough with the wind and rain. Blessington opened up the scoring with a point from Brian Bohan. It was pretty level scorewise until Clara Gaels got an easy goal to put them two points ahead. By half time it was level Blessington 0-8, Clara Gaels 1-5.
Blessington came out fighting after the break and scored 2-4 without response. Two suberb goals and a point a piece from Sean Price and Sean Mescall raised the tempo. Blessington kept tipping away putting the points over the bar and despite two goals and a point from Clara Gaels Blessington ran out winners on a scoreline of 2-17, to 3-06. Well done to the management of Peter Behan, Steven Doyle, Eoin Phibbs, John Walsh and admin Michael Sargent. Well done to Captain Brian Bohan who accepted the Paudge Dooley Cup on behalf of his team and to Jordy McGarr who was nominated the Garden County Sport Man of the Match.
It was a fitting end to the year for this terrific bunch of lads.
Team and scorers – C. Geraghty, F. Walsh, O. Brogan, C. Roe, C. Mescall, C. O’Gallchobhair, B. Bohan (0-1 f), E. Higgins J. McGarr (0-4 1f), K. Quinn (0-5 f), R. Finan (0-1), C. Maguire, E. Cotter (0-2), S. Mescall (1-03). Williamson, S. Price (1-01), S. Lambe, M. McMahon, C. Tounou, E. Kavanagh, D. Phibbs.
U14 GCA – Well done to Aaron Keogh and David Gilmore who are on the U14 GCA Panel 2020.
Wicklow Ladies Individual Sponsorship – Kim Connors, Wicklows’ Number 1 is looking to secure sponsorship for the 2020 season. If you can help in any small way or require further details, please contact Kim on 0852079649.
Blessington Ladies - Blessington LGFA are now recruiting for the upcoming 2020 football season. Our ever-expanding ladies section welcomes new players, coaches and volunteers for our upcoming season. With U14-Adult activity commencing in early January, now is the time to register your interest. Academy - U12 commences shortly after in Feb/March. These younger age groups provide the perfect opportunity to make those first steps on the coaching ladder. If playing or coaching is not for you, Blessington LGFA also welcomes all volunteers in any capacity/role. No job is too big or too small. For more info please contact
Anne Doyle 087-2237640, blessington. wicklow@lgfa.ie. Kim Connors 0852079649, kimconnors22@gmail.com.
Camogie in Blessington 2020 – We are looking to gauge interest in forming an U12 Camogie team in Blessington GAA for 2020. If your daughter is interested in giving camogie a go or if you are willing to help in the coaching team, please contact David Doyle 0876186793.
Date for your Diary - Awards and Social night in the Avon on last friday of January 2020 (31st). More details nearer the time on Facebook and Supporters Whats App.
Re-scheduled Blessington GAA AGM – The Rescheduled AGM was held on Tuesday, 3 December 2019. There was a small turnout on the night. There were two motions on the night – 1. To increase the membership fees by €10 and 2. Mick Mills and Mary Hamilton were made honorary members of the club. John Williamson, Chair, Noreen Keegan Kavanagh, Secretary, Breda Brophy, Treasurer were returned. There were no new names added to the Executive but there were three people who have stood down. Many thanks to Jess Brennan, Maura Reid and Pat Molloy who have given great service to the executive committee and to ladies football over the years. Club are constantly looking for volunteers and appeal to any former members and players to make contact and help in any way. There are a great bunch of players both ladies and men who are the future of the club. It would be great to have the experience from the past helping the players of the future.
Lotto – There was no winner of the jackpot of €6,800. Two people matched 3 numbers – Tom Fisher and Alex McDonnell c/o Mick Mills. Each win €150. Next draw 17 December in Hennessys. Jackpot a cool €7,000. Appreciation draw will also be held on the night. 10 vouchers to be drawn. For anyone who wishes to play online here is the line. https://clubforce. com/clubs/gaa-blessington-gaa-clubwicklow/. Tickets available from players and committee members as well as businesses around the town.
Christmas Bingo – Next Bingo on Wednesday, 11 December, at 8.15pm sharp in The Avon. Single books cost €10 and double books cost €20 and this includes jackpot and flyer sheets. Jackpot now €1600 in 45 calls! Bonus prizes of Turkey, Hams and lots lots more. Please spread the word and bring a friend.
Scór na n-Óg Quiz County Final - will take place on Friday, 13th December at 7:45pm in Ballinakill Centre of Excellence. Participants are asked to be there at 7:30pm at the latest. If anyone is interested in putting together a team and taking part, please text or What’s App Noreen 0872858375 or Catherine 0871224019 asap. Contestants must be U17. Born on 1.1.2003 or later.
Get Ireland Walking - In conjunction with Wicklow Sports Partnership and joining in with RTE’S Operation Transformation, Blessington GAA will be taking part in Get Ireland Walking on 18 January 2020. This will tie in with the Healthy Club Project and we will be encouraging all disciplines to get involved. It will be one day a week. Calling on all coaches to round up your players and kick off a healthy 2020. Contact Lisa on 0863767534.
Wicklow Referee Recruitment - Blessington GAA are looking to recruit past players, present players, coaches and supporters over 18 years of age who are willing to take up the whistle to referee matches from U11 to U17 and eventually refereeing adult games. Each club in the county is asked to identify at least one person to be recruited. Please Contact Hugh Kenny or Eddie Leonard to register.
Clothing Collection ongoing - collecting good quality second-hand clothing suitable for re-use. Please fill as many black bin bags as you can – the more we collect, the more our club receives. If you are unable to bring them to the GAA grounds, we can arrange collection. Please contact: John Magee Snr 086 871 7483 or Breda Brophy 087 225 3892. Thank you for your support.
BLESSINGTON STRIP O’Neills Online shop – Blessington GAA gear for sale in O’Neills online. Get online and order for the Christmas! https://www.oneills. com/shop-by-team/gaa/ireland/blessington-gaa.html
Instagram - Blessington GAA is now on Instagram. Keep up to date with all the action by following us - Username @ blessingtongaa.
Remember to keep updated on what is happening in the Club log on to Blessington GAA on Facebook and on Twitter @ blessingtongaa. If you wish to be on the Blessington GAA Supporters Whats App please text your name to 087 2858375.
ANNACURRA
We finished our year on Tuesday night with our AGM.
After three years in charge, Sean Kavanagh stood down from the Chair. Thank you to Sean for all your work in the last three years and also to all the outgoing committee members for their work in 2019.
The new committee: Michael Doyle in the Chair; Noel Shannon, vice chair; John O’Neill, Secretary; Declan Byrne, Juvenile Secretary; Adrienne Byrne, Treasurer; Colin O’Driscoll, Child Safety.
Good luck to the new committee and to all teams for 2020.
BALLYMANUS
Congratulations and well done to Petra Van Der Wel who won last weekend and will now represent the club in the Leinster finals of the Scor na nOg soloist singer competition in the coming weeks. Well done to all who contributed and donated to the Christmas sale of work in the hall recently in aid of the homeless. A staggering €1,200 was raised on the day with still a few donations coming in. This is in addition to over €1,700 being raised by Saoirse Tyrell and Caitlin Whelan and their fellow walkers (each walked over 100km during November) in aid of Laura Lynn. Super little community. The club held its annual race night recently. Another super night was had. Thanks as always to our generous sponsors: Roadstone, O’Keeffes pub Knockananna, Paddy Phelans Aughrim, Anthony Darcy, Doyle’s pub Ballinglen, Woodside Nursaries, The Saltee, Gerry Keogh, the Corner House, Glenmalure Lodge, Woodfab, Sean O’Neill Transport, Lamberts Hardware, Vass Autos, Declan O’Brien Construction Limited, Terry Carthy, Sean and Mary Byrne, Arthur Kennedy Chemist, O’Connors Tinahely, Herbst Group, Van Der Wel Nursaries, Thomas McDonald Plant Hire, Kinsella Estates, Quinn Property, Mervin Travers, Ballybeg House, Sean and Ronan Byrne Mini Bus Hire, Woodenbridge Hotel, Rednagh Stores. Finally the club would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the extended family and friends of the late Joey Leeson who sadly passed away recently. Ar Dheis De go raibh a ainm Dilis.
VALLEYMOUNT
Our lotto draw took place at the weekend and there was no winner of the jackpot. The numbers were 10, 24, 25 and 28 and the three €25 winners were John Fisher, Tonia Guing and Sharon Geoghegan. The next draw will be on Saturday, 21st December with a jackpot of €9200. Tickets are €2 and available from all members. If anyone would like to buy a yearly lotto ticket please contact Michael Nolan on 0872964476.
Our social night and Christmas Raffle will take place in Cullen’s Lakeview Lounge at 8pm on Saturday, 14th December. Loads of prizes to be won on the night. Raffle tickets are €2 each or a book of 6 for €10 and are available from the committee and all club members. Hope to see everyone there on the night.
Congratulations to all the St. Kevin’s juveniles who were presented with their medals in Hollywood clubhouse at the weekend. It has been a very successful year for them and on our behalf we would like to thank all those who help out with St. Kevins. Sean O’Sullivan and Barney
Keogh were commended on the night as they were instrumental in setting up St. Kevins Juvenile Club 50 years ago. Valleymount GAA is now on Instagram. Keep up to date with all the action by following us - Username @valleymountgaa_.
HOLLYWOOD
Hollywood GAA Club Lotto will be held this coming Wednesday, 11th December in The Hollywood Inn for a Jackpot of €12,800. Tickets are available online at hollywoodgaa.com and from the usual outlets. Thanks for your continued support and good luck.
Hollywood GAA Club Annual Christmas Table Quiz will be on 27th December at 9pm in Tutty’s. This is always a great occasion, hope we will see you there.
SHILLELAGH-COOLBOY
Pride of place this week to Eddie Cullen, Killian O’Keeffe and Conor Byrne all of whom have secured a place on the Garden County Academy U-14 panel. Like all our young warriors from Nursery age group upwards these lads are a credit to their parents and coaches and all involved in what is a very vibrant juvenile set up, they have given both the Juvenile & Adult sections of Shillelagh/Coolboy G.A.A a fantastic boost in our first year in existence.
Well done to the Christmas Lights Committees of both villages who have once again turned both Coolboy and Shillelagh into a kaleidascope of colour for the festive season. This does not happen at the flick of a switch, it happens as a result of countless hours of hard work by these unsung heroes in both communities resulting in a standard of lighting comparable to anywhere in beautiful Ireland and beyond .
Full marks also to the children and adults who turned out in force for the big switch on and thanks also to Eugene Kenny and Steven Sheridan and their staff in Parkview House and The Little Moon for the use of their premises for the post switch on celebrations.
James Wilson Snr. Stratnakelly passed to his eternal reward last week. To James’s family, extended family and friends all connected with Shillelagh/Coolboy G.A.A Club extend their deepest sympathy. James was laid to rest on Monday last. Ar Dheis De Go Raibh a Ainm.
The combination drawn in the Fairgreen Development lotto draw on Monday 25th November was 3-6-11-19. There was no Jackpot winner. The following matched 3 numbers and shared €100, Tom Driver, Kicavan, Lar Behan, Upper Ballard and Aimee Kavanagh, Tinahely. Sean Kenny won the promoter’s prize. The next draw was scheduled for last Monday, 9th December. Results will be available in all local business outlets from Tuesday morning onwards and in next week’s club notes. Your continued support is much appreciated.
AVONDALE
Our most recent lotto results: Numbers drawn were 1, 5, 26 and 27. There was no jackpot winner .
There were two match 3 winners, Congratulations to Seamus O’Shaughnessy, seller S O’Shaugh, Mary McGraynor Kennedy, seller Joe Kennedy.
Next week’s jackpot will be €7,200. Draw will be held in Cartoon Inn. Thanks to everyone for their continued support.
Last Man Standing update: We have a winner.
After nine rounds of the competition, 467 competitors later we finally have a winner. Well done to Eugene Dunne
We would like to thank absolutely everybody who contributed to the running of the event/selling of tickets and those who purchased an entry.
Your support is greatly appreciated and will help with bringing this club to new heights in the coming year.