GRASSROOTS
NEWTOWN
Congratulations to Ally and Ryan Taylor who this week scooped the lotto jackpot of €8,200. Due to Covid-19 next draw will be held on November 2.
ANNACURRA
The club sends condolences to the Doyle family. Pat passed away recently and will be missed.
Donal Kavanagh also passed away. He played in goal for many years for both Annacurra and Wicklow and played in the 1955 county final. We send our sympathy to his family.
BLESSINGTON
The GAA’s Management Committee on October 5 endorsed a decision to suspend all GAA club games at all levels with immediate effect and until further notice.
Wicklow Minors – Well done to the Wicklow Minor team and management who had a great win over Longford in the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship in Aughrim on Saturday.
There were six Blessington players on the team – Jack Sargent, Daniel Cooney, Mikey O’Toole, Austin Brennan, Daniel Silke Fetherston and Luke O’Brien. The halftime score was Wicklow 1-10, Longford 1-2. The match ended in an eight-point win for Wicklow. Final score: Wicklow 4-14, Longford 3-9. They will play Offaly next.
Ladies - Our Ladies wrapped up their excellent 2020 season this evening. Never too old for the ice cream van - it went down a treat.
We want to say a massive thank you to our Covid Officers Lynn Brid Barbara and Anne for all their hard work this year it is so very much appreciated.
In what was a crazy year we are so thankful for team sport which kept us all going.
A well-deserved winter break for now, stay safe everyone. We look forward to getting back together in 2021.
Under-10 girls - Sure what else would you be doing on a rainy, cold Tuesday evening only having the craic with friends and eating ice cream! End of season celebration for our amazing under-10 girls.
They are a great group on and off the pitch. We are so proud of them. They have made such progress, not letting the strangest of times get in the way.
We have all appreciated our football that bit more in recent times congrats girls, onwards and upwards.
A big thanks also to Sandra and Laura for volunteering as our Covid Supervisors. From Róisín, Dave, Darren, Barry, Jason & Sandeep.
Under-8 girls - And that’s a wrap! The under-8 girls had their final training session last Tuesday. Lots of games, treats and ice cream. They are a great bunch of girls who are a credit to their families and to the club. Big thanks to all the coaches for their work. And best of luck to all the girls moving to under-10 next year.
Academy – 30 children attended the academy on Saturday. The coaches would like to thank you to Michael McMahon, Ruairi Finan and Peter Manning for their help. Without this extra help, it would be quite difficult to continue due to Covid restrictions.
Healthy Clubs – Another great morning at our inclusion session. We were joined by a former club and county senior player who was only too willing to show off his football skills! Thanks a mill to everyone who turned up this morning including
John Coogan, Blessington GAA Club President.
Blessington Prize Draw - Blessington GAA are running their only fundraiser this year. Draw will be held on October 31. If you have sold your tickets, contact your promoter to collect or drop to the promoter. Tickets need to be returned sold or unsold. The club will be make a donation to the Irish Cancer Society from the proceeds of the ticket sales. 1st prize - €2000, 2nd prize - €1000, 3rd prize - €500, 4th and 5th prize - €250 and 5 prizes of €200. As always thanks for your support. If anyone would like to purchase a ticket at €10 each please contact Breda on 087 2253892.
Lotto –Next draw on October 20 for a jackpot of €2,600. Lines available to purchase at Hennessy’s Next Door, players or committee €2 a line. Lines can also be purchased online. Thanks for continued support.
Walk Des Home Fundraiser - From Michelle Richardson - I’m doing the virtual Dublin Marathon next weekend locally around Blesso. First marathon so it could take a while. I hadn’t planned on fundraising but really want to help in any way I can with the ‘Walk Des Home’ appeal. Following a bike accident in a cycle lane in Dublin City on January 8. Even his helmet did not save him from a crushing blow to the skull against a cycle bollard.
Life was never to be the same for Des and his family. Des, through no fault of his own, was thrown into darkness, lying in a coma in Beaumont Hospital, it was touch and go. Half of his skull was removed by life-saving surgery…the will-to-live now lay within.
Grief stricken, for Tara, his wife, there was no sign of life. When Des’s eyes eventually opened, that was all that he could move. The only alternative option for Des at the moment is long-term hospitalisation or nursing home care where his family will not be allowed to visit.
Undeterred by prohibitive costs of caring for Des at home, Tara is appealing to other families to help. This is an urgent appeal as Des is due for discharge from the NRH on November 6. If anyone would like to sponsor in anyway, please donate on the GOFUNDME page. Ger and Ruth and all the Vallely family are known to us all in Blesso and it would be great to help in any way we can however big
or small. We are all community. Thanks so much. Https://ie.gofundme.com/f/ walk-des-home-vallely-family-appeal.
Condolences - Condolences to Carnew Emmets GAA Club and the family on the tragic news on the passing of Niall Osborne. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Clothes Collection – Our clothes collection is continuing. For more information contact Breda on 087 2253892.
Instagram - Blessington GAA is 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.
COOLKENNO
Comhghairdeas to Liam Ó Néill and Paddy Dalton on their involvement in Wicklow Minors’ excellent win over Longford in the first round of the Leinster MFC on Saturday. Paddy pulled on the bainisteoir’s bib for the first time and must have been delighted with his team’s performance, particularly that of his number six, Liam.
O’Neill was a calm presence throughout and used the ball very well, knitting the play together nicely. Next up is the quarter-final versus Offaly which takes place on Wednesday week in Offaly.
PEIL NA NÓG: Training continues for juveniles (under-5s and above) on Fridays at 6pm in Coolkenno GAA pitch.
SYMPATHY - Our sincerest condolences to the Osborne family and all involved with Carnew Emmets GAA on the tragic passing of Niall on Friday last. Niall had been an integral part of the Carnew team for many years and was involved in many a battle with us over the years, from juvenile level all the way up to senior.
We came to know him as a fierce competitor and an accomplished footballer. Such a rivalry always gives way to respect and friendship. For that reason, a wave of shock and sadness hit us all on Friday when the horrible news came through. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Osborne family and Carnew Emmets at this time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
STRATFORD-GRANGECON
The lotto numbers for October 19 were 12, 17, 18, and 30. There was no Jackpot winner. There were three match-three winners for €85 - Paddy Kavanagh and Nick Tyrrell (Seller: Maurice Mangan); Fergus and Kay Moore (Seller: Fergus Moore); Helen Bollard (Seller: Online). Seller’s prize: Shay Barrett.
The next jackpot prize will be €5,000. Draw takes place on Tuesday, October 27, at 8.30pm.