‘Future will be what we make it’

WICKLOW GAA President Fr Liam Dunne got the recent County Convention underway when he delivered a passionate call to Wicklow Gaels to show commitment, discipline and respect in the year ahead.

“This is a busy night. It’s a time of year when the past is reviewed, the present debated, and changes made. The future is planned and decided upon,” he said.

“First of all, I’d like to mention those three things I’ve touched upon briefly. First of all, the past. A person or an association who is renewing the past, who sees and acknowledges the good achieved, the failures and mistakes and the slip ups is a wise person and a wise association. But only if they take steps, if they examine where teams went wrong, to correct that, not for their own satisfaction but for the good of that association, ours here in the county.

“Secondly: the present. This Convention meeting here tonight is not just a get-together. It is where you acknowledge in an honest way and put forward truthfully what you feel and believe is best for our association.

“Of course, this should have been done in each club before coming here tonight and I’m sure it was. Don’t let personal feelings and sentiments drop what you have brought, debated and decided.

“And, finally: the future. We all want to improve the future. Every- one does. Again, it all depends on our outlook, our plans, and our commitment. Now, that word I just used – commitment – is very important. In my inaugural address last year, I mentioned two aspirations without which nothing worthwhile can be achieved, namely discipline and respect.

“Whatever is done, whatever is planned, whatever changes are made or introduced.

“If those two actions are missing from them, they will eventually fall apart, and that is true whether it is at county level, in the local club, or in the playing field or whatever emerges from this Convention tonight.

The past is gone, the present is here, in your hands and the future will be what we make it,” he added.