GRASSROOTS

BRAY EMMETS

New PRO - Call for content

Hello to all Bray Emmets members. My name is Dylan Terry and I have just started as the new club PRO. Firstly, on behalf on the club I would like to thank Conn for his four years of hard work and dedication to the role as PRO.

I am asking all members, players and coaches to send me any content they would like shared on the newsletter/Facebook/Twitter/ website. Content can be shared with me by email at pro.brayemmets.wicklow@gaa.ie or by messaging the Bray Emmets Facebook page. I want to increase the content that we share across our platforms so please share anything you have.

If any members have suggestions on how we can improve our communications or would like to hear more/less about certain topics, please get in contact at the above email address. Club Awards

Club Person of the Year - Dermot O’Brien A big congratulations to Dermot O’Brien on being awarded Club Person of the Year at our Christmas night last week. Dermot is the current club treasurer but has held nearly every position in club over the years, including being our Chairman. Dermot is thought of in the highest regard by all club members. He has given countless years of service to the club and there is a no more deserving winner. Senior Footballer of the Year - Ciaran McKay Ciaran raised a lot of eyebrows early in the year, putting in big hits and keeping men scoreless throughout the league. He played mostly at corner back and was one of our most consistent Championship players. What is most impressive is that this was his first year of eligibility for the Senior team. Congratulations to Ciaran, we hope you have many more successful years as a Bray Emmets footballer.

Junior Footballer of the Year - Tadgh Dornan Tadgh was the main man at centre back for our Junior team this year. He led the team to a successful run in the Junior Championship, eventually losing in the semi-final. Tadgh is one of our most committed men’s players and will be pushing strong for the senior team this year. Congratulations Tadgh!

Call for Coaches

Anyone looking for information or thinking of getting involved in helping out or coaching please see our contacts list. Training young kids to fulfil potential and have fun could be great belated New Year’s resolution!

Lotto - The numbers drawn were: 13, 3, 23, and 19. The next jackpot will be: €20,000

Congratulations to Paul Humphries who won the €25 Lucky Dip. Please sign up to our club lotto, it’s a fantastic way of supporting the club and winning some cash.

NEWTOWN

The AGM held early in December will re-convene on Wednesday, January 16, for the main purpose of electing a club secretary. An executive committee will then be elected.

Newtown’s GAA presentation banquet will take place in the Parkview Hotel on Saturday, January 26, at 7.30 p.m. Dinner at 8pm. Entertainment is by Men in Black. Tickets are priced at €35 each and are available from any committee member or the post office. It promises to be a great night so get your tickets early!

Newtown extend our sympathies to the Healy family on the passing of Michael Healy. Michael was a member of a prominent GAA family and sadly passed away before Christmas, may he rest in peace.

AUGHRIM

Congratulations to our juvenile players Cameron Byrne, Dermot Toomey and Alex Kavanagh who have picked for the Wicklow under-14 football panel 2019.

Aughrim G.A.A. are in the process of affiliating an adult hurling team this year. Anyone from the area and surrounding clubs who are interested in playing a bit of hurling this year should contact club secretary John Keenan a sap John can be contacted at 0868465587 or secretary.aughrim.wicklow@gaa.ie.

RATHNEW

We wish all our members and supporters a happy and peaceful new year.

Any person interested in managing/coaching or just helping out with any of our juvenile or adult teams please send a private message to our ONLY Facebook page ‘Rathnew Gaa 1885’ or email: secretary.rathnew.wicklow@gaa.ie Deadline is Friday, January 11.

Our lotto jackpot at the time of writing is €8,900. Please support our lotto as much as possible as it’s the club’s main income. Contact Bobby or any committee member if you want to sell tickets.

Wicklow LGFA under-16 county trails will be held on Saturday, January 13 and 20 in Ballinakill from 11am to 1pm. Any girls interested please pm our Facebook page for further details.

‘Rathnew Gaa 1885’ is the club’s one and only official Facebook page. Any other page with our name is not run by us and has nothing to do with our club.

With the new year upon us and a lot of resolutions being made why not try out our gym facilities in the club. Contact any committee member for details.

The club send its condolences to the Dunne and Franey family on the passing of Siobhan Dunne nee Franey. Siobhan was from the Bank who settled in Grahams Court in Wicklow Town with her loving husband David (daithi).

Even with David a big St. Pats man, Siobhan was always from the village and would have her red and green flag out come any county final time and like last October they had both flags out flying. Siobhan will be a massive loss too both communities as was seen with the size of the attendance at her funeral. May she rest in peace.

COOLKENNO

Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir! 2019 is upon us and it promises to be an exciting year for the club. Our 2013 title-winning manager and long-serving player, Stevie Cushe has returned to the helm of our once-again intermediate team. Here’s hoping that he can repeat the trick of 2013 six years hence. His appointment was confirmed in the days after this year’s AGM which took place in mid-December. Ned Rossiter continues as Chairperson for 2019. Ditto Eamonn Dolan as secretary. Helen Rossiter takes on the treasury for a second year. Stephen Donoghue is the Public Relations Officer for the New Year. In other off-pitch activities, the club has entered a team in Scór na nÓg question time this year. The fab four will go into battle for county honours on January 18 in the Centre of Excellence, Ballinakill. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leo! On a more sombre note, former club treasurer Mick Furlong’s First Anniversary Mass will take place on Saturday night, January 12, in St Mary’s Church, Ballyconnell. That mass commences at 7.30pm. The death took place this week of Mr Ian Sandes. Ian was truly a gentleman and a character beheld with fondness by many of us around the Coolkenno area throughout the years. Born in Coolkenno, he would marry Bridget O’Neill of Kilquiggan and help raise a large family within their home at ‘The Harbour’ of Kilquiggan. Ian is fondly remembered for his participation with Coolkenno GAA back in the 1980s and 1990s and would often be seen standing at the gates on a Sunday morning collecting for the infantile club or cheering from the sidelines. We give our sincere sympathies and regrets to his wife Bridget and children, Elsie, Olive, Yvonne, Alan and Fiona, his brother Des, and all friends and relations. Kilquiggan will not be the same without him.

ANNACURRA

Happy New Year from everyone in the club. We start this year with the health and well-being initiative.

Every Friday night for the next eight weeks starting this Friday, February 11. There will be circuit training in the hall. There are two sessions to pick from each Friday. 7 until 8 and also 8 until 9. Why not start the year by getting fit? Let’s get moving for 2019.

At Annacurra GAA we are getting on board with Operation Transformation for Ireland Lights Up. We will be lighting up our new walking track every Thursday evening from January 17 to February 21. (7pm to 9pm).

An ideal opportunity for you, your family and friends (young and old) to come and walk in a safe and well-lit area. So, let’s spread the word and get as many people as possible from our community moving.

BALTINGLASS

Lotto numbers for December 30 were 7, 11, 15, and 27. No winner. Match-three winners €40 each: Martha Ashton, Margaret/Philip Hughes, Billy Kenny, Mark Staines, Lo Gleeson, Hannah Dowling, Billy Byrne, Jimmy Moran. Jackpot now €10,500. Next draw Monday, January 7, in Horan’s pub. Thanks for supporting the club lotto. You can play online at www.locallotto.ie.

Please come join us at the club grounds on Saturday, January 12, at 11am for an Operation Transformation walk. We will also be taking part in GAA Lights Up from January 17 where every Thursday evening from 7 - 9pm the grounds will be lit up. Everyone is welcome to come walk in a will lit environment. This will run until February 21.

We wish all our players, officers, coaches, juveniles, members, sponsors and supporters a very Happy New Year.

In recent times we lost three of our players from the 1958 winning team, the first Baltinglass team that won a Senior county title: Bill Burke, Rathvilly formerly of Tuckmill, Charlie Nolan, Blackrock and formerly of Weaver Square and Bill Nolan, Parkmore, Baltinglass. We express sincere sympathies to both the Nolan and Burke families on their passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

AGB

Congratulations to the winner of AGB’s 50/50 Draw for week one of January 2019, Fredie Milar, Team Kildare, Ticket H077. The draw will continue weekly on a Wednesday night for the new year. Once again thank you to all who have supported this new fundraising initiate and we look forward to your continued support in 2019.

The next meeting of the Club Executive is scheduled for Wednnesday 9th January 2019, in the AGB meeting room in Pearses Park.

AGB and Stephen Hurley Health and Fitness have joined forces to get you off to a good start and see those new year resolutions through. Starting on Tuesday, January 8, and running for eight weeks.

Classes will be held at Stephen Hurley Health and Fitness, Croghan Industrial Estate every Tuesday for the eight weeks at 7pm. A walking group will run every Thursday for the eight weeks in Pearses Park at 7pm, where we will light up the grounds and join in the nationwide Light Up Your Club Campaign. Joining fee of €80 to be paid upfront on the first night. All are welcome to attend; club members and non-club members are all welcome.

Measurements and weight will be tracked by Stephen Hurley in confidence throughout the eight-week program and the most successful looser will be announced with a prize for the best results. Please message Sinead at AGB PRO on Facebook or on 087 1374812 if interested in participating.

AGB’s annual dinner dance will be held on Saturday, March 2, in the Arklow Bay Hotel.

This year is a celebration of 21 years of the club Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney. Tickets are now on sale at €30 per ticket. Please contact Sinead Redmond on 087 1374812 or Jennifer Mitchell on 086 8833159 to book your tickets.

VALLEYMOUNT

Our Lotto draw was held at the weekend and there was no winner of the jackpot.

The numbers were 3, 8, 17, and 28. The three €25 winners were Amby Miley, David Shaw and Marie Brophy. Our next lotto draw will be on Saturday, January 19, with a jackpot of €6,800. Congratulations and thanks for the support.

Our Winter Wonderland in the GAA grounds in late December was a marvellous success.

From the stalls in the clubhouse to the magical trail that lead to the Santa’s grotto, there was something for everyone.

Massive thanks to the fundraising committee who worked hard to make the day a success along with the club members who helped out, it is very much appreciated.

Our fourth and final €100 fundraiser draw was held on December 16. The winners were: €500 - Christy Miley, €500 - Deirdre Miley, €100 - Brendan Hughes Snr, €100 - Helen and John Keogh, Oven - Ann Mooney, Valleymount Foods Hamper - Orlaith Byrne and Jack Boud, McGreals Hamper - Emma Richardson, Avon Rí voucher - Andy Farrington, Tulfarris voucher - Bríd Kinnane and Hollywood Inn House Red and White wine - Anthony Miley.

Congratulations to all the winners throughout the year and a big thanks to the local businesses who sponsored prizes. We hope to run a similar fundraiser again in the new year.

Our AGM took place last Friday, January 4. The top table is now as follows Presidents: John Stones and Brendan Hennessy, Chairman: Michael Nolan, Secretary: Sharon Nolan, Pro: Caoimhe Nolan, Fixtures: Liam Kavanagh, Treasurer: Brendan Hughes, Assistant Secretary: Aislinn Reid, Assistant Treasurer: Shay Geoghegan, Registrar: Shay Geoghegan, School Liaison Officer: Larry O’Brien, Children’s Officer: Aislinn Reid, County Board Delegates: Michael Nolan and Liam Kavanagh. Thanks to all who attended.

We at valleymount GAA would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Foster family, Ballyknockan, on the passing of Janice, the friends and family of Bridget McEvoy, Ballyknockan, the Reid family, Granamore, on the passing of Frank, the Byrne family, Humphreystown, on the passing of Teresa, the friends and family of Bridie Norton, Lacken, and the Gallagher family, Humphreystown, on the passing of Cathal. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Tickets are now on sale for our Dinner Dance on Saturday, January 26, in Tulfarris Hotel at 7.30pm, with music by Entourage. Tickets €40. For tickets please contact Michael Nolan (087 2964476), Anne Flynn (083 3744841) or Bridget Cahill (087 7699765).

ST PATRICK’S

Congratulations to Dean Healy who is the County Wicklow football captain for 2019.

It was a massive disappointment for Wicklow to lose to Laois by a single point in the O’Byrne Cup having lead at half time in Bray: Wicklow 2-4, Laois 0-6.

It finished with the full-time score of Wicklow 2-10, Laois 2-11. The team showed a huge improvement this week and there can only be positives drawn from it. Well done to our club man Dean Healy who captained the team in a man of the match performance.

St Patrick’s GAA Ladies committee are having an adult players meeting on Saturday, January 26, at 6pm in the clubhouse to discuss the year ahead.

It’s really important that all players who wish to play in 2019 attend to discuss our plans. Please invite all players new and old who wish to play. See you all on Saturday in the clubhouse at 6pm!

St Patrick’s Juvenile Committee are holding a pre-season mentors meeting on Thursday, January 10, at 8pm, to plan for the year ahead. This is important to get everybody aligned across all the teams.

We will cover the following: Mentors 2019, coach education, child protection, training times/fixtures, team admin/registration, events/ fundraising/sponsorship.

It was great to meet all four Senior championship winning captains recently in the clubhouse with their winning managers Gail Dunne and Casey O’Brien with Andy Jameson (2004), Dean Healy (2018), Daragh O’Sullivan (2012), and John Slattery (2006).

Thank you to everyone who supports our club lotto. On Monday, December 17, the lotto numbers were: 1, 5, 19 and 20 and bonus number was 24.

No match-five jackpot winner for €10,000. No match-four jackpot winner for €3,400

Three match-three winners: Noel Redmond, “A/B” c/o Bash Barry and Sharon O’Connor. This week’s match-four is €3,500.

Next draw is on Monday, January 7, in the clubhouse.

Our sincere condolences to the families of Siobhan Dunne née Franey of Wicklow Town and late of The Bank, Rathnew who passed away suddenly at her home on January 1.

Predeceased by her beloved parents John and Kathleen and her sister Valerie and brother Malcolm.

Dearly loved wife and best friend of David (Daithi); proud and loving mother of Cormac, Callum and Kacey and much loved sister of Elaine, Glenda, Brian and John.

Remembered with love by her mother-in-law Nancy and the extended Dunne and Franey families, relatives and friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

AVONDALE

A very happy new year to all our members! 2019 has a lot to live up to after last year, which was a great year for a great club!

Our most recent draw took place in Mileys Bar, the numbers drawn were 4, 5, 13, and 23.

No jackpot winner. There were two matchthree winners sharing €200.

Congratulations to Clara Manley and Anne Staunton

Next week’s jackpot is €2,500. Thank you all for your continued support. Happy New Year to you all.

There’s a football players meeting taking place this Friday at 8.30pm in the complex with our new football management team. This new team has a lot to give and we are hoping for a good turnout from our players.

Our dinner dance is on February 2 this year which will be in Lawless’s of Aughrim. Tickets will be on sale next week.