Sympathy
On behalf of all our members and supporters at home
and abroad we would like to send our deepest sympathies to the Walsh and
Enright families on the tragic and heartbreaking death of Mary Enright nee
Walsh and her daughter Mollie Enright last week. When news of this terrible
accident began to break around the Parish on Tuesday morning all who heard it
were struck by sense of disbelief and shock at this terrible taking of two
young lives which held so many years of joy and promise for many people
especially those close to them. As this news slowly began to sink in, all of
our prayers and thoughts turned to Mary’s husband Pa Enright, to David and
Ursula Walsh and their families and to Jack Lacey and his family. To say that
the Walsh and Enright families are steeped in the GAA would be an
understatement. Mary has served ladies football in our club and at County level
in numerous capacities for many years now and there was rarely an evening in
the playing season when she wasn’t on duty with a club or county team. Pa has
of course played for the club for many years now winning County titles in both
codes as dependable goalkeeper, and at all times the ultimate team player.
Mary’s father David is well known to all involved in GAA circles and he has
been involved with the club for many years where his role as an outstanding
fundraiser has seen him raise substantial funds for the club on many occasions.
Mary’s sisters were involved in Ladies Football also while her brother Kevin is
a member of the Minor Football team who had played on Monday night. The Enright
family of course is part and parcel of our club for many generations as Pa’s
father Liam is a former club Chairman and along with his brother Pat played in
many of the club’s finest hours in the 60’s and 70’s, whilst Pa’s brothers Eoin
and Stephen are valued players today.
This year Pa came on board as a Club Committee member
and typical of his dedication to the club agreed to take over our Minor
Football team this year. Mary as was always the case supported Pa in this job
and was on the sideline supporting the team at last Monday night’s game against
St.Pats. Those who know Pa and Mary would not be surprised by this, as since
they started going out together many years ago they were almost inseparable and
supported each other in so many ways, they were a true team if you like. It
seems like only yesterday when so many club members joined Pa and Mary in The
Park Hotel last summer for what was a fitting night of celebration on their
wedding. It is perhaps the fact that these happy memories are so fresh in all
our minds, that makes accepting this tragedy all the more difficult. Despite
their young years Pa and Mary had already given so much to our Club and were
serving the club when tragedy struck their lives in such a cruel way. No words
of ours can express the genuine feeling of despair felt by all of our members
at this tragedy or indeed the feeling of concern that they feel for Pa, David
and Ursula and their wider families. Whilst we all experienced an awful sense
of loss last week our pain and suffering is nothing compared to that currently
being experienced by those closed to Pa and Mary. The esteem they were held in
was obvious to all by the enormous crowd present in Ballinroad for Mary’s burial
on Thursday and those that took part in the Guard of Honor. We would also like
to thank the many clubs within and outside the county who contacted us in the
past week expressing sympathy and support. It is at times like this that the
true strength and value of the GAA can be seen.
It is a cliché perhaps but at times like this words
really do fail to justice to Mary and the life she lived and also to express
our own pain for Mary’s loved ones in their time of suffering. All we can do is
to once again say to Mary’s loving husband Pa, her adoring parents David and
Ursula, sisters Elizabeth, Hillary, Clare and Rachel, brothers Billy, John and
Kevin, parents in law Liam and Antoinette and all those who were close to her
that you will all remain in our thoughts and prayers and that we will be there
to support you in whatever way we can in the difficult times that lie ahead.
Get Well Wishes
All of us in the club would like to send our best
wishes to Jack Lacey who was seriously injured in the tragic accident last
Monday in Tipperary. The Lacey family moved into our parish a number of years
ago and since then Jack has played has played both hurling and football for the
club. Throughout this time Jack was a popular player with teammates and
selectors alike. This year he played on all our under 21 football games in the
Western Championship and had returned home from college in Limerick on Monday
night to play in the Minor Football Championship against St.Pats. As well as
being a very good hurler and footballer Jack is an exceptionally talented
golfer and had recently traveled to France with the Irish boys team. All in the
club especially Jack’s team mates would like to wish him a full recovery and
hopefully he will be back at home shortly to continue his recovery with his
parents Mick and Anne.
Joker Fundraiser
Our popular Jack the Joker Fundraiser will continue
this Sunday night in The Stables Bar where the Jackpot will be €5,484. This
week Tom Foley was drawn out of the drum but did not find the joker but did win
€50 while Bernie Lonergan and Orla and Ann Power won €25. We appeal to all our
supporters to continue purchasing the tickets as the funds raised will go
towards our ongoing development works at the club grounds.
Club Bingo
Our club bingo will continue in the CBS Hall this
Sunday night where the Jackpot is €2,000.
Under 21 Football
The County Final of the Under 21 Football Championship
has been fixed for Easter Sunday in Walsh Park where our opponents are Roanmore
and we appeal to all our supporters to come along and support the team.
Granville Hotel/WLR FM
Award
On behalf of all in the club we would like to
congratulate Mark Ferncombe on being chosen as the March winner of this
prestigious award. Mark who has won numerous County Titles in Hurling and Football
with the club was given the award for his displays with the Waterford Senior
Football Team especially his three goal haul against Wicklow in Aughrim.
Booking of Pitches
We would like to ask all team managers to please
ensure that they have booked the pitch with Bernard Shields before they arrange
training sessions.
Membership
Please note that membership can now be paid to Jonathan
O’Donovan or any member of the committee.
Deise Development Draw
It is that time of year again when our promoters are
out on the doorsteps of the parish promoting the 2012 Deise Development Draw.
The format is similar to previous years with a nine month draw coting ten euro
a month to join. Whilst the board retains some of the money to cover prizes etc
the draw is crucial to helping us meet the costs involved in running our club
in these difficult times. We would ask all our loyal supporters to please
continue to support the draw as best they can, and if you have not been
approached to join the draw but wish to do so then please don’t hesitate to
approach any club committee member.
Club Website
Our club website has undergone a major renovation
recently and is well worth a visit to catch up on all the upcoming fixtures and
recent results as well as containing some photos from previous years. Log onto www.abbeycourtygaa.com to see for yourself.
