Club Notes - 30th December

No. Drawn - 29

Our ever popular Jack the Joker fundraiser continues this Sunday night in Minnies Bar where the jackpot is €8,200 as on Sunday night last Paddy King was  drawn out of the drum and chose card number 29 which wasn’t the Joker although he did win €50. Michael O’Donovan and B. Carroll won €25 each. As well as our group of ticket sellers tickets can be purchased from Convenience Store Ballinroad, Village Flowers, Spar, Mousies Takeaway, Minnies Bar and Crotty’s Corner Bar.

Photo of the Week

Mansfield Family Presentation, 1989

L to R: Brendan, Tony, Michael, Moira & Caroline Mansfield.

This week's photo comes from 1989 and shows the Mansfield family at a club presentation to Tony in recognition of his achievements as manager of the Waterford Senior Hurling team.

Happy Christmas

CLG Dún na Mainistreach / Baile na Cúirte would like to wish all its members and supporters, at home and abroad, a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2016.

Club Notes - 23rd December

Jack The Joker

No. Drawn - 49

Our ever popular Jack the Joker fundraiser continues this Sunday night in Minnies Bar where the jackpot is €8,000 as on Sunday night last Brian O’Connor was  drawn out of the drum and chose card number 49 which wasn’t the Joker although he did win €50. Michael Cosgrave and Jim Egan won €25 each. Tom Tobin, Kevin Tobin, Siobhan Murray and Emma Flynn all won €25 in the extra Christmas Draw. As well as our group of ticket sellers tickets can be purchased from Convenience Store Ballinroad, Village Flowers, Spar, Mousies Takeaway, Minnies Bar and Crotty’s Corner Bar.

Christmas Wishes

On behalf of all our club members we would like to welcome home all those who have travelled home to Abbeyside for the Christmas holidays, especially those who are returning home from abroad. Also we would like to send Christmas wishes to the editor and staff of the Dungarvan Observer and Dungarvan Leader and to thank them for all their help and assistance throughout the year.

Nollaig Shona agus athbhliain faoi shéan ‘s faoi shonas daoibh go léir.

Intermediate Football

On Saturday night last a very enjoyable function took place in The Gold Coast Hotel to mark the 50^th anniversary of the club winning the County Intermediate Football Title and take our place in the ranks of Senior Football for the first time. It was great to see so many people in attendance and all agreed that it was a very enjoyable evening.

National Draw

Once again this year the GAA are holding a National Draw with tickets costing €10 each. There are some fantastic prizes on offer and like last year we are holding a Christmas Raffle for all those who purchase tickets for the National Draw before Christmas. Tickets are now available from Committee members and team managers.

Congratulations

On behalf of all in the club we would like to congratulate Martin Lavan and Emma Coleman who were married last weekend. We wish them both many years of happiness together.

Club Bingo

There will be no club bingo this Sunday night and it will resume on January 3^rd with a jackpot of €550.

Christmas Raffle Results

The club’s annual Christmas Raffle took place on Monday night last, 21^st December. We would like to thank all who bought and sold tickets for the draw. Your support is greatly appreciated. The winners were as follows:-

1^st Prize: Christmas Hamper – Antoinette Enright

2^nd Prize: €75 – Dermot Dee

3^rd Prize: €50 – Alice Cullinan

4^th Prize: Bottle of Brandy – Paudie Morrissey

5^th Prize: Bottle of Whiskey – Seán Browne

Pool Tournament

Abbeyside / Ballinacourty GAA Club will be a host club for Féile na nGael in June next year. On Monday, 28th December the club will be running a doubles pool tournament to help raise funds for the event. Entry fee is €10 per person. Please see poster below for details.

Pool Tournament

Photo of the Week

2003 Winning Captains

L to R: Laurence Hurney, Simon Hanrahan, Thomas Cashin, Tony Mansfield, Keith Browne, John Paul Keohan, Patrick Lynch.

This week's photo comes from the club social of 2004 held at the Clonea Strand Hotel and shows chairman Tony Mansfield with the captains of the Abbeyside and Ballinacourty teams that won the Western & County Intermediate Hurling, Western Junior 'B' Hurling, Western & County Minor 'A' Hurling, Western & County U21 'A' Football and Western & County Minor 'A' Football Championships in 2003 in what was one of the most successful years in the club's long and illustrious history.

Club Notes - 16th December

Jack The Joker

No. Drawn - 37

Our ever popular Jack the Joker fundraiser continues this Sunday night in Minnies Bar where the jackpot is €7,800 as on Sunday night last Maurice O’Donnell was drawn out of the drum and chose card number 37 which wasn’t the Joker although he did win €50. Stags Hourigan and Jerry and Sarah won €25 each.  As well as our group of ticket sellers tickets can be purchased from Convenience Store Ballinroad, Village Flowers, Spar, Mousies Takeaway, Minnies Bar and Crotty’s Corner Bar.

National Draw

Once again this year the GAA are holding a National Draw with tickets costing €10 each. There are some fantastic prizes on offer and like last year we are holding a Christmas Raffle for all those who purchase tickets for the National Draw before Christmas. Tickets are now available from Committee members and team managers.

Club Bingo

This Sunday our Bingo will continue in the CBS Hall where the Jackpot is €500. This Sunday night promises to be a very special night indeed at our bingo as it marks the 30^th anniversary of our club bingo. Over those 30 years the bingo has provided us with much needed funds, and it is safe to say that without these funds we simply would not have been able to run our club in the manner which we have during that time. We are most grateful to our loyal supporters who continue to turn out in such great numbers every Sunday night, whilst we are indebted to the very small group who keep the bingo going every Sunday night and who have done so for the last 30 years. To celebrate the event this Sunday night we will have a number of extra prizes on offer, while there will no bingo on Sunday December 27^th.

Juvenile Notes - 16th December

Australian Rules

On Thursday night last there was a buzz of excitement around the Burgery, as we welcomed two Australian rules teams to Abbeyside, who were on a tour of Ireland. We played them in two games, one at under 15 level and one at under 16 level. While we were defeated in both games this was a great experience for our lads to test themselves against some of the best Australian Rules players at their respective age groups. There was a large turnout on the night despite the poor weather conditions and everyone enjoyed the games. A big feature of both games was seeing how our lads adapted to playing the last quarter in each match with an oval ball which was a completely new experience for them and of course the tackle. A big thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of this visit and especially to our parents who put the kids from Australia up for the night. Also to Pierce Flynn and his team in the Park Hotel a big thank you for making sure all our visitors and our own lads were well fed and watered on the night. After the meal in the Park a piece of crystal was presented to our visitors on behalf of the club as a souvenir of their trip to Abbeyside. Also all the visiting players got to take home a personal certificate of their trip. Thank you to all.

Ballinacourty & Australian U15 Panels

Ballinacourty & Australian U16 Panels

1965 Intermediate Football Reunion

On Saturday night last at the Gold Coast Hotel a very pleasant function took place to honour the Ballinacourty team that won the County Intermediate Football Championship in 1965, 50 years ago. The comprehensive 3-9 to 1-0 win over Rathgormack saw the club promoted to the senior ranks for the first time. It was great to see so many of the players looking hale and hearty on the night while thoughts were also of those who have gone to their eternal reward since that breakthrough victory. Thanks to all involved in organising such an enjoyable occasion.

1965 County Intermediate Football Champions

1965 County Intermediate Football Champions -
50 Year Reunion

Photo of the Week

County Senior Hurling Final, 1969

This week's photo shows the Abbeyside team that was defeated by Mount Sion, 7-11 to 2-13, in the 1969 County Senior Hurling Championship Final played at Walsh Park in October. At half time the Villagers led by 2-10 to 3-5 before the city men took charge and inflicted our fourth defeat since 1955 in a hurling decider.

Australian Visit

On Thursday night last, our club welcomed the Wanderers Australian Rules U15 and U16 teams to the Burgery for two games under lights against Ballinacourty's age equivalent players. The rules were a hybrid of Gaelic Football and Australian Rules and the games proved to be very entertaining with tremendous skill on display from both panels. Three of the four quarters were played with the round ball while the final period saw the oval ball being used. We would like to thank the Australian players, mentors and parents for their visit and wish them a safe journey home. Thanks to Audrey Hallahan for providing us with the photos below which are a wonderful record of the event.

Level 3 Award

Level 3 Award

Abbeyside / Ballinacourty GAA Club was recently presented with the Level 3 Award by Waterford Coaching and Games Development for reaching set standards in coaching and club development. This is a great achievement for the club and congratulations to all involved in securing the award.

Club Notes - 9th December

Jack The Joker

No. Drawn - 22

Our ever popular Jack the Joker fundraiser continues this Sunday night in Minnies Bar where the jackpot is €7,600 as on Sunday night last Eleanor Hickey was drawn out of the drum and chose card number 22 which wasn’t the Joker although she did win €50. Jane and Wayne and Ken and Jim won €25 each.  As well as our group of ticket sellers tickets can be purchased from Convenience Store Ballinroad, Village Flowers, Spar, Mousies Takeaway, Minnies Bar and Crotty’s Corner Bar.

AGM

Our Annual General Meeting took place in St Laurance’s Hall, Ballinroad on Friday night last. Chairman Bernard Shields got the meeting underway by welcoming all those present after which Treasurer Packie Hurney presented the Club Accounts which showed that once again the club to be in a good a financial position despite paying back the loans on our development work. Packie was praised for the work he put into not alone preparing the accounts for the AGM, but for the work he put into the club finances all year. Next on the agenda was the Secretary’s Report and once again Jonathan O’Donovan produced a very detailed report on all areas of club activity during 2015. All in the club are aware of the many hours put in by Jonathan in administering the club business and we are fortunate to have somebody so diligent carrying out this role.

It was then time for the Chairman’s Address where Bernard Shields thanked all those who worked for the club in 2015 in any way. Bernard appealed for more people to get involved in the club in 2016 to help in any way they feel they can help. Bernard thanked all the players who played for any of our teams during 2015 and while we would all have wished for a more successful year on the playing fields, it was still a year which saw us win Divisional and County Honours at Adult Level as well as many Underage Titles. The election of officers saw the election of the following officers:-

Chairman: Bernard Shields

Vice Chairman: Frank Sweeney

Secretary: Jonathan O’Donovan

Assistant Secretary: Éamonn Cashin

Treasurer: Packie Hurney

PRO: Neil Moore

Membership Officer: Kevin Tobin

Committee: Niamh Enright, Pa McGovern, Jim O’Mahony, Audrey Hallahan, Joe Cleary, Brendan Mansfield, Michael O’Donovan.

National Draw

Once again this year the GAA are holding a National Draw with tickets costing €10 each. There are some fantastic prizes on offer and like last year we are holding a Christmas Raffle for all those who purchase tickets for the National Draw before Christmas. Tickets are now available from Committee members and team managers.

Club Bingo

This Sunday our Bingo will continue in the CBS Hall where the Jackpot is €400.

Sympathy

On behalf of all in the club we would like to send our deepest sympathies to the family and many friends of the late Kathleen Woods (nee Organ), Shears Street, Abbeyside who passed away last week. Kathleen’s family has many connections with our club for generations on the playing field and they continue to support the club today. Once again we send our sympathies to Kathleen’s husband John, daughter Patricia and son Seán on their loss.

We would also like to send our sympathy to the family of the late Kevin Keating, Leamybrien who passed away recently. Kevin was a familiar face to the field workers in the club as he often helped out with maintaining the machinery in the field.

Juvenile Notes - 9th December

Australian Rules

On Thursday night next, 10th December we are hosting two groups of Australian Rules teams. On the night there will be two compromise rules games played at under 15 and under 16 age groups. This will be a great opportunity for our lads in the club to pit themselves against opposition from the other side of the world in a game which they have never played before with different rules on tackling etc than our own game. The games will kick off at 5.30pm and 6.30pm respectively and everyone is invited to come along for a spectacle which should be great entertainment on the night.

Photo of the Week

1979 County Senior Football Champions

L to R: Séamus Feehan & Tom Whelan.

This week's photo shows Séamus Feehan and Tom Whelan in the moments after Ballinacourty's 1-12 to 1-11 victory over Ferrybank in the 1979 County Senior Football Championship at Fraher Field. It was the first title for the two lads and added to the one secured by the club twelve months earlier.

Club Notes - 2nd December

Jack The Joker

No. Drawn - 6

Our ever popular Jack the Joker fundraiser continues this Sunday night in Minnies Bar where the jackpot is €7,400 as on Sunday night last Judy Connors was drawn out of the drum and chose card number 6 which wasn’t the Joker although he did win €50. Michael Cosgrave and Dennis Cosgrave won €25 each.  As well as our group of ticket sellers tickets can be purchased from Convenience Store Ballinroad, Village Flowers, Spar, Mousies Takeaway, Minnies Bar and Crotty’s Corner Bar.

County Board Awards

On behalf of all in the club we would like to congratulate Patrick Hurney and Conor Prunty who were honoured at the County Board Awards in Lawlors Hotel on Saturday night last. Patrick was chosen as Adult Footballer of the Year while Conor Prunty was picked as Underage Footballer of the Year. This is a fantastic honour for both Patrick and Conor, their families and indeed for all who have been involved in coaching the lads since they started playing football with the club. Once again we congratulate them both and hope they carry their good form into 2016.

AGM

Our Annual General Meeting will take place in Ballinroad Hall this Friday night, December 4^th at 8pm, where we hope to see a big turnout of club members and intending members as we review the club activities in 2015 and look ahead to 2016.

Team Managers

Any member who is interested in managing any of our adult or under 21 teams in 2016 is asked to let Club Secretary Jonathan O’Donovan know by Wednesday, December 9^th.

National Draw

Once again this year the GAA are holding a National Draw with tickets costing €10 each. There are some fantastic prizes on offer and like last year we are holding a Christmas Raffle for all those who purchase tickets for the National Draw before Christmas. Tickets are now available from Committee members and team managers.

Club Bingo

This Sunday our Bingo will continue in the CBS Hall where the Jackpot is €1600.

Juvenile Notes - 2nd December

Congratulations

Well done to Garranbane National School who on Tuesday morning last won the Primary Schools County Final of the Boys A Football. They played Ballygunner National School in the final and they trailed at half time by a goal. However with the wind in the second half the boys rallied to win by a point in the end. Great scenes of jubilation were witnessed at the final whistle. Well done to all the players involved in this great win and to all the teachers in Garranbane who put in so much work into the promotion of our games.

Australian Rules

On Thursday night of next week, 10th December we are hosting two groups of Australian Rules teams. On the night there will be two compromise rules games played at under 15 and under 16 age groups. This will be a great opportunity for our lads in the club to pit themselves against opposition from the other side of the world in a game which they have never played before with different rules on tackling etc than our own game. The games will kick off at 5.30pm and 6.30pm respectively and everyone is invited to come along for a spectacle which should be great entertainment on the night.