Aghada GAA Newsletter

Dia dhaoibh,

Tá súil agam go raibh seachtain dheas agaibh.

On the playing fields:

We’ve entered the first weekend of December and we are still in action on the playing fields. Last night our U21 footballers from 2020 played their long-awaited East Cork Football final vs Glanmire. Our lads put up a very good display but unfortunately didn’t come out on the right side of the result. Thanks to all the players for all their efforts over the year and also to the management team of Pearse O’Neill, Philip Moore, Mick Kiely, Deccie Devoy and Kevin O’Reilly.

Link to match report: Aghada 0-08 Glanmire 2-10

Staying with action on the field, our junior A football team play Castlemartyr in the league semi-final on Wednesday next the 8th of December at 7:30pm in Rostellan. These lads have had a very long year so let’s get down and show our support. Wouldn’t it be great if we had another final to go to before the end of the year!

Rebels Bounty:

Last Thursday, the final draw of the twelve-draw series for the Rebels Bounty took place in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. €100k was the top prize on the night. Unfortunately, the €100k won’t be heading east to Aghada but we did have a winner in the draw. Congratulations to Adrian Mcintyre who won 6th prize which was €1,000. This draw has been extremely successful for both Cork GAA and the GAA clubs in Cork. The draw has been vitally important to our club in the past year especially in the current climate we are living in. For almost two years Covid has severely limited our fundraising activities so Rebels Bounty has helped the club maintain and improve our wonderful grounds in Rostellan. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported the draw and Aghada GAA in 2021. Thank you to our club Rebels Bounty coordinator John Motherway. This time last year John put in massive amount of work to make sureeveryone was able to join the draw without any issue.

Now that the draw for 2021 has concluded, it all starts again! The club would be extremely grateful if people can again re-join the draw and make sure to select AGHADA as your chosen club. This will allow us to continue to maintain and also further improve our facilities in Rostellan.

AGM 2021:

Our club AGM took place last Tuesday. It was hoped that this year’s AGM would be able to take place in person but unfortunately due to the rising Covid numbers the difficult decision was taken to move the AGM online. It is hoped that the club will be able to hold an EGM early in 2022.

At the AGM on Tuesday, our chairman Jimmy O’Leary stepped down from the role after four successful years. Jimmy put great effort into the role over his tenure with him always having time to speak to any member if they had any issue or concern. Jimmy always dealt with everyone with the upmost respect and dignity. Jimmy led the club with great professionalism and was faced with probably one of the most difficult circumstances ever handed to GAA chairpersons with leading his club through a pandemic. Along with leading the club through the uncertain and unchartered Covid times one of the highlights of Jimmy’s tenure off the pitch would have to be the relaunch of the club lotto. Jimmy was a driving force behind the lotto relaunch and we now have an average of 650 people playing our club lotto each week. On the playing fields Jimmy was chairman for notable victories for both our second hurling and football teams with both our junior B panels delivering East cork glory after a long wait for both titles. Jimmy also provided all teams and mentors with valuable support whenever it was needed. Nowadays, being a GAA chairman isn’t all about progressing the playing side of the club. Jimmy was highly instrumental in the growth of the East Cork Harbour Marathon, East Cork Harbour Fitness, the rejuvenated county board draw (Rebels Bounty), the upgrade to the club gym, the upgrade to our car park in Rostellan along with also being involved in the formation of the club’s culture committee. A big thank you to Jimmy for his leadership over the last four years and I have no doubt he will continue to contribute greatly to the club in the coming years.

Our Vice Chairman Pa O’Connor also stepped down from his role on Tuesday. Kiptu gave great commitment on many fronts across the club especially driving our fundraising initiatives including the club lotto and Rebels Bounty.

Derick Whyte also stepped down as secretary at Tuesdays AGM. Derick took up this role this time last year when the club was under pressure for someone to fill the role. Derick carried out his duties with great professionalism and also juggled the role with being the clubs Junior A football manager during the same period.

Also, at the AGM, Joe Hartnett, Paudie Murphy and John O’Sullivan stepped away from the clubs executive committee. Joe, Paudie and John have given the club great service over the years and we again extend our sincere thanks to all.

Anthony Connolly was ratified as Aghada GAA chairman for 2022 at the AGM. Anthony has been heavily involved in club circles for years now and over the last few years has been chairman of the culture committee. Best of luck to Anthony in his new role.

Below is a list of the officers elected at Tuesdays AGM:

Chairman: Anthony Connolly

Vice chairman: Unfilled (to be filled at the next executive committee meeting)

Secretary: John Murphy

Treasurer: John O’Neill

PRO: Vincent Rohan

Registrar: Rory O’Connor

The following were ratified as committee members: Jimmy O’Leary, Andrew O’Brien, Derick Whyte, Darren Lee, Matthew O’Connor, Declan Devoy, Alan Devoy, Brian Walsh, Finbarr O’Connell, Gillian Berry, Brendan Crowley and Reece Bawden.

Lotto

Over the last two weeks we had very special performances from the United States live on our Facebook page. Johnty sang two lovely songs while his cousin John Joe played two tunes on the accordion which went down a treat with the those of you who tuned in. Rumour has it that Johnty is thinking of beaming in John Joe every week to give us a tune on Thursday nights.

Click here to view the sing song from the USA

We had no winner of our €11,000 jackpot last Thursday night, so our jackpot increases to €11,250 next Thursday. Thanks to all who support our lotto each week. As always tickets are available to purchase online at aghadagaa.com and are also available in the usual outlets listed below:

• Paddy O’Shea’s Post Office
• Guileen Arms
• Puc Ar Buile Ballinrostig
• Days Eurospar
• The Long Point
• The Schooner Bar
• Lower Aghada Pharmacy
• Rosies
• The Pier Service Station
• Jackos

Full results of last weeks draw can be viewed on our social media channels or this website.

Tune in from 9:30pm on Thursday to see the lotto draw live on Facebook. There are strong rumours circulating that Eoin Motherway will be giving a rendition of Caledonia to welcome his grandfather home from America so be sure to tune in!

Condolences (by John Murphy)

The club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our life member Eddie Tucker. Eddie played football with his adopted Aghada club in the late 60‘s and early 70’s and he won an East Cork B medal in 1972. That 1972 team had John Wall at corner back, Tommy Foley at full back with Eddie in the other corner. Apparently, Foley got the line for what I’m assured was a minor indiscretion! and the two corner backs had to really step up to the plate to help Aghada to the victory on that day.

Eddie continued to support and closely follow the club and our fortunes throughout his life and was a regular fixture at almost every AGM where he would always contribute to the discussions on the night.

To his family and friends, we offer our sincere sympathies and deepest condolences at this time.

Eddie is returning to his native Millstreet for his funeral at 12 noon on Monday. This mass can be viewed at http://www.churchservices.tv/millstreet

The club would also like to extend their condolences to the Deady family on the recent passing of Peter. The Deadyfamily are hugely involved in all aspects of Aghada parish. Peter was a great supporter of any events Aghada GAA were running especially all our fundraising events. Our deepest sympathies go out to Peter’s family at this time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

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Finally, I would like to personally thank outgoing PRO John Murphy for all his help with transitioning into the clubs PRO role. John has been Aghada’s answer to Paudie Palmer over the last few years as the clubs PRO. Johns match reports and newsletters were second to none. Derick has told me that Murph will have plenty spare time on his hands with the secretary’s job so luckily for him I’ll be still nagging him to do a few reports!!!

As outlined above our junior footballers are playing in Rostellan at 7:30pm on Wednesday evening so be sure to wrap up warm and get out to support the lads and management.

Bain taitneamh as an gcuid eile den deireadh seachtaine agus bí sábháilte.

Slán go fóill,

Uinsionn Ó Ruacháin

Oifigeach Caidreamh Poiblí

Vince Rohan

PRO - Aghada GAA

Website for most up to date fixtures news and results - http://www.aghadagaa.com/