Our Club AGM took place yesterday evening in Ballymacward Hall. Chairman Adrian Queeney opened the meeting by requesting a minute’s silence for all deceased members of the Club, with special mention for a past officer of the club, Pete Hillary who passed away during 2018.
The Secretary’s report was circulated earlier last week and was discussed. Dorothy’s comprehensive report is a recap on the various activities of the club throughout 2018 and expresses gratitude to everyone who helped in any way throughout the year.
Treasurer Shane Ruane then presented the club’s finance report. Shane thanked the various other officers for their co-operation during 2018. The thoroughness and professionalism of the finance report led Tim Byrnes to comment that Shane would be the right man for the Minister for Finance role!
Adrian Queeney then delivered his Chairman’s address. Thanks was expressed to the Executive Committee, Delegates and Sponsors: Finnerty Sports Care, Bobby Hynes andamp;amp; Sons Agri, Ballymacward Hall Committee, Oliver Laheen Plant Sales, James Clancy and Martina Donnellan. He went on to commend the good coaching work being done in the local schools, the excellent commitment of our players, coaches and parents for their co-operation.
Our club hosted Féile games this year and Adrian spoke of the huge effort put in by Juvenile Secretary, Rose Kelly; Juvenile Chairman, Martin Scarry; Féile Co-ordinator, Martin Barry and Children’s Officer, Maura Carr-O’Dea and everyone who provided accommodation for our visitors from Patrick Sarsfields, Belfast. When bad weather led to a power cut in the Hall during the first evening of Féile, the Club was also grateful that Eddie and Helena Mitchell could come to the rescue and provide the pub as a venue at short notice.
The great work done by our club’s Development Committee in securing Galway Rural Development, Leader funding was another highlight of 2018 and plans are in progress for phases 2 to 4. Several of our players went on to represent Galway at inter-county this year, with Oisin Flannery, Dean Reilly, Jack Barrett and Cathal Kitt on the All-Ireland winning Galway Minor and Celtic Challenge panels. Fearghal Flannery of course played for Galway in the All-Ireland Senior final.
The Club Lotto is a vital source of income to the Club and a dedicated group collect tickets each weekend and deliver to the Lotto draw. Thanks was also conveyed to the Lotto draw venues.
Adrian completed his address, by congratulating all parents in the parish who welcomed new babies this year, new engagements and wished luck to the couples planning for upcoming weddings.
John Raftery noted a unique double completed by brothers Kevin Lally and Tomas Lally this year. Kevin managed St Thomas’s to the Galway title and Tomas was manager of St Gabriels who captured the London title. The meeting completed with the election of officers for 2019. A full list of officers is available on Officers page of this site.