Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club Notes:
John O’Connor, Newtownshandrum elected Intermediate Hurling Manager/Coach:
At a very successful and workmanlike AGM of Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club, in front of 15 delegates, on Friday 21st December in the Community Centre, Granagh, John O’Connor, winner of an All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal with Cork in 2001 and an All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship medal with his club Newtownshandrum in 2004, was confirmed as the new Intermediate Hurling Manager/Coach successor to Andrew Holmes who has decided to step down as chairperson after six years. Minor hurling and football managers, club executive will be confirmed at an EGM on Thursday 16th January in the Clubhouse in Ballingarry at 8pm, with all other outgoing personnel returned unopposed for 2025.
Outgoing chairperson Andrew Holmes presided. He welcomed everyone and thanked the Granagh Community Centre committee for the use of a warm hall.
Present were David Condron, Damien O’Donovan, Mossie O’Connor, John O’Keeffe, Laura O’Keeffe, Micheal Clancy, Seamus Murphy, John Joe Carmody, John Lynch, Andrew Holmes, Niall Fitzgerald, Stephen Stapleton, Shane Twomey, Charlotte Hanley and Tricia Clancy.
Apologies were received from David Clancy, Graham Russell, Jimmy Chawke, John Carroll, Niall Carroll, Adrian Farragher and Seamus Twomey.
Minutes
The minutes of the previous AGM of Friday 15th December 2023 was taken as read and John Joe Carmody and Stephen Stapleton proposed their adoption.
Secretary’s Report
A copy of the secretary’s report was given to each club member present. The report was taken as read, proposed by David Clancy and Damien O’Donovan.
Treasurer’s Report
Outgoint joint treasurer Niall Fitzgerald gave a detailed account of the club’s financial state, which showed a healthy surplus after the year’s operations. Niall thanked all the people who helped finance the club for the year through the many fundraisers held and all our sponsors for their generosity to both the Senior and Bord na nÓg clubs. Niall thanked everyone involved in the club’s main fundraiser Strictly Come Dancing, held in the Charleville Park Hotel on Saturday 10th October which recorded a profit of more than €50,000. The treasurer recommends for the club to make capital repayments of €5,000 in January and April to reduce the amount owed on the Croke Park loan to save the club over €700 in interest payments and to limit any capital expenditure on facilities for 2025 to items covered under the Sports Capital €94,768 grant only and prioritise reducing the Croke Park loan in tandem. The treasurer ended his report saying that we have a fantastic community spirit in Granagh Ballingarry and this is something we should not take for granted. We lost a great friend in Dinny A on Saturday 10th August and hopefully the club can continue to prosper in his memory. He wished us a happy Christmas and may the club continue to progress forward in 2025 on and off the pitch. After a number of questions, the adoption of the treasurer’s report was proposed by Stephen Stapleton and John O’Keeffe.
Development Report
David Condron of the Development Committee, in a detailed report, stated that the completion of Hogan’s new training field with the erecting of goalposts, nets, sanding and the official opening on Saturday 23rd September by Canon Tom Carroll and Mike Hogan was the highlight of the year. David spoke of the importance of dugouts and a covered stand to provide shelter at the final and stated that the next phase of the development plan would be drawn up to cover items covered only by the €94,768 sports capital grant received and the committee would continue to apply for other grants in 2025. He wished us a happy Christmas and successful 2025.
Chairperson’s Address
Outgoing Chairperson Andrew Holmes, who did not seek re-election after six years in the position but agreed to continue to act until a new chairperson is appointed in January, welcomed everyone and thanked the Granagh Community Centre committee for the use of a warm hall. David thanked all those who helped him during the year and those who gave of their time voluntarily and made contributions to both the adult and Bord na nÓg clubs and joined the secretary in congratulating all the people who made 2024 such a successful one, both on and off the field, with the new training field opened for games and training and winning five pieces of silverware, three at adult including back to back West Junior B Hurling League and Championship title Jim (Twin) Lynch Intermediate Hurling Cup for the fifth year in a row and two Bord na nÓg cups, the Stephen O’Keeffe and Liam English Memorial Cups. Andrew concluded by thanking all the club officers, managers, selectors and committee members he worked with over the past six years. He wished us a happy Christmas and successful 2025.
Election of Officers for 2025
The following officers were elected to guide Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club for 2025: Chairperson tbc, Andrew Holmes to continue to act until the position is filled in January, Vice Chairperson David Clancy, Secretary/PRO: John Lynch, Asst. Secretary/Bord na nÓg Secretary: Seamus Twomey, Joint Treasurers: Niall Fitzgerald and Adrian Farragher, Joint Asst Treasurers: John O’Keeffe and John Kearney, Children’s Officer: Tricia Clancy, Bord na nÓg Chairperson: Cormac McCarthy, Bord na nÓg PRO: Charlotte Hanley, Designated Liaison Children’s Officer tbc, Coaching Officer: Paul McDonagh, IT Officer: James Flynn, Bord na nÓg Asst Secretary: Eddie O’Brien, Insurance Officer: Niall Carroll, Registrar: John Carroll, Health and Wellbeing Officer: Aine Healy, Irish Officer: John O’Riordan, Scór Officer: Maura Friel Lynch proposed by Shane Twomey and David Condron, proposed by Damien O’Donovan and Seamus Murphy.
Club Executive Committee to be appointed.
Club Membership 2025 agreed to remain same as 2024.
Recommendations
1. That the Club promote the National Club Draw in 2025.
2. Due to reduced numbers of players at U20 level for 2025 that Granagh Ballingarry amalgamate with neighbours Croom in both hurling and football in 2025 (carried).
3. Due to reduced numbers of players at minor level for 2025 that Granagh Ballingarry amalgamate with a neighbouring club in both hurling and football (to be further discussed).
4. That greater emphasis be put on Premier Junior A football team in 2025 due to new rules (carried).
5. If unable to fill the position of Intermediate Hurling Manager from within the club that an outside manager/coach be appointed for 2025 (carried).
Team Management 2025
The following adult team management was appointed:-
Intermediate hurling manager/coach: John O’Connor (Newtownshandrum Cork).
Slectors, strength and conditioning coach and rest of backroom team to be confirmed.
Junior A Football: Edward Sheehy, selectors to be confirmed.
Junior B Hurling: Niall Carroll, selectors to be confirmed.
U20 Hurling and Football: Shane Twomey.
Minor Hurling and Football to be confirmed.
Any Other Business:
The secretary informed members of the 15th annual King of the Hill on St. Stephen’s Day with registration from 10am to 11.30am at the Rock Bar, Granagh GAA Go and midweek AGM were also discussed.
First Meeting
The first meeting of 2025 is scheduled for the first or second
Thursday in January.
Prayers
The AGM ended with prayers for deceased members.
52 Teams in 15th Annual Knockfierna King of the Hill
53 teams completed the course in the 15th annual Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club King of the Hill Road Hurling challenge in dry cold conditions on St. Stephen’s Day.
Adult Competitions
First place went to Conor Mulqueen, Jim O’Keeffe and Mark O’Sullivan with a very creditable score of 41 shots, 2nd Richie O’Keeffe, Richie O’Keeffe Jnr and Patrick Shelton 46 shots, 3rd Sean Quirke, John Geary and Ronan Geary 48 shots, 4th Denis O’Connor, Mickey O’Keeffe and Damien O’Donovan 50 shots.
Family Section: Pat, Rian and Padraig Gilbourne won the eleventh annual family section with 63 shots. Thank you to all 52 teams who completed the course, our hosts Seamus and Janet Twomey and family of the Rock Bar, Granagh. Thank you also to John Carroll of Laochra Sports gear for their sponsorship, co-ordinator Niall Caroll, Saoirse O’Sullivan for taking photos, Niall Fitzgerald and David Condron of the organising committee and all the other volunteers who helped on the day. The total amount raised was over €2,000 which will go towards the club’s team training fund.
Regrading
Any Granagh Ballingarry player wishing to be regraded from Intermediate to Junior B hurling for 2025 should contact the Club Secretary John Lynch on (087) 2912356 as soon as possible, as forms must be returned to the County Bord Secretary by the end of January 2025.
Reconvened AGM Postponed:
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club reconvened AGM, due to be held tomorrow Thursday 9th January at 8pm in the Clubhouse, Ballingarry, is postponed due to the climatic weather conditions. It is now rescheduled for Thursday 16th January in the Clubhouse at 8pm, to appoint a Chairperson, executive committee west and County Board delegates.
Special General Meeting:
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club will hold their first special general meeting of 2025 immediately after the AGM on Thursday 16th January in the Clubhouse, Ballingarry at 8.30pm. Your support at both meetings would be appreciated as a lot of business will be dealt with that night to help with the running of the club for 2025.
2025 GAA National Club Draw:
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club are promoting the 2025 National Club Draw. There is no financial cost to the club to get involved as the cost of tickets and prizes are covered by the Central Council. In addition to maintaining the proceeds for all tickets sold by the club, any club who sells a minimum of 200 tickets automatically gets into a draw for €1,000, a prize won by Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club in March 2024. Prizes include 1st €50,000, 2nd €20,000, 3rd €10,000. Other prizes include All Ireland Final tickets and overnight package, €2,500 voucher plus a number of other cost prizes. Tickets are currently on sale in local shops/bars and from promoters.
Limerick GAA Season Tickets:
Limerick County GAA Board launched their 2025 season tickets recently. The tickets will entitle the bearer entry to all Limerick County Board Club games in 2025. For €150 it would make an ideal present for a family member or friend and can be purchased online at limerickgaa.ie, tel (061) 335576.
Club Gear:
Granagh Ballingarry Club’s tops, hoodies, tracksuits, shorts and socks can now be ordered online at www.laochrasports.ie/product-category/clubs/granaghballingarry
Lottery Postponed:
The Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club Lottery draw for a jackpot of €8,200 on Saturday 4th January in the Rock Bar, Granagh was postponed due to the climatic weather conditions.
Club Website:
Check out our website at www.granagh-ballingarrygaa.ie for all the latest club news. Our club website is updated regularly and is well worth a visit. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/granaghballingarrygaaclub and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/granaghballingarry
Happy New Year:
Wishing a happy new year to all in our club to our friends in the Weekly Observer and Vale Star and to those everywhere who have read our column over the past 33 years.