First Meeting of 2023 To-Night
Granagh Ballingarry GAA Club will hold their first Special General Meeting of 2023 in the Clubhouse, Ballingarry tomorrow, Thursday 19th January at 8.30pm sharp. All club members particularly team managers and players are asked to attend. This is important meeting as a lot of business will be dealt with on the night to help with the running of the club for 2023.

Clár:
Club Treasure, Junior B Hurling Manager, Caretaker (to oversee and manage facilities in the club grounds), King of the Hill, Race Night, Muster Council Grant, Club Social Event Committee Report, Bord na nÓg Update, Junior Football Manager Update, Intermediate Hurling Managers Update, Junior B Hurling Manager Update, U17, U19, U21 amalgamation with Croom Update, Regrading, Hurling and Football Leagues, Club Season Tickets, Training Field Update, Limerick County GAA Yearbook 2022, County and Club Draws, Club Membership and A.O.B.

Coliek’s Hole in the Ceiling of Taafes Bar, Galway 1998:
In 1998, the Galway Footballers won the All-Ireland Senior Championship for the eight time in the county’s history. While almost 71,000 spectators were in attendance at Croke Park that day to see Galway take on Kildare, many more watched the game from homes and venues the world over. One of them was Coliek who worked as a barman in Taafes Bar in Galway City – an establishment which has seen many Galway players pass through as employees, Bar manager Padraig Lally, whose family own the pub, was part of the Galway team who captured the Sam Maguire in 2001. Four minutes into the second half of the 1998 final Galway full forward Padraig Joyce split the Kildare defence to score a goal that shifted the balance of power in the game. As the ball hit the back of the Kildare net, Colie jumped with excitement with excitement and struck the ceiling above the bar with his first and burst a hole in it. Instead of pairing the hole, it was framed as a reminder of the famous September day in Croke Park for the Galway footballers.
Pubs play an important role in Gaelic Games – as meeting points for discussions as part of match-day routines and as a post-match outlet for supporters and players alike. Pubs are embraced as an alternative site for viewing matches and they bring a party atmosphere. Just like the stadium, along with all the stress and excitement of a live match often a spectators need for proximity to the match itself, but to the atmosphere and social interaction that sport brings. That day Colie K and Padraig Joyce celebrated in sync with each other – one of them punching the ceiling of a pub in Galway, the other punching the air in front of Galway supporters on Hill 16.

Wooden Mether (Medieval):
When the Liam MacCarthy cup made it’s appearance as a trophy presented to the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship it greatly enhanced the interest manifested in the All Ireland hurling championship. The cup was gifted to the GAA in 1922 by Liam MacCarthy (1853-1928) who was a prominent figure in GAA Circles in London. It was wrought by Edmund Johnson Jewellers on Grafton Street, Dublin and it’s design was based upon the form of a four-handled medieval wooden drinking vessel, known as a mether this vessel has a four-sided body with four handles. Methers in various forms have an ancient history as communal wooden drinking vessels during medieval banquets, they were passed around and guests were expected to drink moderately so that the mether could complete the circuit before the contents were drained. The ritual is also practised in GAA circles when celebrating success with a swig from precious silverware, including the Liam MacCarthy Cup. The tradition is punishable by a twelve week ban and in 1979. The Leitrim GAA Convention suggested that the shape of GAA trophies be changed in order to ‘curb the evils of drinking’ from GAA trophies. In medieval times it was assented that the King’s ale contained in methers made a full circuit of banqueting hall for his honour and legitimacy to be realised. Parading the Liam MacCarthy to as many schools and clubs as possible around winning County before it is returned in July ahead of the Senior All Ireland Hurling Championship final is an important task of the All Ireland champions. The cup can be seen not only as a material prize for reaching the pinnacle of hurling but as an item of desire to be venerated and enjoyed by all in the Community.
Social
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club will hold a combined social event on Saturday 25th March in the Longcourt Hotel, Newcastle West for the presentation of 2022 West and County Junior A Football Championship medals and the silver jubilee of Granagh/Ballingarry winning the Wet and County Junior A Hurling Championship in 1998 defeating Newcastle West in both finals. Organising committee – Damien O’Donovan, Shane Mulqueen, Shane O’Grady and Andrew Holmes. Your support for this social event would be appreciated.

Limerick GAA Club Tickets:
Limerick County GAA Board launched their 2023 Club season tickets recently. The tickets will entitle the bearer to entry to all Limerick County Board games in 2023 from minor to senior levels. The cost is 150 plus postage. Order your ticket now at limerick.ie/step/limerick-gaa-season-tickets-2023/

County GAA Club Draw:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club are once more promoting the Limerick County Club Draw for 2023. There will be monthly draws from March to December with a top prize of €10,000. There are a host of other prizes to be won, 2nd €3,000, 3rd €2,000, 4th €1,000, 5th exclusive star prize, 6th to 9th €500, 10th to 13th €250, 14th to 30th €100. There will again be exclusive monthly prizes to be won. Entry to the draw is just €10 per monthly or €100 for the ten draws with the option to join our own ten monthly draw and County Club Draw for €150. If you would like to renew your membership for 2023 please follow the link limerickgaa.ie/clublimerick-draw-signup and select Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club and the number of draws you wish to sign up for. Your may also contact the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club draw co-ordinator Stephen Stapleton on 086-1960301. Note the first draw for 2023 is on Saturday 25th March.

Limerick GAA 2022 Yearbook:
A full review of all Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club activities both on and off the field plus photos in 2022 will be included in the Limerick County GAA Yearbook due to be launched in early February. The book would make an ideal present for a family member of friend.

Membership Due:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club membership fees for 2023 are now due and are €40 for adult players (€120 with club draw), €20 for students and non players who pay €100 club draw fee in full will automatically be members for 2023. Fees should be paid on or before 31st March to club registrar John Carroll or any club official. To train or play for the club you have to be insured. If you were not yet registered we ask you to do son. It is generally felt by club officers that any member or player should feel obliged to get their membership paid asap and we must reiterate that people who have not paid will not be covered by insurance or entitled to any privileges what so ever from our club.

Club Gear:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club tops, hoodies, tracksuits, jackets, shorts and socks can now be ordered online at www.laroachasports.ieproduct-category/clubs/granagh/ballingarry club

Club Website:
Check out our website at www.granaghballingarry.ie for all the latest club new and club website is updated regularly and is well worth a visit. You can also follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/granaghballingarrygaa and twitter at www.twitter.com/granaghballingarrygaa

Granagh Players Present The Foggy Dew:
On Friday night Granagh Players present an original production The Foggy Dew in Granagh Community Centre V35 CS84 at 8pm nightly, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 20th, 21st, 22nd and 27th, 28th and 29th January. Tickets: adults €10 and students €5 on the door shop and raffle each night. Your support would be appreciated.

Grant:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club would like to formally and sincerely thank the Munster Council officials for their kind contribution of €2,008 Development Grant. Thanks to Seamus Twomey, Adrian Farragher and Andrew Holmes who helped to complete the paperwork in drawing down these funds.

€8,200 Jackpot on Saturday:
There was no winner of the €8,200 jackpot in the Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club lottery on Saturday 14th January in Buckley’s Bar, Ballingarry. The numbers drawn were 10, 13, 16 and 26. The lucky dips of €20 each went to Grainne Power, promoter online; Martha O’Kelly, promoter Buckley’s Bar, Ballingarry; Steven Kiely and Seamus Stapleton. The next draw for a jackpot of €8,200 will be held on Saturday 21st January in Condrons Bar, Ballingarry. Tickets are €2 each or three for €5 and are on sale in local shops, bars and from promoters. You can now also play the weekly draw online and the link to play is available on the club Facebook or Twitter which finishes at 6pm every Saturday. Thank you for your continued support.

Sympathy:
Granagh/Ballingarry GAA club officials, players and members extend sympathy to the Kiely family, Granagh, on the death of Nora Kiely, to the Morrison family, Ballingarry on the death of Edward (Ned) Morrison to the Madigan family, Kilmeedy on the death of TJ Madigan. Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a h-anamacha go léir.

Club Diary:
Thursday 19th January:
First special general meeting of Granagh/Ballingarry GAA Club of 2023 in Ballingarry Clubhouse at 8.30pm.
Friday 20th January:
McGrath Cup Senior Football Final: Limerick v Cork in Mallow at 7.30pm.
Sunday 22nd January:
All Ireland Club Senior Hurling Championship Final: Shamrocks Ballyhale (Kilkenny) v Dunloy Cuchullains (Derry) in Croke Park at 1.30pm.
All Ireland Club Senior Football Championship Final: Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Glen (Derry) in Croke Park at 3.30pm,
Munster Senior Hurling League Group B Round 3: Limerick v Kerry in Austin Stack Park, Tralee at 1pm.
Munster Senior Hurling League Final: Cork v Tipperary in Pairc Ui Rinn at 3pm.
Saturday 28th January:
National Football League Division 1 Round 1: Monaghan v Armagh at Castleblayney at 6.30pm.
Mayo v Galway in MacHale Park, Castlebar at 7.30pm.
National Football League Division 2 Round 1: Derry v Limerick in Owenboy at 3pm. Dublin v Kildare in Croke Park at 5pm.
National Football League Division 3 Round 1: Wexford v London in Wexford Park at 7pm Carlow v Wicklow in Cullen Park at 7pm.
Sunday 29th January:
National Football League Division 1 Round 1: Roscommon v Tyrone in Dr. Hyde Park at 1.30pm.
Donegal v Kerry in Ballybofey at 2pm.
National Football League Division 2 Round 1: Croke v Meath in Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 1.30pm. Clare v Louth in Cusack Park, Ennis at 2pm.
National Football League Division 3 Round 1: Antrim v Offaly in Corrigan Park, Belfast at 2pm.
Westmeath v Offaly in Cusack Park, Mullingar at 2pm.
National Football League Division 4 Round 1: Leitrim v Waterford in Pairc Sean MacDiarmada at 1pm. Sligo v Laois in Markievicz Park at 2pm.
Not only as a material prize for reaching the pinnacle of hurling but as an item of desire to be venerated and enjoyed by all in the community.
Monaleen First Limerick Club to win All Ireland Intermediate Title
All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Monaleen (Limerick)….1-17
Tooreen Mayo…….1-15
Massive congratulations to Limerick City side Monaleen who became the first Limerick team to be crowned All Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Champions with a two point victory over gallant Tooreen of Mayo after a thrilling contest in Croke Park on Saturday under lights in Croke Park, Monaleen now follow Blackrock in 2010 and Na Piarsaigh in 2016 who brought junior and senior All Club Hurling Championship titles to Shannonside.

Draw Book Final Spot for Limerick:
McGrath Cup Senior Football Group B Round 3
Limerick………1-13
Tipperary…………2-10
Congratulations to the Limerick senior footballers and their management team on their thrilling draw with gallant Tipperary in the final Group B stage game in the McGrath Cup to finish level on top of the group on three points with Tipperary to qualify for the final on score difference against Cork on this Friday 20th January in Mallow at 7.30pm, which will be a repeat of the 2020 decider won 0-20 to 0-16 by Limerick at Páirc nan Gael on Saturday 11th January.
Your support for the boys in green and white would be appreciated in Mallow on Friday night for the 7.30pm start to cheer them on in their bid to win their 7th McGrath Cup Senior Football title and a first since 2020.
Mark and Seán Win Munster School Medals
Massive congratulations to Coláiste na Trócaire, Rathkeale on being crowned Munster Senior Hurling Champions with an outstanding victory over Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney on Wednesday. The Rathkeale boys with our own Seán O’Gorman wearing the No. 5 and Mark O’Shea the No. 6 jerseys battled back from 8 points down at the interval to bring the Shane Hourigan Memorial Cup back to Coláiste na Trócaire again. Well done to all involved in this great victory for the school.

Results:
Munster Senior Hurling League Group A Round 3
Clare 1-24, Waterford 2-19.
Munster Senior Hurling League Group B Round 2
Cork 0-20, Limerick 1-16.
McGrath Cup Senior Football Group A Round 3
Cork 2-10, Clare 0-8.
McGrath Cup Senior Football Group B Round 3
Limerick 1-13, Tipperary 2-10.
All Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Monaleen (Limerick) 1-17, Tooreen (Mayo) 1-15
All Ireland Club Junior Hurling Championship Final
Ballygibbon (Cork) 1-16, Easkey (Sligo) 0-10
All Ireland Club Intermediate Football Championship Final
Rathgmore (Kerry) 1-11, Galbally Pearses (Tyrone) 0-11
All Ireland Club Junior Football Championship Final
Fossa (Kerry) 0-19, Stewartstown Harps 1-13.