Dinner Dance
There was a fine crowd in attendance for the Aodh Ruadh Annual Dinner Dance staged in Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel last Saturday night, with Sean Perry, once again taking the tiller for evening. Proceedings got underway with the presentations to the back-to-back 2016 All-Ireland under 21 C Hurling Championship Andrew O’Neill Cup winners. Kevin Loughlin was in the management while Aodh Ruadh’s Matt Ahern, Tommy Gillespie, Eddie Lynch, Stephen Connolly, Ciaran Rami and Oisin Rooney were all members of the panel as Donegal crushed Fermanagh 3-7 to 1-2 in the final. That was followed by the presentation to the 2016 Aodh Ruadh members of the Ulster Minor Hurling League winning panel, Conal Sweeny, Stephen Anderson and Brian McHenry. Next up was a presentation to the club’s 2016 Ulster Minor League and Championship double winners Shane McGrath, Nathan Boyle and Oisin Rooney. Two All-county league winning sides were then presented with their medals. First up were the men’s League Division 3 winners and they were followed by the Ladies Division 2 champions. The evening then moved on to the individual awards section. Young ladies player of the year was Mary Flora Scott while Tara Khan scooped the Ladies player of the year award. The Young hurler of the year went to Stephen Anderson, with Ciaran Kilgannon collecting the Hurler of the year. The first of the football awards went to Eamonn McGrath who was named Under 21 footballer of the year. One of the highlights of the night was Christopher Goan receiving the Reserve team player of the year award. The Ciaran Keon senior player of the year went to Michael Ward, the young Michael Ward that is, with Sean Perry reassuring Sticky Ward that his day might still come. The Sean Slevin club person of the year caught Chris Kelly well off guard, but it was richly deserved for a great deal of selfless work on behalf of the club. Inducted into the Aodh Ruadh Hall of Fame on the night was John Travers. A tireless servant of the club, his contribution to Aodh Ruadh over the past decades has been immeasurable. After receiving the award John made a short address, thanking the club for the accolade and the great times he had enjoyed. However he added that the club had great times still to come and he wished all the best as we worked our way back to those heights. John’s wife Maureen also received a bouquet and there was a large gathering present to support and congratulate him on a memorable night for him and his family. With the evening drawing to a close tokens of appreciation were presented to Terence McShea and Mick McGrath for their contribution to Donegal GAA, to outgoing Ladies Chairman Eoin O’Moore and to out-going senior football manager Peter Gallagher. Peter along with James O’Donnell also received tokens of appreciation from the senior football team for their work over the course of our promotion season. With the night’s ceremonials complete it was time for Inside Out to take the stage and supply the music as Aodh Ruadh continued to mark the year past in appropriate style. You can check out all the style on aodhruadh.org.
Monthly meeting
The January meeting of the club executive takes place this Thursday in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh at 8.30pm. All committee members are asked to attend.
Football
With huge numbers at our under 6, under 8 and under 10 sessions, we have juggled the underage training venues for the coming week, so we ask parents and guardians to read the following carefully.
Indoor training continues this Friday 27th January. The 2017 Under 6s [Born 2011-2012] are in the New Hall at Coláiste Cholmcille from 6pm to 7pm, followed by the under 8s [Born 2009-2010] from 7pm to 8pm, also in the New Hall, they are followed by the 2017 under 10s [Born 2007-2008] from 8pm to 9pm, also in the New Hall.
The under 12 boys will move to the Mercy Hall. Once again the group will be split into under 12s [Born 2005] and under 11s [Born 2006]. The under 11s will train in the Mercy Hall at Coláiste Cholmcille from 6pm to 7pm. They will be followed by the under 12s from 7pm to 8pm in the Mercy Hall. There is a charge of €2 per head. Please bring your own water and wear runners as no other footwear allowed. Parents/Guardians are asked to please collect children promptly after their session is finished.
Ladies
The reconvened Ladies AGM last Friday saw Patricia Hill appointed as Ladies Chairperson. Congratulations Patricia and best wishes for a successful stint as chair. Anyone interested in taking on coaching positions is asked to contact Patricia or Willie Scott or email info@aodhruadh.org.
Preparations are now well under way for the Aodh Ruadh Ladies eagerly anticipated Boston Tea Party. The big night is on Friday 10th February in Coláiste Cholmcille with plenty of quality grub, music and craic guaranteed on the night. Tickets for this fine dining experience are a bargain at €20. Contact Barry Ward, Siobhan McGarrigle, Mairead Caldwell or Orla McGlynn to book your spot or for any further information on the event. This is a fund-raiser for the under 14 team’s trip to Féile later this year and we would particularly ask parents to support this strongly. Féile requires significant financial outlay between, gear, transport and innumerable other expenses and we hope the Boston Tea Party will go a significant distance to meeting those demands.
We wish Teddy Kane all the best for a speedy recovery as he recuperates from a recent illness.
Hurling
Underage hurling resumes on Sunday 5th March at 12 noon. All welcome from 5 years upwards. Hurls and helmets provided for training. All enquiries to John Rooney 086-2587793.
Anyone who is interested in helping out with our under 12s is asked to please contact John Rooney.
Last Man Standing
Aodh Ruadh Juvenile Hurling Committee are running a Last Man Standing Competition based on Division 1 and Division 2 of the National Football League. The winner gets €200 and entries are €10. Test out your football knowledge. Cards are out this week and available from John Rooney, Denis Daly, Mike Lynch, Daithi Breen, Peter Horan, Gregory Gallagher and Pauric Keenaghan.`
Garda Vetting Session
It is now law that all coaches, managers, mentors and assistants involved with players under 18-years-old are Garda Vetted through the GAA. Aodh Ruadh are having a Garda Vetting Session on Tuesday 24th January, in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh at 8.30pm. If you are currently involved or would like to be involved with coaching and need to be vetted, please come along on Tuesday evening. Anyone attending will need to bring two forms of identifications. Acceptable forms of identification include passport, drivers licence, Irish Public Services Card, birth certificate, or a utility bill with your name and address on it.
Registration 2017
Club membership for 2017 is now due and all club members are asked to submit their registration form and fee at their earliest convenience. Membership can be paid to Gerry Ferguson at Ferguson’s Jewellers. Players can also download registration forms from aodhruadh.org and submit this along with the relevant fee directly to their manager. Registration sessions will be organised for teams over the coming weeks and it is essential all players are signed up club members. We will also be having a number of open registration sessions over coming weeks to facilitate members in the wider community.
Time to get those National Draw tickets back
Those with ticket GAA National Draw tickets to return are asked to get them to either Lisa McTernan or Gerard Ferguson as soon as possible. The deadline is for all returns is closing rapidly. Lisa can be contacted on 086-2338636 to arrange returns. Please note, ALL tickets must be returned, whether sold or unsold.
Abbey Centre Bingo
Last week’s €400 Jackpot went to three homes, with Anne McGloin, Belleek, Stephen Brennan, Ballyshannon and Teresa McCaffrey, Ballintra, all getting €140. There was no winner of the winter snowball so it rolls up to a tasty €500 this week on 47 numbers or less. This Friday night is the January Big bingo with a massive €3,100 prize fund including the €1000 jackpot and a guaranteed minimum payout of €2500 on the night. Books priced €15 for a full book or get the book and a half special for €20. See you at 9pm at the Abbey Centre for a bumper night.
Aodh Ruadh Lotto
There was no winner of last week’s Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot of €1,200. The winning numbers drawn were 4, 8, 9, 11, 16 and 17. In the lucky dip €20 went to Brian Kilpatrick, Laghey; Laura Barron, Cashelard; Jimmy McGowan, Woodview, Kinlough; Mary Egan, West Port; and Gordon Walsh, Cluain Barron. Next draw is in Dorrian’s Hotel with a jackpot of €1,300 on Sunday at 8.30pm. Tickets are now available in the following outlets: Seán Óg’s, The Market House, Dicey Reilly’s, The Limit, Pat’s Bar, The Bridgend, Owen Roe’s, Fin McCool’s, The Lantern, McGinley’s, Pearse O’Neill’s, McCosker’s Centra and Kernan’s Spar and at the weekly and weekly bingo in the Abbey Centre. If not in, you can’t win!
The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra on Saturday is: JUVENILE HURLERS.
You can receive the club notes by e-mail every Tuesday morning. To subscribe, enter your details on the website, www.aodhruadh.org, or e-mail your request to info@aodhruadh.org.
