Congratulations and best wishes to Francis Shanley, Annaduff, Colin Moran, Allen Gaels, Eoin McLoughlin, Fenagh St Caillin’s, James Clancy St Patrick’s Dromahair, Mark Diffley, St Mary’s Kiltoghert and Derbhaile Beirne, Mohill Ladies who were tonight awarded Connacht GAA Council Student Bursaries for 2020. Well done all of the above and the recipients from the other four Connacht Counties. In total 44 Bursaries were presented tonight to recipients from across the province by Connacht Council Uachtarán Gerry McGovern in the presence of family members.

Full story from Connacht GAA is located here

 

The long-awaited official opening of McGovern Aughavas Leitrim GAA Centre of Excellence will take place on Saturday next, September 7th, and Uachtarán CLG Seán Ó hÓráin will be present to perform the official duty. The project has come a long way since the land purchase signing for the property was completed on 7th January 2005 and people passing the premises along the N4 at Annaduff cannot but be impressed by the transformation that has taken place in recent weeks as the finishing touches have been put to the congregation side of of the building, entrance and car park to have it looking ship-shape for the big day.

Recent fundraising through the Leitrim Wall fundraising campaign has afforded Leitrim GAA the opportunity to complete the development to a standard that all Leitrim people can be justifiably proud of. We are indebted to all of the people far and wide who have contributed to what has turned out to be a momentous scheme and we are sure that all will be delighted that their contribution has been put to excellent use. In addition to this, we are also most grateful to Tony and Bernadette McGovern, London and Aughavas, who have secured the naming and advertising rights to this property over the next 15 years. McGovern, Aughavas, is a name that has been synonymous with a huge degree of generosity towards Leitrim GAA over the past quarter of a century and this will continue into the future with the name being associated proudly with the conclusion of this development.

While the pitches have been in use since January 2016 with the dressing rooms and gym functional, it has taken this combined final push to ensure that the remainder of the internal and the external public side of the property have been completed to the very high standard that is already evident, playing surface wise, at the rear of the property.

We have waited a long time for the conclusion of an almost 15-year long project but can be very happy with the end product which, when officially opened, will be practically debt-free and that, in itself, is an achievement and something well worth the wait. We are indebted to Croke Park and Connacht Council GAA for the contributions incrementally made, to a total of €2m, over the duration of the development. This is inclusive of the €250k that was made available from the opening of Croke Park to the FAI and IRFU in the noughties. Leitrim GAA Clubs are to applauded to have taken the decision back then to hand over that grant towards the project. All in all, the project has cost €2.8m and will be a jewel in Leitrim GAA’s crown, while serving as the proud home of many future generations of Leitrim GAA players.

We are looking forward to Saturday and extend an open invitation to all to attend. The timeline is as follows:

  • Underage games and Coaching from 11am to 12 noon, hurling and football
  • Refreshments 12 noon onwards with the opportunity to view the development
  • Speeches and Official Opening from 1pm to 2pm

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday next!

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir!!

 

 

The work has commenced on the first stage of the Leitrim Wall at the Centre of Excellence in Annaduff and work has been ongoing over the past eight days. At the very outset, Martin Baxter of Brackley Landscaping took charge of the contract and over the past number of days things have begun to move in a very positive direction with the foundation laying and associated groundworks. We are delighted to have advanced the project to this stage and in thanking the many who have contributed to this fundraising effort since it was launched in New York last May and closer to home over the Summer months, we continue to appeal to all who may have an interest in getting involved in this initiative that now is the time!!

If you wish to have your name remembered forever as having contributed to the development of the Leitrim GAA Centre of Excellence at Annaduff and the development of Gaelic games in the County, please contact any of the following.People who have received brochures can return to any committee member or directly to the Centre office at Annaduff. People can also register online.

The following are contacts covering each club area:

Mohill: Stephen Flynn

Gortletteragh: Thomas Keenan

Bornacoola: Kevin Mallon

Annaduff: Eugene Cox,

St Mary’s: Sean McGoldrick

Leitrim Gaels: Sean McGoldrick, Bernie Goldrick

Kiltubrid: Eoin Meehan

Allen Gaels: Fergal McPartland

Drumkeerin: Seamus Gallagher

Glencar Manor: Pat Feely

Glenfarne/Kilty: Pat Feeley

Melvin Gaels: Pat Feeley & Colin Regan

Ballinaglera: John Mulvey & Enda Gilrane

Aughnasheelin: Terrence Boyle

Sean O’Heslin’s: Paddy O’Connor

Aughawillan: Martin McCartin

Drumreilly: Martin McCartin

Carrigallen: Orla Sheridan

Aughavas: Ray McBrien

Eslin: Enda Stenson

Dromahair: Hughie Clinton

Fenagh: Noeleen Geoghegan

Cloone: Enda Tiernan, Gerry McGovern

 

 

 

Help build ‘The Leitrim Wall’ and finish the county’s GAA Centre of Excellence

Fundraising initiative allows you buy a brick with a personalised message in ‘The Leitrim Wall’ while helping to lay the foundations of future excellence for all involved in Leitrim GAA

Leitrim GAA might be small in numbers, but we are big on ambition.

Wherever our people have gone they have made a big impact. They have pursued excellence. Leitrim GAA wants to secure the same opportunity for all future generations who represent our county. The new Centre of Excellence in Annaduff will help achieve this.

The completion of this ambitious facility is long overdue. Since development started in 2007 €2.9m has been invested. A further €300,000 is required to complete it to a level of excellence that will place it on a par with any other county facility in Ireland. The Leitrim GAA County Executive and Supporters Club want this facility to be a beacon for the Leitrim community at home and abroad. That is why they have launched a new fundraising drive – the Leitrim Wall – that offers everyone the opportunity to contribute to Leitrim’s future in a meaningful and tangible way.

First of its kind

The Leitrim Wall will be the first of its kind in a GAA facility in Ireland (similar projects have been successfully undertaken by Munster Rugby and numerous top soccer clubs across the UK and the continent). The architecturally designed wall will be the main feature inside the entrance of the new centre and visible as you pass on the N4 Carrick-on-Shannon to Dublin road: a beacon for those who were forced ‘to travel far from this great land’, as Larry Cunningham famously sang in ‘Lovely Leitrim’.

“Leitrim GAA supporters, and the public in general, have been very generous in backing our endeavours in the past,” said county chairperson Terrence Boyle. “We could not have completed the magnificent stand in Pairc Sean without such generosity.

“We need your support again to finish the Centre of Excellence. We’re proud of our wee patch and we want to build something that everyone could be proud of. We want all Leitrim people be part of the identity of Leitrim GAA into the future, and we feel the Leitrim Wall offers this – an opportunity to have your family name forever etched in the fabric of the facility.”

The perfect gift

The Leitrim Wall offers Leitrim people and supporters everywhere the opportunity to contribute to the building of a state-of-the-art facility for their county while recording a personalised message on one of the wall’s bricks. You can record a message for a loved one or embed your own family name in Leitrim GAA for all perpetuity. A Leitrim Wall brick could also be the perfect Christmas or birthday present – gift the Leitrim person in your life a unique opportunity to leave a lasting imprint in Lovely Leitrim’. You can choose the wording of the message or leave it to them to select.

A launch of The Leitrim Wall was well received in New York in May and the Supporters Club hope that Leitrim’s loyal supporters will once more back this innovative opportunity.

Four options have been prepared so everyone can afford to help build Leitrim GAA’s future brick by brick.

1. The Leitrim Brick €250

2. Large Leitrim Brick €500

3. The Leitrim Stone €1,000

4. Leitrim Stone of Excellence €3,000

For more information about the Leitrim Wall visit www.leitrimwall.com and stay tuned to the Leitrim GAA social media accounts.

Regards

Colin Regan

NATIONAL PITCH MAINTENANCE WORKGROUP SET UP IN APRIL 2016
REQUESTED BY P DUFFY ART STIURTHOIR
FIRST MEETING TUESDAY 5TH APRIL 2016
AIMS – Develop solutions and practices to ensure groundsmen have adequate know how to have pitches maintained to the highest possible standards in accordance with Best Practice.
  1. Organise National Groundsman Education day or days.
  2. Organise Regional and Provincial Education days
  3. Develop guidelines and education programmes in relation to care and maintenance procedures such as mowing, seeding, fertilizing, weed control, aerating
  4. Prepare guidelines for protection of pitches during playing/training season
  5. Work with the relevant Educational Institutes with a view to developing an accredited course for groundskeepers.
To Date:
  1. Regular meetings have been held
  2. National Groundsman Education days have been held in Abbotstown and Croke Park
  3. Provincial Groundsman Education days have been held in all Provinces.
  4. Work is ongoing with the relevant Educational Institutes with a view to developing an accredited course for groundskeepers eg (working with I.O.G. and Sports Turf Apprenticeship ) re above.
  5. To encourage groundsmen to improve County Grounds, a successful pitch of the year project was undertaken. It is expected that this initiative will be an annual event.
Most clubs have the services of F.A.S. schemes or other local Employment Schemes. Those employees would be welcome to attend the Groundsman Education days along with members of the clubs.
Groundsman Education days are free events. Talks are given by experts in the care and maintenance of sports grounds. 
 
Event: Connacht Groundsman Education Day
Date: Friday 21s September 
Time: 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Venue:  Connacht GAA Centre.
 
Please confirm your interest in attending by contacting the Connacht Council Office on 094 96 30335 or by E Mail reception.connacht@gaa.ie

An Information Night is taking place in the Bush Hotel on Wednesday 6th  June at 7.30pm  to inform the Leitrim people of the fundraising activities re-the Leitrim Wall that are taking place.  This is an open invitation to all to attend this information evening.

This fundraiser has already been launched in New York and Dublin and is now being launched in Leitrim.

For further details see https://www.leitrimwall.com/

 

Last night’s US launch of the ‘Buy a Brick Campaign‘ took place in Rory Dolan’s on McLean Avenue.

 

Show your support of Leitrim GAA by purchasing a clay or porcelain brick/tile to be displayed at the entrance to our Centre of Excellence. The Leitrim Wall will be the first of its kind in a GAA facility in Ireland.

Choice of 4 beautiful personally inscribed tiles will make a permanent mark on the Centre of Excellence, proudly displaying your passion for Leitrim GAA.

Gift vouchers also available – all details here: https://www.irishap.org/leitrim-gaa/

Our thanks to all who supported the event and particular thanks to the New York Leitrim GAA Club Officials and New York Branch of the Leitrim GAA Supporters Club who made massive efforts to ensure the success of the night.

Our thanks to Rory Dolan for hosting the event.

The Irish equivalent launch will take place in the Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge, on Thursday May 24th – the main website is www.LeitrimWall.com

 


 

Coiste Chontae Liatroma CLG is in the process of producing a Strategic Development Plan for the next three years.

As part of the consultation process, adult members of the GAA in Leitrim are being asked for their views under a number of headings. Every voice is important and this online survey is an important part of the consultation. So please give your views and opinions. It will take approximately 5 minutes to complete the questionnaire. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary.

Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this survey will be reported only in the aggregate.  If you have questions at any time about the survey or the procedures, you may contact CLG Liatroma by email to – developmentofficer.leitrim@gaa.ie

Closing date for online replies is Friday 13 April.

Please click here to complete survey.

Connacht GAA Council in conjunction with Leitrim GAA is holding a seminar for all Leitrim GAA Clubs in the Bush Hotel on Tuesday evening April 3rd at 7.30pm. This is a new initiative by the Provincial where personnel from the Council along with other guest speakers visit the County and provide information on a range of topics which are very relevant to the running of a GAA club. The following is a sample of the topics that will be discussed. Trustees & the Corporate Trustee System; Borrowings, Governance; Club Planning, Vetting in the GAA; Player Injury Scheme & GAA Insurance, Coaching in terms of self-sufficiency, Grant applications. The new recently published Connacht GAA Club Manual will be available for all clubs on the night and clubs are urged to get a copy of this publication as it contains a huge amount of information which clubs will find most beneficial. It is vital that every GAA club is represented at this seminar.

Each club is expected to be represented by at least its Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Club Officers and County Committee Officers are expected to attend this seminar. Because of it being a Bank Holiday weekend, numbers attending are required by this Friday and you are asked to confirm your attendance by contacting County Development Officer Seán Ó Súilleabháin at developmentofficer.leitrim@gaa.ie or 0876821566.

A Stewards Course for all persons stewarding at Pairc Sean and club pitches in Leitrim takes place on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th May from 6.30pm to 9.30 in the Bush Hotel, concluding on Thursday 12th May with a 2 hour session which will be detailed on Friday evening .  All personnel from clubs are asked to attend , Please contact Attracta 0861708499  by text with your name for attending 

 

 

 

03-May-16 by Declan Bohan – PRO

ALL IRELAND WHEELCHAIR HURLING INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 
by Eamonn Phillips in Sligo IT
 
Sligo IT was the venue for the All-Ireland Wheelchair Hurling Interprovincial Finals on Saturday 1st November.  The four provinces all arrived in their colours for what turned out to be a great day for both players and spectators alike. The Connacht side were looking to go one better this year – after finishing runners-up to Munster in 2013.
 
Round 1: Connacht 2 Munster 1
The first round-robinÓgame of the day threw-in with Connacht taking on  All-Ireland Champions Munster.  Five minutes into the game our Connacht midfielder Stephen Melvin scored the first goal of the day with a well hit long range strike. One minute later, Munster replied with a great goal leaving both teams level at half time. The second half started off with Connacht goalie, Liam OBoyle, making a superb save to keep Connacht in the game.  Both teams looked very even and a draw looked imminent until captain fantastic, Aidan Hynes popped up with a lovely last gasp effort to win it for Connacht. This was Connachts first ever win over Munster, a massive achievement by the hurlers in blue and white.
Round 2: Connacht 2 Ulster 2
Five minutes later, Connacht were back in action again, this time against Ulster.  And once more it was Connachts magnificient midfielder Stephen Melvin, who put us first on the score sheet. The second half began with two fast Ulster goals, but with 58 seconds remaining on the clock, Stephen Melvin scored a quality penalty, ensuring the draw for Connacht.
Round 3: Connacht 3 Leinster 0
After an hours break, Connacht were ready to roll again. They played against Leinster and the game got under way with a goal by Connacht captain Aidan Hynes.  With a  minute remaining in the first half, Connacht defender Pat Carty hit a wonder goal to the top corner from a sideline ball, leaving the Leinster goalkeeper helpless. In the second half, Stephen MelvinÓgot his fourth goal of the tournament and Connachts third of the match.  Connacht won 3-0, resulting in qualification for the A Final.  Much praise must go to the Connacht defenders and goalkeeper Liam OBoyle for keeping out a determined Leinster team.
Final: Munster 3 Connacht 2
Connacht and Munster met again in the A Final with a longer game of three 7 minute periods of duration.  In the first third, Connacht came out all guns blazing and Peter Egan was the first to score for Connacht with a great bottom corner effort.  Seconds later, Connachts Stephen Melvin scored from a Munster error, to put the Westerners two-nil up after the opening period. The tables turned in the second period with James McCarthy Scóring twice for Munster to bring the sides back level at 2-2. Munsters constant pressure in the final third paid off as captainÓger OHalloran popped up to get the winner for the Southerners, as the game ended 3-2 to Munster. However, Connacht go home with their heads held high having represented their province so brilliantly and there is no doubt that they will be back next year.
 
Eamonn Phillips is a Transition Year Student in Ballyhaunis Community School and has been working closely with the Connacht GAA Wheelchair Hurling team with coaching and PR as part of his TY Work Experience with the GAA over the past month.
 
Adrian Hession (Coach), Thaigh Morley (Coach), Tim Hynes (Coach)
David Tarpey (Ardrahan – Galway), Liam OBoyle (Knockmore – Mayo), Stephen Melvin (Owenmore Gaels – Sligo), Val Lenehan (Charlestown – Mayo), Aiden Hynes (Calry – Sligo), Pat Carty (Tourlestrane – Sligo) Fergal Mahon (Western Gaels – Roscommon), Peter Egan (Kilmovee – Mayo), Shane Curran (Moycullen – Galway), Sarah Cregg (Western Gaels – Roscommon), Tom Fleming (Charlestown – Mayo).

 

 

03-Nov-14 by Leitrim GAA

Seán Hagan steps down

Leitrim team Manager Seán Hagan informed the Executive of Leitrim GAA that he was standing down from his position as Senior team Manager. Chairperson, Joe Flynn, informed the executive at an executive meeting on Friday night specially convened to set in motion team managements for the coming year. Seán cited a number of reasons but mainly that his own business had picked up considerably in recent times a factor that would make it difficult to devote the time such a position would demand. He too expressed concern at the manner of the team’s collapse in their final game with Down in the championship qualifiers and with the commitment of some panel members leading up to this game. He said he had thought long about continuing in this role and had come to the conclusion that it would be best for Leitrim football to now move on .He wished Leitrim GAA the best of luck in the future and enjoyed his time here.

On behalf of Leitrim GAA Chairperson Joe Flynn thanked Seán for his work and enthusiasm over the past year. He alluded to his achievement in winning the FBD cup last January and of their excellent run in the National League just missing out on promotion. He stated that Seán was a gentleman to work with and always available to discuss any issues involving the team. He was passionate about the game and introduced new players to the panel with success. Injuries and the non- availability of experienced players at the end of the year made his position very difficult. Joe wished Seán the very best in both his business ventures and whatever role he would undoubtedly become involved in GAA circles. He concluded by thanking selectors Christy Carroll and Aiden Mc Carron and all involved with the management.

 

 

02-Aug-14 by Leitrim GAA