Chairman's Address to Club AGM - 26 November 2023
After 5 years listening to me, I promise not to keep you long this evening.
2023 has been a hugely positive year for Aodh Ruadh, on the pitch and off the pitch.
None of the on the pitch activity would be possible without the coaches who give their time to the teams, players and the club. Without this hard graft across all codes by the coaches none of this would be possible, to develop players for the future senior teams across hurling, football and camogie.
None of the on the pitch activity would happen without the hard work of the park committee and the workers. Huge thanks to Peter and Johnny for all their work around game days.
2023 has seen the reopening of Fr. Tierney Park and the return to games on the new pitch. None of this would happen without the relentless work put in by Tom Daly, David McLoone and the park committee. To see the newly laid pitch and surrounding works surely is a proud moment for them and all the Aodh Ruadh members. Sunday December 17th sees Donegal`s first match under Jim Mc Guinness vs Roscommon played in Fr Tierney. Jim tells me that the players are looking forward to getting on to the new Fr. Tierney pitch.
We at Aodh Ruadh have a small pot of consistent revenue streams coming in.
The increase in membership rates last year, although small and meet some resistance, was the right decision and should be revisited every 3 years.
The work that our lotto team of Gerard, Catherine, Betty, John Magee, Caoimhin, put in every week to ensure that the Lotto is kept going.
Our Small but growing Bingo team….lead out by David , work week on week to maintain monies coming in but also giving a valued community night out.
Chris Kelly with the multi-annual gear launches is a one-man fundraiser, not alone does this bring in much needed revenue but also gives Aodh Ruadh a strong presence in the community.
Our hard-working PRO who each and every week puts in the hard work to produce, some times up to 5000 words of notes. It means a lot to the members far and wide, past members and present. Alongside him Brian Drummond captures a huge amount of great photos to form great memories to look back on in years to come.
Thanks to Eamon Martin Maguire and Paddy Kelly for their work this year, also on the quizzes and instrumental group on reaching the All Irelands finals in Kerry..
Bord Na Og. Thanks to Brian Gillispie for all his work over the last number of years, I wish him well on his travels. Brian has put in a huge amount of work, and this was seen during the Reserve campaign this year how many younger players stayed involved. I wish the new secretary Darren Mc Guinness all the best in the the role.
To Packie Mc Grath - thanks to you for all the work in the academy and Bord Na Og. Nearly 5 years ago we meet and discussed the ideas/ideals/vision behind this initiative with Lisa and David o Donnell and you Packie took the role on and have achieved a lot so far, with a lot of benefits of this hard work will only be seen in years to come.
Juvenile hurling again had a successful year at certain age grades and hopefully the other age grades can achieve more numbers in 2024.
I believe the smaller numbers at the lower ages will need someone going back into the primary schools to promote hurling, something that can easily be done and needs to be done for hurling to continue in Aodh Ruadh. I have spoken at length over the last while with the Hurling board Chairman Manus O Donnell. I believe that like the underage football boards the hurling board should have a fee structure. These fees should be used for the promotion of hurling and also enable the use of Convoy as a centre point for games removing the need for long journeys.
Being a dual club is an important part of who we are, this needs to be nourished. I was delighted to see the better working relationship on dual players this year between football and hurling. I think the Tain Og/Cu Cuchulainn leagues need to be relooked at, time of year , day of week , travel times etc.
Our senior hurling like our u 21 hurlers had a hard year with small numbers and I hope that 2024 is a better year for them. I believe we must listen to what the players have to say on how best to achieve for senior hurling in Aodh Ruadh into the next few years.
Return of Camogie is a proud time for Aodh Ruadh, this was sparked and pushed by an email from a young Katie Mc Gowan. We wish the committee all the best into 2024 and are here to support all the way.
Ladies Football- We are playing great numbers across all ages. This is a credit to all the coaches involved. I like to thank Sarah for all her work this last number of years and wish her well over the next while with her new addition to the Drummond family nearly here. Thank to Louise Larkin for all her hard work this year and also to Anna Rafferty.
Development Football, “build it and they will come” Following meetings with myself and Lisa/Sabrina, the structures that Brian Gillespie put in place in the Development team has come on leaps and bounds over the last two years. This is a hard act follow, Winning Division 4 League and winning the first Senior Reverse championship in over 20 years.
The hard work and commitment of this group was great to watch, and I hope and encourage these lads to push on and push into the senior team. I would also like to mention the veterans Kerry and Sticky.. their input on and off the pitch kept these lads focused, kept them encouraged gave them the belief that they could win games.
Our Senior team, Thanks to John, Damian, Conor, Declan, Donagh Mc Inerney, for the hard they put in this year.
I was disappointed with the end to the year, had the championship being seeded, it would have played out differently. Perhaps the CCC could look at this for 2024. I was extremely proud of our performance against St Eunans in the quarter final this year, a top 2 team. Next year…
Thanks to Maura, Health and Wellbeing Officer, this is an important role within the club, which reach out to the wider community..
Thanks to Jo Jo in the Children's Officer role, it is a hard and very lonely, thankless role but Jo Jo is a massive asset in the role for Aodh Ruadh. There were some hard tasks this year and they were dealt with in the most private, professional and compassionate way by Jo Jo.
That being said some club members need to get their house in order on Vetting and coaching levels. This is as much for the protection of themselves
as others. The coaching officer needs to be supported on this.
Being a volunteer is a hard task these days. We see less and less people willing to volunteer, we need to work to keep our volunteers in Aodh Ruadh, work to ensure they feel valued and protected in the roles they take on.
County Board, Thank David and Mick, Diarmaid for their roles at county board, again thankless jobs in the main and unfortunately this year I have witnessed some very personal attacks on Mick Mc Grath at some of the monthly meetings at county. We all at Aodh Ruadh support you on these matters.
“Do you think you can make a difference”. Time will tell was what I retorted.
This Question was asked of me 5 yeara ago. No one person on their own really can in a club our size. It takes people working together, pulling in the same direction.
There have been many positives over my 5-year term…
Seeing our seniors winning intermediate, many successful fundraising events …nearly 200k over 5 years. Reducing the older debt, have money on deposit, Winning Junior Hurling Championship -The Oskar`s, The return of Camogie, seeing Fr Tierney being redeveloped – Ladies football at an all time high, winning an intermediate.
Many hard moments too. Covid brought many issues.
There has been a few disagreements too, but it shows we all care and want what’s best for Aodh Ruadh at all times.
1909 to 2024 =115 years Club, Cuman, Community
Chairpersons of a club are only custodians for that period of time. Our job is to maintain, improve and leave it in a better state than when you took the role on.I think each and every Chairperson since 1909 has done that and made a difference. I firmly believe the next will also do that.. Wishing Lisa all the best in the role.
Overall all it has being a great personal experience for myself.
Thaks to the three wise men.. Gerard , John, Diarmaid for advice and counsel over the 5 years, also to PJ Buggy for his time and advice …
Thanks to Sabrina, Lisa, we were not always in agreement and like most relationship not always talking to each other, but the job as Chairperson was much easier with the help to my left and right.. They put in a huge amount of hard work behind the scenes.
Sabrina enjoy your retirement, semi
Thanks to Catriona, our family time.
Thanks to all the volunteers families.
Happy Christmas to all Club Members ..
William Doogan
Cathaoirleach
Last modified: Tuesday, 28 November 2023 at 9:03pm