Chairwoman's Address to Club AGM - 24 November 2024
Not for one second did I foresee that this address would need to be for not only 2024 but for the last 10 years. I did not take on the chair role to only do one year, but circumstances changed and after thinking long and hard on what was best for me and the club, I made the difficult decision to step down.
I will start with 2024 and what a year it has been for me, being secretary for 8 years is one thing, having the responsibility of chair is another thing altogether.
Thank you to Tom and David for all their work with the park committee. It was great to see the re-opening of Fr Tierney Park and even though it was a pity to not see the official re-opening, it is nonetheless great to have the facility back again and back in such great shape. Works are continuously ongoing in Fr Tierney and that is a credit to not only Tom and David but also the scheme workers.
I would like to thank Peter Gallagher and Johnny Gallagher who have been there year in, year out to line pitches and have them match ready for the many games we host annually. Thank you to John Magee, Linda Clyne and Christine Gallagher who turn up every match day to do gates and shops, it is very much appreciated.
I attended the three sub-committee AGM’s over the last number of weeks and I can honestly say that all three were the best attended ones I have seen in a long time. This is a testament to the work being out in by not only the sub-committee officers but also to the coaches who give hours of commitment on a weekly basis. To Michael McGrath and Darren McGuinness, Niamh Hoey and Linda Christie, Rui O’Neill and Orla Bannon and Sharon McDonald and Ciara Roper, thank you all so much for the work you have put in to your sub-committees throughout the year. It was a pleasure to work with you all and the support I received from you all was very much appreciated.
A massive thank you to all the club officers, again your support has been tremendous. A special thank you to Josephine McNulty, our Children’s Officer. A number of issues cropped up during the year but Josephine dealt with them efficiently and professionally and for that I was very grateful for her expertise. I urge all sub-committees and those involved in 2025 to support Josephine in having Garda Vetting, Safeguarding and Coaching done as early as possible as she prepares the club Safeguarding audit.
Thank you to all those who came in to manage at senior levels, to Paul O’Loughlin for taking on the reserves. Unfortunately commitment at this level during the year was poor and to be honest very frustrating at times. I feel that the over reserve competition needs to be looked at.
I want to take this opportunity to thank my dad, Maurice, Philip O’Reilly and Gregory Sweeney for coming in to manage the senior set-up when they did and putting in the amount of work they did to see out the season, it was very much appreciated.
Thank you to Barry O’Neill and Daithi Breen for their management of the senior hurlers. Another year with a small but dedicated panel and with a few more of the younger players available for 2025, it is the hope that we continue to develop and compete at senior level.
To Barry Gallagher and Daithi Breen for coming in to take on the U21 footballers and hurlers
Thank you to the village of people who assist with senior ladies. Ladies continue to grow throughout the age groups and again fielded 2 senior teams which is a credit to Paul Gillespie, Thomas O’Brien, Alan Sweeny, Bobby Murphy, Siobhan McGarrigle, Calum Gallagher and John Hughes.
To all those who cover lotto slots on a weekly basis, thank you. Unfortunately some sub-committees/codes do not comprehend the necessity to have all slots covered due it being a valuable source of income and I feel that how the club utilizes this needs to be look at going forward. Thank you to Catherine McKee, Gerard Ferguson, Betty McIntyre and John Magee, our lotto team who carry out the draw on a weekly basis.
And then I think it goes without saying that I owe a massive thank you to Louise Larkin and Patricia Bradshaw. They both have been a huge support to me all year and would have been lost without them.
Its hard to put the last 10 years into words! I thoroughly enjoyed 90% of it! I’m not going to lie and say 100% because there were days, there were weeks, there were situations and there were people who pushed me to the limit, made me question myself, question why I was doing what I was doing but thankfully, not only is that part of life, it was very much in the minority and it was completely overshadowed by the good days, good weeks, good situations and most importantly, the good people.
I am walking away from this knowing I gave everything 100%, knowing that everything I have ever done has been for not only the betterment of this club but for the betterment of each and every player that comes through the gates every week.
I also walk away from this having made friends for life. I got to know people I would not have got to know otherwise and for that I will always be grateful. There a million memories that I will cherish forever, the re-introduction of Senior Hurling with them then winning a Junior Championship, the growth and development of the ladies, the re-introduction of Camogie, the OsKaRs and probably my favourite, the 2020 Intermediate Championship win!
Thank you to all who made all of this possible and thank you to those who have supported me from day one.
Special thanks needs to go to David O’Donnell, Gerard Ferguson, Catherine McKee, William Doogan and Sabrina Brosnan.
And last but most importantly I need to thank my family, my dad and mum who have supported me throughout and to Evan and Anna who allowed me to be in the park seven days a week – I couldn’t have done any of this without you all.
Lisa McTernan
Cathaoirleach
Last modified: Tuesday, 26 November 2024 at 7:04pm