Pictured Above: Clanns Club Person of the Year, Ken O’Byrne.
What better way to mark the end of the year, and indeed look forward to the new year, than to celebrate the activities and achievements of various of our players and mentors.
So the Clanna Gael Fontenoy (Clanns) annual dinner just before Christmas wasn’t just a most enjoyable social occasion – and great credit is due to Lisa Murray, Elaine McDonnell and their support team for organising such a great evening. It also provided the opportunity for the large numbers attending to applaud the recipients of awards for their contributions to the Club during 2015. Congratulations to the list of winners made up of the following:
* Ken O’Byrne – Club Person of the Year
* Emer Kelly – Junior Ladies Footballer of the Year
* Rachel Byrne – Senior Ladies Footballer of the Year
* Barry Noonan – Footballer of the Year
* Sinead O’Sullivan – Camogie Player of the Year
* Garry O’Connor – Hurler of the Year
* Junior Ladies Footballers – Team of the Year
The Club heads into 2016 with Conor Dodd as its new Chairman. He takes over from John Dodd who did sterling work and provided strong leadership over the last number of years. Conor is one of a number of new people elected at the AGM to join the list of club officers as follows:
President: Frank White
Vice Presidents: Jack Nicholson; Robin Booth; Brendan O’Brien
Chairman: Conor Dodd
Vice Chairman: Jay Byrne
Secretary: Brian Delany
Ass. Secretary: Suzanne Murray
Treasurer: Una McCullagh
Ass. Treasurer: Ann McLoughlin
Registrar: Donal Murray
Club Development: Roger McGrath
PRO: Felix O’Regan
Children’s Officer: Christine Byrne
Social Officer: Lisa Murray
Adult Games Rep: Ciarán Murch ̇
Juvenile Game Rep: Michele O’Briain
Players’ Rep: Elaine McDonnell
Hurling Comm. Rep: Tom Ryan
On the field of play, teams of all ages are still very much focused on training and friendly matches as they gear up for the commencement of competitive fixtures. One such friendly saw the recent visit to the Club of a ladies’ and men’s Shinty teams from Edinburgh to take on the best that the Club had to offer.
Pictured: Club Award Winners,Catherine Smith (Captain, Junior Ladies Footballers, Team of the Year); Emer Kelly (Junior Ladies Footballer of the Year); Barry Noonan (Footballer of the Year); Sinead O’Sullivan (Camogie Player of the Year); Rachel Byrne (Senior Ladies Footballer of the Year); Stephen Coleman standing in for Garry O’Connor (Hurler of the Year).
With no handling of the sliotar allowed in either of the games, this levelled matters for both sides. Still, that didn’t stand in the way of the Clanns ladies
showing their superior stick work.
Pictured: Eleven Club coaches recently completed the Level 1 coaching course – the largest number of Level 1 coaches produced in the Club in one year. Back, left to right: Brian Delany, Declan Darcy, Mary O’Connell, Jimmy Dolly, Claire Byrne, Donal Murray, Front, left to right: Donough McDonough, Rachel Byrne, Daire Power, Sarah-Jane Cody (and Cathal Carty missing from photo)
Pictured: Members and management of the Junior Ladies Football Team celebrate their sweep of trophies during the year – Championship, League and Cup.
Photos courtesy Clanna Gael.
The height and distance that the men’s Shinty team achieved from playing off the ground was a sight to behold. While there was no pulling back by either side, the game was played in the best of spirits, as befits a friendly and both sides acquitted themselves well – much to the enjoyment of the large crowd in attendance.
And the ring of Scottish accents was heard around the Club long into the night!
