Stephen Mulligan
We wish you a Merry Christmas!

AGM 2024, Lookback 2024 and Look forward to 2025

The 2024 AGM was held in the Clubhouse Hall last week. The incoming executive for 2025 was voted on and motions were approved.

We also had a changing of the guard as Club Chair Kevin Hoy finished his two year tenure and Club President Stiofán Ó Moráin stepped down at the end of his term. Both gave a lovely “cúpla focail” to the assembled crowd. The club would like to thank Stiofán for his service to the club over many years. Thanks also to Kevin for his exceptional two year stewardship of the club. He will stay on as Vice Chair for this year.

Incoming Club President Pat O’Brien also gave us a few words, paying tribute to former club stalwart, the late PJ Lynch.

At the beginning of the evening we enjoyed a video lookback on 2024, another very successful year for the club. That video is below if you would like to watch it now. If you would like to share it, just copy this link: https://vimeo.com/1020353049

There was also another video shown from incoming Chair Brendan Doody, outlining some of where the club is at and some of his vision for the next few years. That is below also. Again, if you would like to share it, copy this link: https://vimeo.com/1023206863

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others (G4MO)

Our G4MO team wrapped up their season this past weekend and what a season it was!! From our first games at the North Leinster blitz, local derbies with Raheny and Scoil Uí Chonaill and stretching our legs out in Cellbridge, the mothers and others of Clontarf demonstrated their skills, good humour and teamwork. 

Whether it was a single session, a few weeks or the full year, everyone who came down played a part in building and growing our team so thank you for your contribution. Sunshine or rain, winter nights and summer days, the ladies turned up to challenge themselves, learn, support each other and have some fun. 

A few thank-yous:

  • To Anne O’Mahony whose joyous voicemail leaving the 2023 G4MO National blitz was the inspiration to start the Clontarf G4MO team again.

  • To the Lillis Family for all their support, advice and equipment ordering at the start of the season.

  • John Sweeney in DCC for the balls, cones and bibs!

  • Frankie Byrne for his guest coaching sessions and advice.

  • Mags Mohan and Harry for their patience and time reffing some games!

  • Jude Hanratty for organising the gear and pitches. 

  • All our ball boys and ball girls who helped us save some energy when the ball went too far past the posts.

And last but not least, to the truly amazing, appreciative and very sound group of women who turned up, we’re lucky to have you and we’ll see you again next year. Enjoy your poll-free time! ; )

Ciara Fenton, G4MO Coordinator

Nursery off and running, sponsored by Nolan's

Our Saturday morning Nursery is off and running again with our newest crop of recruits smiling in the sunshine at the clubhouse astro pitch this morning.

Richard Nolan, from our fantastic Nursery sponsor Nolans of Clontarf, came to visit the GAA Stars of the future with our new Chair Brendan Doody and see them in their new jersies.

A few photos below courtesy of the PRO Team.

 

Let's Talk Menopause Health with Catherine O'Keeffe

We had a very interesting and enlightening presentation "Let's Talk Menopause Health" with The Wellness Warrior, Catherine O’Keeffe (@wellnesswarrior.ie) for World Menopause Day. The event was very well attended and feedback afterwards was excellent.

Thanks to our Healthy Club Team for organising. Some photos from the evening below.

Let's talk menopause health!

Let’s talk Menopause Health!

To mark World Menopause Day, Clontarf GAA’s Healthy Club Team is delighted to welcome The Wellness Warrior, Catherine O’Keefe, for an information awareness evening on Menopause Health.  

Thursday 10th October 8 pm at Clontarf GAA Clubhouse

Teas & Coffees from 7.45 pm

Men & Women all welcome.

Places are limited and will likely fill up fast, so register now.

Details and registration here

https://clontarfgaa.com/lets-talk-menopause-health

Dermot Earley 2023/2024 Graduates!

"Your attitude is more important than your ability, your motives are more important than your methods, your courage is more important than your cleverness and always have your heart in the right place."

Dermot Earley.

Congratulations to our fantastic Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative participants who received their Module 3 final certificates on Saturday at a special ceremony in Croke Park including an inspiring speech on personal leadership from GAA President Jarlath Burns. Well done to all on a fabulous achievement and thank you so much to the team of volunteer facilitators who made the programme possible. There were a number of special guests from Armagh including Jarly Óg Burns and a certain Sam Maguire who was back in headquarters for the day!

Climate XChange Summer Update

Some further information below as a summer update to follow up to the Green Club’s Climate XChange event in February.

CLONTARF GIY - Grow it Yourself

Our first GIY event was a great learning experience and exchange of ideas evening with free Jerusalem artichoke roots. We discussed topics including how to start growing, the importance of ivy and dandelions for bees, growing beetroot, how to create a raised bed and using a 4-bed rotation system, using ice cube containers to store herbs, to mow or not to mow, our perception of what is a beautiful garden, seed sharing and how to eliminate slugs successfully. We had a mix of people who wanted to start growing and some experienced gardeners. 

In May, Anne Marie gave us a demonstration on pricking out plants and shared some self-pollinating cabbage. In June we learned why some onions bolt just after the summer solstice (the 21st June). Advice is to leave planting new onions until early July.  We learned that F1 seeds (eg. most supermarket tomatoes) will grow different from the original plant and therefore are not suitable for seed saving.

We continue to welcome drop-ins, watch videos, share stories on gardening/biodiversity issues, share plants, and give and receive tips and advice. Our meetings continue to inspire us to create community. See below some of our plants.

Our next meeting is on Monday 12th August at 8.15pm at the Clubhouse. Future dates are 9th September and 7th October 2024. All are welcome (you don't need to be a member of Clontarf GAA) you can drop into any of these evenings but do let us know if you are coming at GIYclontarf@gmail.com.

Thank you John and Anne Marie, in particular for sharing your knowledge with us! 

BULL ISLAND FLORA AND FAUNA WALK WITH PRIONSIAS MAC BHEATHA 

Another big thank you to Proinsias Mac Bheatha for hosting this walk on Saturday 25th May. A beautiful day albeit windy. We saw several orchids including the pyramid. Some flowers go to extraordinary lengths to attract pollinators. Bee orchids (are rare) mimic the shape and scent of bees to lure them into ‘pseudocopulation’, where the male insect attempts to mate with the flower. 

BIODIVERSITY WALK in ST. ANNE'S with MARY TUBRIDY, Environmental Consultant

A big thank you to Mary who kindly hosted a biodiversity walk in St. Anne’s on Sunday 19th May. We had a beautiful sunny day . We discussed many aspects of biodiversity including how to increase biodiversity in the Park and in our gardens, grasslands, wetlands, the importance of ponds and various aspects of Brent Geese.  


Any questions or suggestions, please contact the Green Club Committee at greenclub@clontarfgaa.com.

Clontarf on Tour - Volunteering in Kenya!

On the 2nd of June one of our Minor players, Shane Young and nine other students from St. Paul’s College, Raheny volunteered in a town in Kenya called Kamulu for 16 days. During the 16 days in Kamulu the boys taught the students in DePaul school Maths, English, Creative Arts, Computers and much more. The boys also played a lot of activities with the students and teachers such as Soccer, Basketball, Rounders, Racing, Tag and Duck Duck Goose.

The boys also went on home visits to see where some of the children live. The club were happy to donate some of our old jerseys to the local villagers.

The overall experience was amazing and opened everyone’s eyes and helped them appreciate everything in life.

Some lovely photos from the experience below. Well done Shane and all the volunteers who made the trip.