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Kilcoo GAC senior mens team were hosted recently by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in acknowledgement of their remarkable achievement in winning their first All-Ireland Club Championships,
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council former Chairperson, Councillor Michael Rice attended the event and speaking about the occasion, Councillor Michael Rice said, “The Council has part-funded this event to recognize the amazing success of Kilcoo GAC senior team and its management, on winning its first All-Ireland Club Championship in Croagh Park on Saturday 12 February 2022. Winning an All-Ireland title is what dreams are made of and it is important that we as a Council acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments that occur within our district. This is the ultimate pinnacle in Gaelic Football and is the result of years of hard work, planning, development and also many individual personal sacrifices.”
Cllr Rice continued, “Winning this title is a tribute to those who established Eoghan Rua Cill Chua over 100 years ago. In the intervening years many young people have joined this Gaelic family to be nurtured in our national sport, becoming role models of the future.”
“I wish to extend my congratulations to the Kilcoo management team for the time and effort they have invested helping the team to reach their peak. I would particularly like to acknowledge Manager, Mickey Moran’s commitment, discipline and hard work, which was demonstrated through the players’ achievement of the award of All Ireland Champions 2022.”
During the event former Cllr Rice presented the team members with a commemorative leather wallet and praised each player for their continued contribution to the Club through the coaching and support of juvenile members.
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The social finance model offers tailored support to volunteer-led, community-focused organisations like GAA clubs to achieve their long-term goals. That’s according to Community Finance Ireland (CFI) who urged GAA clubs in the Newry area and across the island of Ireland consider social finance when thinking about how to sustain and grow their club into the future.
Between 2016 and 2021, Community Finance Ireland has supported 12 GAA clubs throughout Co Down, through a total of£1,755,436 in social finance loans. Clubs such as Annaclone GAC, Ballygalget GAC and Kilcoo GAC have drawn down social finance loans from Community Finance Ireland to invest in new equipment or kit, improved facilities or new developments.
Co Down native, Phelim Sharvin, Head of Community Finance Ireland NI, said: “We work with clubs right across the island of Ireland and from Ballymoney to Bantry and from Dublin to Dingle, they’re facing many of the same challenges as clubs here across Down. GAA clubs are often the heart of a local community and it’s vital that they invest in their future to sustain that important role as community hub for generations to come.
“GAA clubs are more than the teams who line out every week – they’re the coaching staff, the groundskeepers and kit team, the hospitality staff, the bus drivers, the board members and those tireless volunteers who rise to every task at hand. The heritage of a club relies on these people, and it’s important that clubs invest in the future of those volunteers just as they would look to the future of their senior panel.
“Passing on the baton to the younger generation coming up – both on and off the pitch – is vital for the sustainability of clubs in Down and through the hands-on support from our team at Community Finance Ireland, clubs can rely on fair and flexible social finance solutions that can help them become self-sustainable as a club and community hub.”
Between 2016 and 2021, CFI supported 73 GAA clubs across the island of Ireland to the tune of £3.2million in Northern Ireland and €5.1million in the Republic of Ireland.
Supporting GAA Clubs On and Off the Pitch
Mr. Sharvin was speaking at the launch of a new Community Finance Ireland five-part webinar series ‘Supporting GAA Clubs On and Off the Pitch’ focusing on how clubs can invest in their infrastructure and their people to ensure the sustainability of their club, and as a result, their county.
The webinar series was launched at the home of All-Ireland Club Champions and GAA Club Player of the Year, Kilcoo GAC, who were recipients of social finance support from Community Finance Ireland in 2018 to help the build and provision of a fully equipped kitchen and changing facilities as well as IT facilities.
Roger Morgan, Kilcoo GAC Chairman said “Our commitment to the investment of our Club and its facilities is at the heart of our promise to make a community hub for everyone. Community Finance Ireland understood this commitment and were a key partner in helping us create facilities that are for today and tomorrows volunteers, players and fans of the game”.
For more information visit www.communityfinanceireland.com
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Armagh are back to GAA headquarters for the Quarter Final of the mens All Ireland Senior Football series after defeating Donegal by an amazing ten points in Clones yesterday.
Following this morning's draw they will take on Galway after their three point win over Roscommon in the Connacht Final. The game will take place in Croke Park on the weekend of 25/26 June.
To advance further they will need to maintain their incredible pace and performance from the last two games where they comfortably beat Tyrone in the Athletic Grounds and demolished Donegal with a 10 point win.
Yesterday's win got off to a dream start with a goal for Armagh from Rory Grugan in the first 10 seconds of the game following a great kick from Rian O'Neill who got the ball from throw-in. Donegal though remained composed and managed to add a series of points putting them four points in the lead at one stage.
Despite this it was still Armagh's contest with a penalty conversion by O'Neill contributing to a four point lead for Armagh at half time going in 2:8 to 0:10.
The second half saw Armagh keep control of the game with a goal from Stephen Sheridan in the 58th minute putting the result beyond doubt. It surely was payback time after Donegal put them out of the Ulster Championship back in April with a 7 point defeat at Ballybofey.
Player of the Match was Rian O'Neill.
Final score, Armagh 3:17 Donegal 0:16
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Momentum is the buzz word around the Armagh camp now and Jarly og Burns says the Orchardmen hope to bottle what back-to-back wins has given them and carry it to Croke Park for their quarter-final against Galway.
Armagh clinched an All-Ireland quarter-final berth for the first time since 2017 with a 10-point victory over Donegal on Sunday and will have the wind firmly in their sails for the June 26 showdown (1.45pm) with the Connacht champions.
Burns finished Sunday’s game at Clones with three points from play and was outstanding in the second half as Armagh took control of a game that had see-sawed between the teams in the first half. The spirit and game-management Kieran McGeeney’s side displayed augurs well for their prospects in the last-eight clash at Headquarters.
“Our goal was to get back to Croke Park and try and express ourselves again,” said Burns.
“We want to bottle the momentum we’ve got again, we bottled it after the last day (against Tyrone) and we took it into today so hopefully we can do the same the next day.”
After years of failing to produce their best form on big Championship days, Armagh finally turned the corner in the first round of Qualifiers against out-of-sorts Tyrone. The challenge for them last weekend was to back it up with another whistle-to-whistle performance.
Rory Grugan’s early goal got them off to the proverbial flier but Armagh really showed what they were made of when they rallied after Donegal had scored the next six points on-the-trot. After Armagh had regained the lead before half-time, Donegal never gave the impression that they would be able to get back into the game.
“This team, we’ve struggled to give that back-to-back performance and that’s what had been asked for and we did it,” said Burns.
“We knuckled down, we didn’t panic - we could have panicked – and thankfully we got, not just a win, but a performance. That was the most important thing for us today. It wasn’t even getting the win, it was getting the performance and we’re happy with that.”
The scenes on the St Tiernach’s Park pitch after Sunday’s win brought memories flooding back of the day Burns’s dad Jarlath raised the Anglo-Celt Cup as Armagh captain in triumph in front of a delirious sea and orange and white at Clones back in 1999.
Jarly Og was too young to remember that game 23 years ago but he knows his history and hopes to write a new chapter with the class of 2022.
“This has been a long time coming,” he said.
“I can’t remember 1999 but I’ve watched the videos and it brings those memories back and memories of the noughties when Armagh were so successful and I was a child cheering them on.
“Now we’re just delighted we could get this day and Armagh are back again.
“Armagh fans have wanted a team to scream for and thankfully now we’re giving them that.
“They deserve it, they’re such loyal supporters. No matter how bad we’re going or how good we’re going they’re always at your back. It felt like there was two Armagh fans for every Donegal fan here today and the crowd was unbelievable. I know Kieran Donaghy had asked for the Armagh supporters to come out in force and by God they did.”
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Camlough's Blaithin Mackin has become the first Armagh County Ladies footballer to be signed up by Australian Club, Melbourne for the upcoming AFL Women's season!
As well as Armagh the All Star plays for Shane O'Neill's and she will join Sinead Goldrick from Dublin in playing for Melbourne following the conclusion of the Championship season.
AFLW list manager Todd Patterson spoke to Melbourne Media of his excitment in bringing her to Melbourne. “Blaithin is a very exciting prospect for us to bring over and develop, post the conclusion of her Armagh season,”
“We are really open minded as to where she will settle on the field however, she does look to have some natural instincts suited to the forward half.
“Blaithin comes from a great GAA family with numerous siblings that have helped develop her into a very impressive young woman.”
The former St Paul's pupil now has the warmer climes of Australia to look forward to.
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Armagh senior men's footballers may be out of the Championship after yesterday's defeat to Galway but very few will begrudge them credit for their incredible journey to that point.
A beating from Donegal back in round one of the Ulster Championship certainly made the team determined to prove a point and prove that point they did. The first game in the qualifier rounds saw a six point win put paid to the current All Ireland Champions Tyrone. Then it was a roasting for Donegal with 3 goals and a point separating the sides at Clones earlier this month.
These were massive games, although absolutely nothing could prepare the thousands upon thousands of loyal Armagh fans who journeyed from as far away as Boston, for yesterday's heart stopping thriller at Croke Park. Ultimately to lose that game by just two kicks of the ball was certainly nothing to be ashamed of. In front of an incredible 71,353 crowd, all that watched this gobsmacker of a game got full value for their money.
After the first 35 minutes of sea-saw scoring it was 7 points all going in at half time. A goal and a quick point from Galway just into the second half saw them ahead by four and Armagh just couldn't get back in the running. The full 70 minutes elapsed and with Galway 6 points ahead it looked like Armagh were heading for the M1, but then something happened. A full 8 minutes of extra time was declared and Armagh fired into life. A goal from Armagh's Aidan Nugent followed by another from Conor Turbitt and a pressure free converted by Rian O'Neill put the sides level Armagh 2:14 to Galway 1:17 when the full time whistle went.
Extra time it was and the first half of 10 minutes saw two Armagh points but three from Galway leaving them a one point lead. The second half saw a quick goal from Armagh's Rory Grugan putting them 2 points ahead but it was cancelled two minutes later by a Galway goal. Two Armagh points saw them going in with a one point lead in the last minute of extra time but then it was Galway's turn to equalise at 2:21 to Armagh's 3:18, and for the first time in mens Senior Football Championship history the game was to be decided on penalties!
With Galway converting the first four of their five shots, two Armagh wides from Stefan Campbell and Conor Turbit and Galway were through to a Semi Final clash against Derry.
Armagh Ladies march on
The spotlight remains on Armagh ladies footballers who defeated Monaghan 2:12 to 0:4 at the weekend to claim a quarter final place in the All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship against Kerry.
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For the second consecutive year, Modern Tyres will be the headline sponsor of the Ulster Rally when it runs over the weekend of Friday 19 and Saturday August 20, it has been announced.
Started in 1965 by the late Jimmy Byrne, Modern Tyres has grown to become Ireland’s largest retail tyre company. It has 45 branches in Ireland, including its state-of-the-art facility in Newry’s Carnbane Industrial Estate – the backdrop for the rally’s service park and finish celebrations.
Commenting on the renewed sponsorship deal Stephen Shaw – Modern Tyres’ Group Sales and Marketing Manager – said: “Following the success of the rally last November, we are delighted to be back on board as title sponsor for the 2022 Ulster Rally. We are looking forward to working with the organisers from Northern Ireland Motor Club to put on another great event.”
Having been staged later than normal last year due to the COVID pandemic, the Ulster Rally will return to its traditional summer slot and host the final round of the Irish Tarmac Championship. After round five of the cross-border series, Josh Moffett currently tops the standings courtesy of victories on the Galway International, West Cork and recent Donegal International rallies.
The Ulster Rally will also revert back to a popular two-day format, with the Friday leg totalling 27 competitive miles and the deciding Saturday leg challenging crews to the tune of 67 miles.
Ulster Rally Clerk of the Course Philip Murray said: “Plans are progressing well for the rally and to secure a title sponsor in Modern Tyres is a big piece of the jigsaw. I’m incredibly grateful for the business’s continued support, and given its long association with the sport of rallying – and its support of drivers such as Alastair Fisher – it just seems like a natural fit for both parties.
“Like many large-scale sporting events that are held in Northern Ireland, the Ulster Rally relies on sponsorship to make it viable and safeguard its future going forward,” continued Murray.
Supplementary regulations along with a rally guide for fans making the trip to Newry will soon be available on the Ulster Rally website, with entries opening on Rallyscore in the next few days www.rallyscore.net
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The first ever football dedicated film festival on the island of Ireland is coming to Newry later this month.
The inaugural Kick Off Football Film Festival will take place at Newry Showgrounds, the home of Danske Bank Premiership club Newry City AFC.
Over the course of the weekend of July 22-24, the festival will play host to wide range of films, exhibitions and special guests with all screenings overlooking the Showgrounds pitch – a truly unique setting.
The Kick Off Film Festival is the idea of three friends – Ally McKenzie, Gareth McCullough and James Irwin – who all have a love of football and film.
The opening night will see the screening of Evan Marshall’s Spirit Of ’58, which tells the story of the famous Northern Ireland side who competed in the 1958 World Cup.
Not only will Evan Marshall himself be in attendance on the night, but Northern Ireland and Aston Villa goalscoring legend Peter McParland – who hit the net five times in that tournament – will be returning to his hometown for the film as well.
There will also be a Northern Ireland memorabilia exhibition prior to the screening on Friday July 22.
Newry filmmaker John Reavey will host a screening of his short film “Why are there no gay footballers?’ on Saturday July 23before hosting a Q&A afterwards.
That will be followed later in the day by a Mental Health short video screening with cross-community football group The Respect Project before The Play Off: Newry City AFC 2018 film.
Saturday then finishes with Jonathan Owen’s ‘I Believe In Miracles’ – the story of the rise of Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, which culminated in their European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980.
On Sunday July 24 the penultimate festival screening is the hilarious ‘Football Monologue’ followed by The Three Kings – showcasing the story of three giants of both Scottish and world football: Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Jock Stein.
Festival Director Ally McKenzie commented “To bring the first ever football dedicated film festival to Ireland is something we're really proud of. As huge fans of both football and film, it's amazing to be able to celebrate the beautiful game on the big screen.
“After the last few years, it's important to get people back viewing films again with audiences. We're offering people the chance to view some fantastic films from the world of football but also have the added layer of watching them within a football ground. It's such a unique environment and will only add to the authenticity of the festival.
“As well as a fine programme of films, we are bringing together football memorabilia and art exhibitions, and will be having important discussions about representation in football during Q&As with filmmakers.
“It means a lot to us to bring this unique festival to Newry. I think many people would expect something like this to take place in Belfast or Dublin - even London - but we know what there are so many talented people in Newry and this is an opportunity to bring something different to the city, let everyone see something different and to be a part of history.
“To do it with friends makes it even better.”
To see the full list of screenings and events, and to book your seat, go to www.kickofffilmfestival.com
Tickets can also be booked via Eventbrite at: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Events
Friday 22 July
7pm: Northern Ireland Memorabilia Exhibition and Spirit of ’58 film screening with Northern Ireland’s top scorer at the 1958 World Cup Peter McParland in attendance NOTE: Screening begins at 8pm sharp
Saturday 23 July
12pm: Screening: Why are there no openly gay footballers? – followed by Q&A with filmmaker John Reavey
5pm: Respect Project Mental Health short video screening followed by The Play Off Newry City AFC screening
8pm: Screening: I Believe In Miracles (European Cup in attendance)
Sunday 24 July
1pm: Football Monologues
8pm: The Three Kings (European Cup in attendance)
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There's still time to join in on tonight's, Friday 8 July, spin in support of Martin Lynch. Cyclists are leaving at 7.30pm from Newry Shamrocks and cycling to Carlingford and back.
Newry Wheelers and friends are coming together for a fun leisure cycle for their good friend Marty who has been recently diagnosed with MND.
All proceeds raised for this event, will go towards Marty's medical expenses and to help make life a small bit easier. Organisers are asking as many people to come along and cycle one of Marty's favouite routes from Newry to Carlingford to Newry.
You can make a £20 donation at eventmaster.ie or just make a donation on the night.
Orgainsers are super proud of the response from the club and local cycling community to the event. It's a great opportunity for all past and present members to come out see friends, talk about the old and good times on the road.
Newry Wheeler’s has a long history and everyone is invited so please text or call your friends for a great spin to help a great man.
Wear your old Wheelers jersey and feel bloody awesome again
Refreshments will be served afterwards at Newry Shamrocks clubrooms.
There may be minor traffic delays on the route this evening from 7.30pm. Please choose alternative route or be patient and kind.
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