Accolades on County Final Day

Accolades on County Final Day

Leitrim Co. Board GAA is conscious of the need to honour particular contributions to the work of the Association. So, on County Final Day next Sunday in Pairc MacDiarmada, spectators will be asked to give due honour to stars of the past, the 1961 County Senior Champions ,Melvin Gaels, and also to our young GAA stars of the present, the Carrick on Shannon Area Community Games team, recently crowned All Ireland Champions.

Leitrim GAA will also accord special recognition to the memory of the late George O’Toole with the unveiling of a memorial to this renowned Gael by Uachtarán CLG Liatroma, James McGovern. The George O’Toole Memorial is located at the entrance to Ardán Mhic Shamhráin and the unveiling ceremony will take place at 3pm.

 

 

22-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim Senior Football ManOgement Team

The Leitrim Football Management Team for 2012 is now complete following the ratification of George Dugdale as selector at last nights County Board meeting.  George joins Manager Mickey Moran and selector Barney Breen for the 2012 campaign.  We wish George all the best in his new role.

 

 

14-Sep-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

A Sporting Chance- Tackling life s challenges with the GAA

 GAA stars and sports experts offer insights

into modern health and life challenges

All-Ireland winning Armagh footballer Oisin McConville will be amongst the guest speakers at a unique event in The Sligo Park Hotel on Monday, September 5, at 7pm. President of the GAA, Mr Christy Cooney, will give the closing address on the night.

Entitled ‘A Sporting Chance: Tackling life’s challenges with the GAA’, the free event aims to offer inspiration and information to the GAA’s young players, and their coaches, mentors, and administrators, on some of the challenges they may face during their sporting careers on and off the field.

The event has been organised by Sligo GAA’s Games Promotion Officer, Charlie Harrison, who is also the Sligo senior football captain, and Colin Regan, National Coordinator of the Association’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) programme, who represented Leitrim on the playing fields for over 13 years. Other noted contributors on the evening include sports psychologist Caroline Currid, a native of Sligo, who has worked with some of the top teams and individuals in the country across an array of sports, Sligo GAA legend Eamonn O’Hara, and leading Irish sports nutritionist Richelle FlanÓghan.

The event concludes the GAA’s National Urban Project in Sligo town, which aims to raise the profile of and participation levels in gaelic Games in urban bases across the island. Harrison is the coordinator of the project in Sligo.

‘The GAA is working hard to offer all members of our communities the opportunity to participate in gaelic games, and as a result experience the benefits that involvement in sport brings,’ explains Charlie. ‘However, our young people in particular face challenges and tests in all walks of their lives that can impact negatively on their sporting involvement and their health in general. That’s why we wanted to put on an event that addressed some of these issues and provide information and inspiration through the likes of Oisin, Eamonn and the rest of the speakers that helps people realise that making the right choices in your life can make all the difference.

Oisin McConville has won an All-Ireland senior football championship medal, seven Ulster championships and a National League title with Armagh. He has also been awarded two All Stars. However, as he revealed in his recent autobiography, his addiction to gambling proved the biggest challenge he has faced in life. Now working as a counselor in the area, Oisin will offer a unique personal insight into the road too and from addiction and the challenges associated with both.

Other topics covered during the informal open panel discussion ‘ which will be chaired by TG4’s sports presenter Micheál Ó Domhnaill ‘ include the pressures facing young people both in terms of their personal development and their sporting lives, healthy eating and the impact of alcohol on sports performance, and the GAA’s onÓgoing work in reducing the potential harm of alcohol and drugs misuse amongst its members.

‘This event highlights the GAA’s commitment to assist our members in enjoying a full and healthy life both on and off the field,’ explained Mr. Cooney.

The evening, which runs from 7pm-9pm, will feature a mix of fascinating personal experiences combined with expert advice from some of the top professionals in their fields. It will conclude with a Q&A session from the audience and promises to be of value to anyone interested in sport, juvenile development and life’s challenges in general.

For further information contact Colin Regan, National Coordinator of the GAA’s ASAP Programme, on 087-2945705, or Charlie Harrison, Sligo GPO, on 086-7930652.


 

 

31-Aug-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Leitrim Senior Football Manager

Mickey Moran was reappointed as Leitrim Senior Football Manager at last nights Special County Committee meeting.
Barney Breen continues in his role as selector while Martin McGowan has decided to step down after 14 years involvement with Leitrim Football teams.
Cathaoirleach Joe Flynn gave glowing praise to Martin for his total dedication and significant contribution to Leitrim GAA and wished him well in the future.

 

 

17-Aug-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Carrick Area Community Games win All Ireland Title

Congrats to the Carrick Area Community Games U10 Mixed Gaelic Football team who won the All Ireland title in
Athlone this morning. They beat Clane from Co Kildare in the final on a scoreline of 4-6 to 3-4. The victorious
team will be welcomed home in Carrick at 4.30 today (Sunday). All supporters and well wishers are welcome
to the homecoming for this fine bunch of players and their mentors.

Coiste Chontae Liatroma take this opportunity to say a BIG WELL DONE to all the boys and girls.

 

 

14-Aug-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

New RTE Sports Quiz Looking for audience

A brand new sports quiz show, Put ‘Em Under Pressure, will air on Sunday evenings in September on RTE 1.
 
The show itself sees two teams of famous sports stars and pundits go head-to-head in this entertaining sports quiz. Consisting 8 episodes, the quiz show will be filmed in studio in RTE in Donnybrook from the 8th to the 11th of August in front of an audience, with an afternoon episode and evening episode each day.
 
For this, they are looking to get sports teams, clubs and supporters groups on board from right around the country to join the audience in each episode.
 
The clubs can give their own representation through this, by wearing their club or team colours, crests, sporting attire etc.
 
The show is going to be entertaining and fun and will be a great day out for clubs interested. They also want a good mix of sports involved, so whether your team or group consists 5 or 50 – from football to fencing and darts to draughts – they want to hear from them all!
 
As the show is being filmed in early August and places are limited, they would like to hear from teams as soon as possible who may be interested and would like more information.
 
They can contact our audience researcher at any time on sharon.newman@shinawil.com or 01 2084646.

 

 

18-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

McVities Cookies That Care

McVities Cookies That Care

Nearly two months into the campaign, McVitie’s Cookies That Care is proving to be a summer success but we still need your help to reach our goal of 100 sign ups before the end of the summer! We are only 30 sign ups away so if you haven’t signed up, do it now and grab some friends, get baking, get dunking and get fundraising for MS Ireland! Your cookie event can be anything at all from a traditional cookie-coffee morning to a not so traditional sky-dive with cookies when you land (it’s happening!). So far participants have organised countless cookie-coffee mornings in workplaces, sports clubs and homes, an inter-office bake-off and a cookie-eating contest in a university so if you’re looking for ideas, look no further than our website. Here’s a small pick of our faves so far: Cupan Tae Tea Rooms in Kenmare, Co Kerry very kindly donated €100 to the fund. We’ll be stopping by next time we’re in the area!Nuala Boushel held a cookie-coffee morning at work and thanks to the support of her generous colleagues, raised over €700!Dundalk IT Students held a cookie-eating contest on their campus. They were joined by a few special guests including the Louth and Meath Roses. So whether you want to make a Monday in the office a bit more bearable by having a sponsored five-a-side at lunch or you just want to relax with some friends at a cookie-coffee morning, rest assured you are supporting a good cause and the money you raise will be helping to fund essential local support services for people with MS all across Ireland. We would love you to get involved in whatever way you can, so please log onto www.ms-society.ie or email cookies@ms-society.ie and sign up today. Alternatively, please contact me with any questions you might have.

Miriam Taber, Multiple Sclerosis Ireland

80 Northumberland Road
Dublin 4

Ireland 

Tel:      01 678 1600Fax:      01 678 1601
Email:  miriamt@ms-society.ie

PS: There’s a lot of McVitie’s Cookies That Care events happening all over Ireland so keep an eye out in your town and get involved!

 

 

17-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Upcoming GAA on TG4

UPCOMING GAA ON TG4 Live coverage of Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Championship begins on TG4

GAA BEO  –  Wednesday 13th July TG4’s live coverage of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Championship begins on GAA BEO tomorrow evening with action from theLeinster Under-21 Hurling Championship Final between Wexford and Dublin.  GAA fans will also have the opportunity to see the Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship Semi-final on Friday evening when All-Ireland champions Tipperary face Cork in Semple Stadium. GAA Beo will be presented by Micheál Ó Domhnaill with commentary and analysis by Pat Fleury, John Allen, Cathal Moore and Mac Dara Mac Donncha. TG4 will also be broadcasting highlights of the U-21 Hurling Championship on GAA 2011 every Monday evening at 8:30pm. WEDNESDAY 13th JULY7:15pm   GAA Beo coverage begins on TG4Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship FinalWexford  v  Dublin         Live from Wexford Park  (throw-in at 7.30pm)
Presented by Micheál Ó Domhnaill with commentary and analysis by Pat Fleury, Cathal Moore and Mac Dara Mac Donncha.  FRIDAY 15th JULY7:15pm   GAA Beo coverage begins on TG4Bord Gais Energy Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship Semi-finalTipperary v CorkLive from Semple Stadium, Thurles   (throw-in at 7.30pm)Presented by Micheál Ó Domhnaill with commentary and analysis by John Allen, Pat Fleury and Mac Dara Mac Donncha.  WEDNESDAY 3rd AUGUSTBord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 Munster Championship FinalLive on GAA Beo, TG4  SATURDAY 20th AUGUSTBord Gáis Energy GAA All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Semi FinalsLive on GAA Beo, TG4(with player cam action and full player cam streaming on TG4.tv)  SATURDAY 10th SEPTEMBERBord Gáis Energy GAA All-Ireland U-21 Hurling FinalsLive on GAA Beo, TG4(with player cam action and full player cam streaming on TG4.tv)  More information:www.gaa.iewww.breakingthrough.iewww.tg4.tv

 

 

16-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Closing Date for Sanctions

Here is just a quick reminder of what the closing dates are for sanctions this year.

  • Canada – July 1st – Closed
  • New York – July 20th
  • USA excl New York  – July 20th

 

 

05-Jul-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

A wonderful piece of journalism by our own Colin Regan

I was listening to Mr Liam ONeill, the next President of the GAA, being interviewed on this station a couple of weeks ago and one thing he said caught my ear more than any other.
He was asked about his intentions regarding the weaker counties in hurling, and he replied he didnt believe that there are weaker counties in the GAA, but rather that there are â€Ëœadvantaged counties due to their access to populations and resources.
It may only be a matter of semantics but for someone who played football with a so called weaker county for the guts of 15 years it was refreshing to hear some new thinking on the subject at the upper echelons of the association.
In best case scenarios media discourse on the matter usually focuses on a lot of predictable rhetoric. The inevitable struggle of the underdog is highlighted. Against-all-odds possibilities expounded. In worst case scenarios, commentary by pundits or so called experts descends into condescending sneering or dismissive arrogance backed up by ignorance.
Leitrims population – or lack thereof – has never been used as a motivation by management teams or a crutch to lean on. Des Dolan, throughout his four years of management, constantly reminded us in his own inimitable way that we were (and I quote): â€ËœAs well fed as any other man in the country, and, as far as he was concerned, better trained to boot.
His bug bear, and mine, was always facilities and access to them. The GAA has a responsibility to level the playing field for teams that dont have access to facilities enjoyed by the â€Ëœadvantaged counties.
The Dublin footballers are based in UCDs Centre of Excellence I understand. That must be tough.
In my time playing with Leitrim, because we have so many lads based in Dublin and didnt have a floodlit all weather pitch in the county, I trained in Kells, Navan, Cavan, Mullingar, Bunbrosna, and more times than I care to remember in Longford rugby club. From Letterkenny, where I was based for four years, that was nearly a six hour round trip. Thankfully our Leitrims Centre of Excellence is due for completion in 2012.
Address the facilities issue. Otherwise its like giving Usain Bolt a 20m head-start in the 100 metres. Well address the population situation ourselves.
You can break down the lot of any inter-county team that boasts a small population into numbers. But sport isnt about statistics, its about people and dreams and character. And as far as I am concerned those playing for smaller counties often exhibit more character than those for whom provincial titles and All-Irelands are an annual possibility, if not a likelihood.
If you knew before you were asked to start a job that over the last 125 years only two people have succeeded at the task at hand, would you fancy your chances? That is the history that each Leitrim county panel takes on every year in pursuit of a Connacht title. And its not just Leitrim. Take our neighbours Fermanagh whom we played in Pairc Sean McDiarmada recently, the only county in Ulster not to have won a provincial title.
If you only play sport to win you are missing the point just as much as if you dont play to win. You play for the pursuit of excellence. To be the best player you possibly can. Only that can bring you victory, and often, it still may not be enough.
For a Leitrim footballer the chances of glory are few and glimpsing, the potential for pain and heartbreak ever-present. But even on the darkest days of defeat I always saw myself returning for more as long as my body was able. As Samuel Beckett said: Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
I am the most competitive person I know, and always played to win. And I have victories that are fondly remembered, but as much for what it meant to our supporters as what it meant to me. In my capacity as a journalist I interviewed our former county secretary Tommy Moran when he retired in 2000. Tommy is a legend in Leitrim, and upon his departure from the county board after 25 years involvement I asked him what was so special about his association with our county. His reply has always stayed with me.
“In Kerry their supporters are happy when they win an All Ireland. In Leitrim theyre happy when we win.”
As I already said if you play solely to win youve missed the point. Be the best you can be, and if that brings victory along the line, savour and celebrate it. If not, celebrate the worth to be attained from giving your all ever time you take to the field.
Perspective is often best achieved by looking outside the caldron of sport, and the French writer Gustave Flaubert summed it up perfectly when he said: Success is a result, not a goal.
Its a motto that would serve the association well in this age of win at all costs.

 

 

 

14-Jun-11 by Colin Regan

Work placements available for Members of the GAA

Work placements available for Members of the GAA

Begin Again career initiative helps 240 return to workforce

Members of the GAA who are eager to rejoin the workforce have the opportunity to take up some 300 work placements provided by Begin Again(www.beginÓgain.ie), a career advancement programme developed by the Irish Centre for Business Excellence (ICBE).

The programme which was launched in 2010 has already placed over 400 unemployed people in work placements throughout Ireland. Over 240 of these have now returned to employment, providing the exchequer with an additional estimated €4.8m on an annualised basis.

The ICBE Begin Again programme provides participants with the opportunity to partake in a highly targeted twelve week work placement within a suitable company. The Programme is a mix of certified training, internship and mentoring, with four central themes; employment and employability, resilience and well being, innovation and enterprise and lifelong learning and training.

Over 300 Companies have taken part in the programme to date with established companies such as Supermacs, Boston Scientific and Bewleys all providing work placements and full time employment opportunities.

Funded by the Labour Market Activation Fund, the Begin Again programme has enabled people who were experiencing both short term and long term unemployment gain that crucial foothold back into the workforce. To date 41% of participants have obtained employment, 19% have gained self employment or contracts with a further 5% re-entering the education system. A further 21% are currently in workplaces with real job prospects.

Reflecting on the programme, Trevor Quinn a recent participant said, "Begin Again offered me an ideal platform to secure work in a difficult economic climate. Following three months with The Mayo News on the Begin Again programme the newspaper has now offered me a new contract. The group dynamic on our training days was supportive, positive and practical throughout. I couldnt recommend the programme highly enough, a fantastic initiative which enables unemployed professionals to source employment and thrive again in a working environment."

Mike Gaffney, spokesperson for Begin Again is urging more people to take a proactive first step and contact Begin Again by logging onto www.beginÓgain.ie. "We currently have work placements available right across the country including Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. These positions include roles in Sales, Marketing, Office Administration, IT, Accounting and Research."

The Begin Again programme is primarily aimed at experienced and professional individuals who, once given the opportunity are bringing real value to a company or business. All participants taking part in the Begin Again programme must have availed of unemployment assistance from the Social Welfare for the period of three months. Begin Again participants retain all of their social welfare benefits during the work placement programme.

Explaining the impact of Begin Again, Pat OConnor, CEO of the ICBE said, "We have seen participants come from a broad range of backgrounds and educational levels including engineers, accountants, quantity surveyors, sales and administration professionals and operational level people. Having had a successful outcome for over three quarters of our 400 participants, 49% of whom were long term unemployed, we believe we are providing a valuable service for the Irish public and the Irish State. We estimate that Begin Again is costing less than 50% of any previous government sponsored labour market activation programme."

The strength of the programme is its ability to successfully match individuals skills and expertise with industry gaps and opportunities. Participants meet with a number of possible companies to discuss the mutual benefits of a work placement. As a result of the work placements; applicants gain additional experience as well as mentoring support and training whilst the companies gain an additional member of staff for a focused project to be delivered at no extra cost. The overall benefit for both is the prospect of full time employment and in securing an up-skilled focused employee.

For further information on the Begin Again programme go to www.beginÓgain.ie or call 061 371753

Issued on behalf of Begin Again by Murray Consultants.

For Further Information please contact
John McGuinness
Murray Consultants
01 498 0361
087 6417451
jmcguinness@murrayconsult.ie

 

 

06-Jun-11 by Colette Fox – PRO

Coca-Cola 125 Years Thank You Fund

Coca-Cola has established the Coca-Cola 125 Years Thank You Fund, in partnership with The Wheel and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action NICVA). Coca-Cola are donating €125,000 to the fund which will be granted to non-profit community, voluntary and charitable organisations throughout the island of Ireland to help support initiatives focused on the following areas; Social and Education Programmes aimed at Youth, Healthy and Active Lifestyles, and Environmental Leadership. Ten organisations will receive €10,000 each and five organisations will receive €5000 each.

Visit the Coca-Cola website for further details.

 

 

 

04-Jun-11 by Colette Fox – PRO