Well with the festive season well and truly behind us it’s time to wish everyone a prosperous and healthy 2014. Let’s hope the club year is as bountiful and successful as 2013!!!

A second clothes collection taking place tomorrow, ends our very successful fund-raising campaign which took place towards the end of last year.

A huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone who supported us and made our ‘Breakfast with the Champions’, Annual Draw and clothes collection(s) so financially rewarding.

While naming names can be dangerous – because of the names that are not named! – it is important to place on record our thanks to the sponsors and contributors who made our ventures financially worthwhile:

• Treanor Butchers, Dublin St. Monaghan
• Linwoods Food Products, Armagh
• Phil and Anna Collins, Lisdrumgormel
• Fannings Bakery, Tyholland
• Marrons Butchers, Main St. Carrickmacross
• Paul and Breege McCreesh, Crossmaglen
• Lakeland Dairies, Lough Egish
• Valu Centre Monaghan
• Aidan Boyd, XL Stop & Shop, Main St. Castleblayney
• Westenra Arms Hotel, Monaghan

Many thanks to all who cooked, cleaned, served, set-up, tidied up and did a host of other jobs on the morning of our ‘Breakfast with the Champions’. We are also indebted to the Committee of the Community Centre, in particular Peadar Greenan, whose help was invaluable.

Many thanks to all who donated and sponsored prizes for the Annual Draw, those who sold lines and those who made financial contributions.

‘Thank you’ to our mini-entrepreneurs – Émer McGlone, Katie and Emma Carragher – who hand-made beautiful Christmas cards, sold them at the ‘Breakfast’ and donated the money to the Club!

A beautifully crafted hurl, which will be signed by the senior players, was made by Paul Monaghan, Middletown. Thank you, Paul!

A sincere ‘Thank you’ to Martina Morgan -Woods, Listinny, for the delicious fruit platters which enhanced the tables.

The club wishes to sincerely thank everyone who delivered bags of clothes to Scoil Mhuire or the Community Centre. Every contribution, no matter how small, adds up!

And finally, a sincere word of gratitude to our club members who co-ordinated all of the above. At the end of the day ultimate responsibility fell to a small, hard-working, core group who worked tirelessly! Well done girls!

Not content to sit back on their laurels a number of the senior panel visited Scoil Mhuire on Dec 20with a dizzying array of cups and shields, much to the amazement and delight of the pupils and staff. Following a question-answer session, the girls visited each classroom and distributed festive goodies.

On Sunday Dec 29, 49 playing members gathered for the ‘Club Gathering’ photograph taken by Northern Standard photographer Rory Geary. Copies of the photograph will be available in the coming week and will enhance any house where there is a camogie player!

And in the midst of all this Aideen arrived home from ‘Down Under’! To everyone’s delight she is home to stay having got some of the wanderlust out of her system!!!  Welcome back Aideen!

Angela, Helen and Aidan also made it home for Christmas. It was lovely to hear from them and to know that they are happy in England. Great also to hear how the ladies are still playing Gaelic games in London – keep it up girls!!!

So having seen out 2013 in a blaze of activity, it’s time to start setting the foundations for 2014.

Indoor Training for Beginners takes place each Thurs from 5 – 6pm.

Indoor Training for Advanced, 1^st and 2^nd years takes place on Thurs evenings 6.30 – 7.30.

Indoor Training for Senior and Minors commences today, Thurs, 8 – 9.30 pm.

Please remember to wear appropriate footwear, bring along a helmet and €1 towards the use of the Centre. Seniors/Minors are also asked to bring their own hurl.