Celebration Night

Are you all ready to C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E this Saturday 20th February? Well, if the answer is yes then get ready to celebrate in style alongside the County & Ulster Junior Club Champions. That’s right folks, our annual social and presentation night takes place this Saturday 20th February in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan and it’s going to be absolutely Rocktastic! We’re going to have a special night to mark the magical & monumental achievement of our senior footballers. All you have to do to enjoy and be part of an amazing night is make sure you get a ticket. These nights only come along once in a while so don’t let this wonderful occasion go by…you have been warned. Tickets are on sale from any committee member that includes Michael Carroll, Anthony Tate, Martina McKeown, Tina Rooney, Ann Carroll, Pascal Smyth, Pat Brannigan, Tom Daly, Sean Rooney, Eamon Clerkin, Brian Carroll, Mark Daly, Andrew Carroll, Gerry McKeown, Colm McCormick, Conor Brannigan and Sharon Fox. If anybody want tickets please let me know ASAP by either email pro.rockcorry.monaghan@gaa.ie or text 086-1041165 or leave a message on our Facebook page. It’s going to be colourful, it’s going to be passionate, it’s going to crazy, it’s going to be just GREAT.

Be on Time!

I know it takes time to get ready and I know it takes some people a lot longer than others! Some people like to take their time getting ready to go out to do whatever they do to make themselves look or feel good. Others can throw on the clothes, clean their teeth and hey presto ready for the night ahead. If you are planning to join us in our celebration this Saturday night then please be there early. To ensure the night runs smoothly it is very important to get it started on time and we are appealing to everyone to make a special effort to be in the Hillgrove Hotel at 7pm for dinner being served at 7.30pm sharp. So what I’m really saying is…perhaps you should start getting ready now!

Hall of Fame

Our Hall of Fame award is presented each year to a person singled out for lifelong dedication to the club. It recognises those members who have distinguished themselves over the years and is the highest honour the club may bestow upon an individual member. Since the introduction of the award in 1996 we have identified and honoured many legends of the club and this year I am delighted to announce that the management committee decided to pay tribute and declare Ben Duffy this year’s Hall of Fame recipient. Ben has given many decades of sterling service to our club and his contribution and achievements are worthy of recognition and I look forward to honouring a man who has given and continues to give great service to Rockcorry GAA.

Registration Night

Our club registration night was held last Monday 8th February in St. Mary’s Hall and first of all many thanks to all the parents and kids who attended and signed the necessary membership forms and other policy documents. If you were not able to attend can you please familiarise yourself with our Membership Forms, Code of Best Practice, ASAP Policy etc which can all be viewed or downloaded on our official website www.rockcorrygaa.ie. When you have read and fully understood these documents please sign the declaration form and return it along with the juvenile membership form accompanied with the €5 fee per child to our youth officer Sharon Fox.

Reserve Team Management

The club is now seeking expressions of interest for the position of Reserve Team Management / Team Selectors. If you are interested in managing our reserve team or would like more information please contact myself or any committee member as soon as possible.

Under 10 Winter League

It’s only the beginning of February but members of our under 10 team had their first outing of the year when they travelled to Ballybay Community Centre, last Saturday 6th February, to take part in the Winter Indoor Football League Programme organised by Monaghan Coaching & Games Development. This was a great opportunity for the young players to show their talents in a fun and inspiring environment. It also helps them to get back into the swing of things after hibernating over the winter months. The league continues next Saturday th February and I would urge parents of kids involved to go along to support and encourage the kids. Well done everyone.

Courses

During February & March, Monaghan Coaching & Games will be once again running a range of Coach Education Courses at Foundation and Level One. The dates and venues for the courses that they are running are as follows:- A Foundation Award on Friday 26th & Saturday 27th February Venue: Magheracloone (Football). Friday 4th & Saturday 5th March Venue: Cloghan (Football & Hurling) & Friday 11th & Saturday 12th March Venue: Ballybay (Football). The times for the above courses are Friday’s 7pm to 10pm and Saturday’s 9.30am to 4.30pm. The cost for coaches attending a Foundation Award is €30 per coach and the club will gladly cover this cost. A Level One Course will be held on Friday 5th & Saturday 6th February Venue: Cloghan (Child), Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th February Venue: Cloghan (Youth/ Adult). If there is enough interest (minumum 16) to do a Level 1 Hurling Award it will also be accommodated, otherwise it will be run in conjunction with other counties and the Ulster Regional Hurling Officers. The cost for coaches attending a Level One Award is €55 per coach but if a club get 4 coaches attending course, one will be for free. The venues for the two Level One Awards is currently set for the Monaghan Training Grounds but if any club would be interested in hosting one of these courses please get in touch ASAP.

Child Protection Courses

Monaghan GAA will be holding a Child Protection course on Thursday 18th February, starting at 7pm and finishing at 10pm. The cost per person is €10. Venue to be decided. All coaches who are working with young people must have completed their child protection course and this should be repeated every THREE years. This includes all coaches, committee members, referees, groundsmen, bus drivers and anyone else who may have direct contact with children. As discussed at last Youth Forum, one of the initiatives for 2016 from Monaghan GAA is that all names of managers, coaches and first aiders must be forwarded on in advance of the playing season for verification of completion of Garda vetting and child protection courses. Anyone who cannot demonstrate that they have successfully completed both of these will be asked to remove themselves from any participation in our juvenile activities. Courses are open to all members of the association, mens football, ladies football, camogie and handball. Further courses will be delivered subject to demand. Contact John McArdle (087-2508557), childrensofficer.monaghan@gaa.ie for further details.

Coaching Workshops

Monaghan Coaching & Games in conjunction with Ulster GAA are currently running a number coaching workshops that will cater specifically for coaches working with U14 to Senior teams. They cater for coaches working with the younger age groups and all workshops are FREE OF CHARGE. The final workshop is entitled ‘GOALKEEPING’ (Kickouts, Shot-stopping & positioning) and takes place on Monday 22nd February between 7.30pm to 9pm and the venue is Cloghan.

Minor Football League Division 3

The minor football structures were recently published and for the record, we have been placed in Division 3 which comprises 6 teams and is to be played as a double league and clubs include Sean McDermott’s, Tyholland, Doohamlet, Cremartin and Latton. The first round of matches is scheduled for Tuesday 5th April.

Parish Variety Concert

We all know that our parish is blessed with plenty of talent and colourful characters ranging from individual solo singers, ballad groups, dancers, musicians, actors, comedians and so on. The challenge now is for all groups and interested people to come together once again to put on an amazing fun show packed full of entertainment. We all need to smile and have a laugh and there’s no doubt that everyone in the community benefits from giving a little back and creating a feel-good factor into the bargain. This year’s Parish Variety Concert will be held over the St. Patrick’s weekend and they want to put on another memorable and spectacular show. If you are interested in taking part or helping out please make yourself known.

Club Membership

Club membership is now due once again and can be paid to our club Registrar Pat Brannigan. The annual subscription for adults is €20 with all juveniles under the age of 18 costing €5 and any student that can provide a valid student card the membership fee is €5. It is important that ALL players pay their membership as soon as possible otherwise you will not be covered under the GAA insurance scheme. Please note that club membership will close on Wednesday 30th March 2016.

Wedded Bliss

On behalf of everyone at the Rockcorry GAA club and indeed the community I would like to take this opportunity to extend our best wishes to Lisa Clerkin and Padraic Luby who got married last weekend. It was a great weekend for both of your families and we hope you both had a lovely day and we wish you a lifetime of the greatest joy, love and happiness together and the very best of luck to both of you.

Top 4 Lotto Results

The numbers drawn on Monday 15th February were 14, 18, 24 and 25. There was no jackpot winner of €6,000.00. The following won €15 each :- Lauren Woods, Rockcorry, Michael Carroll, Rockcorry, Patsy, Trisha & James, Rockcorry, Caroline Lynch, Clones, Bridie Sheridan, Rockcorry, Karen Woods, Rockcorry, John Elliot, Rockcorry, Sorcha, Reily Clear, Rockcorry. Next week the jackpot will be €6,100.00 and the draw will take place in Fitzpatrick’s. Thank you for supporting our Top 4 lotto draw.

Annual Top 4 Lotto Ticket

Don’t forget, you can support the club’s Top 4 lotto by entering for 12 months, 6 month or a 3 month period. To play simply select your four numbers between 1 and 28 complete the form and you need never miss a draw again! Tickets cost €90 for the 12 month option. Your continued support is always much appreciated and we wish you good luck in future draws.

News

If anyone would like to have some news, events or anything at all included in the club notes or advertised on our website then just get in touch on 086-1041165 or email pro.rockcorry.monaghan@gaa.ie