Experienced facilitators will attend at Project Development Meeting

The Club is embarking on consultation and planning with a view to the provision of appropriate facilities for all our players, patrons, old and young, in the adult, camogie, juvenile clubs.  This is a serious challenge in the preparation of such a development plan that suits the community, also the costing, funding and placing of such a plan on a phased basis. The skills and expertise of older persons in the various clubs are most helpful and great to work and turn out but the Club is making a special appeal to our players and those with young families to come to this meeting as these facilities are for you. We require a quality development plan which will maximise the use of current facilities and recently purchased extra lands.   

Accordingly, our Steering Committee has secured some extremely experienced facilitators to assist us on the night. This meeting will be held on on Thursday 30^th January at 7.30 pm in the Centre with a view to harvesting the views of our community and formulating a consensus on an overall Development Plan.  All members and non-members and anyone in the community are welcome to attend. While the meeting will be facilitated by independent person(s) it is your views that are important as it is your facility and a legacy for the parish community in years to come.

A quality consultation is required to harvest the various views of our members and supporters old and young.  It is hoped that both experienced and qualified personnel from the clubs will come forward to assist in drawing up a detailed phased Plan and present to the experts after final ratification.  It would be great to get these persons from the meeting and commence work on it without delay.

Also, this phased Plan will have to be costed considering our ability to raise the finance each year.  Additionally, we need to cost the maintenance of the actual extra developments on an annual basis when complete. This raises a need for a focused finance committee and hopefully ideas and a commitment from personnel to assist the Club will come from the meeting.

Our facilitators on the night will be as follows: John Fenton (one of Corks greats) of Midleton has driven the recent Midleton Development Project and is well versed on development committees and fundraising.  Tom Mannix, ex county footballer, Accountant, has been in the Clonakilty Executive from start to finish of a huge development whereby the GAA Club sold up and redeveloped on other lands. Noel O Callaghan of Shannon Vale Chickens is an entrepreneur also a member of Cork County Board.  He was chairman of Clonakilty during all this development.  Don Hegarty Carrignabhfear has serous experience in the business world and a member of East Cork Board.  He has facilitated and worked on a major development in his own club in Carrignabhfear.  They will be of great assistance to us on the night. However please understand that they are not the main guests of the evening as you are and while they will facilitate it is your views we like to hear. 

Please note Thursday 30^th January 30^th January at 7.30pm in the Centre as we would really appreciate your presence.

Intermediate Hurlers commence Training.

Our Junior and Intermediate hurlers commenced training at the weekend. The turnout is good considering some of the lads are tied to both the county and the college and Under 21 football. Our first game is away to Ballyhea, a top-grade senior team, on Sunday 16th February so we should be in reasonable condition for this game.

Niall O Leary in good form for UCC.

UCC defeated CIT on the score 0-22 to 0-15 at the Marydyke over the weekend.  This puts them into the quarterfinals of the Fitzgibbon Cup.  Our own club and county man Niall O Leary had a mighty game in the wing back position for UCC while another county man Shane Kingston was on fire in the forwards scoring 0-7 from play.  These boys form could be good for Cork yet.

Results of Weekly Lotto Draw. 

Our weekly club lotto draw was held in the Peddlers on Monday 20^th January and the numbers drawn were 12, 13, 19 and 22. There was no winner. There were eight Lucky Dip winners were as follows: - Noel McAuliffe, Paula O Regan, Alice Burke, Carol Carey, Thomasina Hegarty, Ber Sice, Scott & Richie, Bill Kelleher.

Next week’s draw will be held on Monday 27^th January at 9.30pm in the Peddlars Rock Bar. The Jackpot is still a massive €20,000 so don’t forget your ticket for next week.  The results of the Club Lotto are published on both the Avondhu and social media. Thanks to all our Lotto players who support us each week as without you we would not be able to invest in the future of our club.

Castlelyons Community Centre closing in early February for Renovation.

The Centre is closing in early February as a programme of renovation and modernisation is about to commence. Foremost among these works will be insulation of the walls and ceilings, a new electrical system, alterations to ladies and gents’ rooms, new kitchen, new suite of furniture including tables and chairs and the place will be user friendly in meeting the needs of the disabled.

A hard-working committee led by Matt Hegarty have raised substantial finances, sought and acquired grants and received a donation from an exceptional benefactor. These works are most timely as the Centre is need of upgrade and well done to the Committee who have taken on this work. Also let us not forget to thank the various committee members down the years ensured various repairs and work to the place. They have kept our Community Centre at the hub of community life for all parishioners and so many activities.

Castlelyons Community Centre AGM.

The Committee are inviting all interested persons to attend this AGM and lend you support to the running of your Community Centre. This will be held on Wednesday 12^th February at 8pm in the Club Bar.

Club Bar Refurbishment now costed.

Some forty years ago our own Club applied for registration and were granted a certificate to sell porter, beers and some top shelf stuff to its members and friends during celebrations and social events. Indeed, we had mighty days and nights in the Club through the years as we went through the gears of Junior B hurling to a county senior semi-final with all the accolades in between, success in football, and the squash going well also. We had various other evenings as the Barrymore Players and other Groups brought endless enjoyment from their dramas.  In more recent times one of the squash courts was adjusted to dressing rooms and the changing areas to a meeting room with the addition of a teen café while the bar area has remained the same over the years. Gearóid Crowley of Gearóid Crowley Electrical has done tremendous work on the electrics of both the Centre and the Bar in recent years and kept the place in order.

As outlined in previous notes an inspection in late 2019 by the Fire Officer has identified several fire safety matters not just from electrical but construction issues as well.  This renovation priced at over €10.000 concerns by an engineer is required to modernise the bar area. There are redline issues that must be addressed immediately as the bar remains closed.  Of course, all such renovation and development can be discussed as part of an over phased development of our facilities at the open meeting on Thursday 30.1.20 at 7.30pm in the Centre. which must be addressed requiring expertise and cash investment resulting in the bar remaining closed on a temporary basis at least.

Drama in Castlelyons – Cash on Delivery.

January nights in Castlelyons are quiet as the locals are easy after the turkey and remain indoors to watch the goings on of the General Election.  There will be a few debates on TV about the problems of rural Ireland, the farming community and so on but often lacks sincerity.  Well, Castlelyons in midwinter has heard it all before and are well able to make their own provisions and what better than a good play in the local hall.  The Barrymore Players have gone through the tough side of rehearsing a drama as they try to get inside the heads of the various characters.  This is a challenging task especially looking out at an empty hall.  All will be revealed as they stage a hilarious fast passed comedy called Cash on Delivery commencing on Friday 31st, Saturday and Sunday 1^st and 2^nd February.  The Drama by British playwright Michael Cooney is a mixture of oddball characters and comedy situations with a capacity for a great laugh and an enjoyable evening.  There are great characters about the place with drama a part of our culture and very much in the hidden Ireland. So, for some fun and a laugh its Cash on Delivery.  Watch the dates and your support appreciated.

Wishing a speedy recovery to Bridie Milward.

Bridie who has done years of work in the Centre has been ill lately.  Accordingly, our club wishes Bridie a speedy recovery from her recent illness. Just to say Bridie that as each day passes your one closer to a complete recovery and we you have all our support.

Intermediate Hurling Challenge this Friday 21.1.20

Intermediate Hurling Challenge: Castlelyons v Bandon; Friday 24.1.20 at 8pm in the Synthetic Pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Main Club Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group