Castlelyons GAA Notes WE 23.3.2020. 2020-03-24 18:16:00

Castlelyons GAA Notes week ended 23.3.2020.

Message from Tracey Ní Chinnéide, Cathaoirleach, CLCG, Contae Chorcaí.

Our county chairperson Tracey Kennedy has sent out a strong message to us all which captures the best advice and best practice available on prevention of the dreaded Covid 19.  She outlines that we need team players now. Covid 19 will only be beaten it we all take it seriously and all do the right thing.  Social distancing will save the lives of our parent, grand parents and relatives with health issues.  She calls for responsibility, not going out in groups and risking lives. We have heard of so many occasions where this most important advice has been honored in the breach rather than the observance recently especially last Saturday and Sunday.  Please let’s heed this advice and maintain social distancing for once and for all.

Assistance assured. 

The Club understands that there is potential for hardship and people may need some extra help. Many members from the adult, juvenile and camogie sections have volunteered assistance to support parishioners who might be worried about leaving their house for: - Shopping pick up.  Medication pick up.  Any urgent matters.

Should you need some assistance don’t hesitate to contact any of the numbers below and assistance will be arranged: - 086 235 5486.  087 244 6597.  087 619 3593.  086 853 2359.  086 812 6582.  In fact, we have a backup service of twenty-eight other people willing and available to be called upon.  Michael Barrett our secretary is now a contact person with the overall Avondhu Blackwater group, so the linkage has improved since last week.

Don’t forget the Club is prepared to assist and has a system in place should you require help.  We will adhere to strict adherence to the best practice guidelines of the HSE in terms of social distancing and other instructions.  This detail has also gone out in social media.

Community and Health information.

During this time serious uncertainty, it is important that we look after our own well being and the well being of those around us. There are lots of club stories and resources are available on the GAA community website.  These resources include some great advice physical, mental and social health. These tips aim to support you in doing just. Physical health tips include keeping active and create a simple exercise routine; get lots of fresh air. Encouraging children to use this time to practice skills in the garden/yard/park. Ensuring that you are getting enough sleep, limit use of devices at night. Maintaining a healthy diet and keep hydrated (include fresh foods that will boost your immune system and help fight off colds and flu).  Being mindful of your alcohol intake – alcohol weakens your immune system and can have a negative affect your mood and mental health.

Castlelyons Parish goes Virtual for Sunday Mass.

Due to social distancing we are prevented Catholics from attending Mass so many parishes have launched their own virtual liturgies.  This is done via live-stream and many parishioners can tune in via Facebook.  Castlelyons had virtual mass on Sunday on Facebook.  Well done to our own Fr Gerald Coleman who celebrated mass and con-celebrated by Fr. Marek Pecak.  Thanks to Paul Murphy and his daughter Claire who did a great job in arranging the sound, video and live-streaming on Facebook as large numbers tuned in. This is an excellent initiative in facilitating the spiritual needs of parishioners during this ongoing crisis which we all hope will end sooner rather than later.

Eoin provides a lift to us all on St Patricks Day.

Eoin Murphy of the Buachaills, a Castlelyons man played hurling and football with us for many years before hitting the road with his now renowned band.  He has played at in Croke Park and Thomond Park, shared stages with the High Kings, Finbarr Furey and the Wolfe Tones to name a few.  In the words of Dickens, Eoin has seen the best of times.  However, in a season of darkness and an epoch of incredulity as we were all indoors on the quietest St Patricks Day in living memory Eoin tuned on a super show from the humble surrounds of his parents’ garage.  We knew the show was coming on Facebook and he didn’t disappoint as he sang em all for young and old.  Some show.  Well done Eoin.

Castlelyons Juvenile GAA running a skills series.

In the absence of organised training Juvenile Coaching Officer Colm Barry has been busy devising a skills challenge for all the juvenile players.  He has engaged the assistance of county man Colm Spillane and fellow Imokilly stars Antony Spillane and Tom Carroll.  This has gone out virtually on Facebook and is going very well.  Well done all.

GAA Essay Competition.

The GAA have an essay competition and are calling on all young writer for essays on what our players love most about their club; tell us what the club means to you, what it means for your community, maybe tell a great story from its history and tell us what you look forward to doing when the time eventually comes to play and train again.   Essays of roughly 500-1,000 words max can be sent to clubnewsletter@gaa.ie by Monday 23 March and we'll run a selection of our favorites in the March edition of the newsletter. Top stories will win a GAA goody bag!

Castlelyons GAA Club Development update.

Driving through the village last Sunday, Mother’s Day, the best yet in 2020 Castlelyons showed all the signs of a beautiful spring.  The skeletal remains of the old Castle dominate the skyline and seemed to glisten in the bright sunshine. As the mind began to wander at what must have been a magnificent building built back in 1621 for the Early of Barrymore until its accidental burning in 1771 the words of Sir Henry Royce came to mind “quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten”. It must have been some place in its time.  Of course, across the road is Castlelyons GAA pitch, facilities and Community Centre.  These were developed in the early 1970’s and located in the hub of the parish.  They have been in constant use and a venue for many memorable events. Patrons with an eye to the future and anxious to modernise and create further facilities for the community purchased almost ten acres of adjoining lands in 2019.

The Club is now planning an ambitious development for the future.  The development details are not finalised or even a consensus established to date, but a second pitch is urgently required. There are ambitious possibilities of a synthetic playing area with ball walls, extra dressing rooms, a gym and the addition of a walkway to suit patrons of all ages and abilities under serious consideration.  

There is a Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Jeremiah Healy, and they are preparing for further development which is a big challenge at the best of times and now more than ever. The Steering Committee have met on a weekly basis up to last week with a view to progressing the development. They have populated a suite of new groups. These include a technical group who will review the site and carry out a complete site survey shortly. A grants group are studying available grants for the development and be ready to assist when the plan is set out and agreed. A layout development group have come together recently and will be visiting recent completed GAA development projects. A business plan group will prepare, consult and set down a club strategy and annual club plan.

We are most thankful to all who have helped to date including our vendors, benefactors and contributors who were most supportive, and this helped expedite matters.  We were then able to avail of a substantial GAA grant and loan and, of course, with the further outstanding financial help from benefactors and contributors and the organisers of Strictly Castlelyons and the goodwill of all parishioners we were able to pay for the lands in entirety.

Of course, the GAA Club recently facilitated the Community Centre Committee with a lease of the hall and this initiative is working out very well 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.  A new suite of furniture including tables and chairs were purchased recently. The place will be made user friendly in meeting the needs of the disabled. This is a hard-working committee led by Matt Hegarty and 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 it will certainly prove invaluable at this time. 

Fundraising into the future due to current issues will certainly be difficult and will be cut with a scalpel if not with an axe.  The annual cost of running a club is high and we will need cash flow for maintenance, equipment and training.  Thanks to all who have kept the show on the road down the years. When you think life is tough it can get a lot tougher and there certainly are more serious matters now.  We are very thankful to all for where we got to date and look hopefully to the future.  Beir bua.

Main Club Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group 




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