Castlelyons GAA Notes WE 23.11.20. 2020-11-25 15:05:00

Planning and Development moving slowly but surely.

November 2019 was a historic time for our Club as we purchased 9.5 acres of land adjoining the present club property with the purpose of providing further sporting amenities in the years ahead for our club, parish, and the wider community. As we know and appreciate there were great contributions made by many, especially some benefactors, fundraisers, and grants so much so that the land is now cost free. A Steering Committee was formed and later held a public meeting. This was a success as some great ideas were harvested and are moving on the preparatory stages of developing the facility. The pandemic did hinder our progress but there is work ongoing albeit slowly but surely.

In June, Liam Barry, former player, of BH Trees was engaged removed overgrown trees on boundary fencing. This was done in an effective manner as we involved club members including camogie and juvenile committees. It was in the form of both an infantry and tank regiment because we had tractors and trailers to assist men on the ground as lads give their time and expertise in a meitheal manner. We are still awaiting erection of the actual fencing due as the funding from a Sports Capital Grant is pending but overdue and should be erected shortly.

Presently we have a layout group doing great work and visiting various other facilities and pitches in order to establish the best and most suitable for Castlelyons. A computer aid design of the overall future plans is eminent with a view to undergoing some early works which will include the layout of a second pitch. A number of contractors will visit the site this week and advise on latest developments and pricing. The CAD and early works will require the approval of the Executive so let’s hope that we can have meetings again.

Great to see the work on the Community Centre will be complete in a few weeks and will yield an up to date modern building. Costings are advanced on the GAA Clubhouse at the rear with Toilets, Squash Court, Licensed Bar, Meeting Rooms and two large Dressing Rooms fully equipped with Showers requiring a makeover and ensure compliance with fire regulations. These costings will be put to the Executive shortly and are worth serious consideration as it will add adds great value to the overall facilities. All are ideally located in the epi centre of the village and a walk on to our pitches and other potential facilities. Our entire community will really benefit from these works in the years to come.

The Sports Capital Programme presently closed is still the primary vehicle for Government support of sports and physical recreation. The reopening of the Programme is expected early in January 2021 and a serious effort will be required to have an agreed development for submission and avail of maximum funding for our Club.

Crunch time and all hands on the pump.

We are now coming to a crunch time on the challenges ahead. The cost of our project is serious, and cash is scarce due to the current financial climate. While we should be able to avail of the Sports Capital Grant. We do need funds and have fund-raising initiatives in the future. Rome was not built in a day, but a masterplan will be required showing flexibility for the delivery of phased developments in the club such the laying of a new pitch in Leahy’s Field and other early requirements.

A financial model of fundraising to deliver these facilities should be contained in the Masterplan. This would facilitate buy in and full support of these initiatives from the membership and people of the parish to deliver on such developments and create that legacy for future generations. No doubt our executive and the steering group will be cracking into this after our annual general meeting.

Planning the return of our Weekly Lotto 

Our Weekly Club Lotto with a current Jackpot of €20,000 is normally run on a weekly basis and plays a big part in the Clubs fundraising efforts but due to Level 5 of Covid lockdown the Lotto was temporarily suspended. There will be a move back to Level 3 shortly and we will recommence our Lotto as many of our contributors and customers have missed the excitement of the gamble of a €20,000 Jackpot for just €2.

To play the Castlelyons GAA Club Lotto, any four numbers are selected from 1 to 30. If anybody matches the four numbers selected on the night, he or she wins/shares the Jackpot. If there is no winner there will be 8 Lucky Dip prizes for of €20 each. Tickets cost just €2 each.

There are three options of playing. Firstly, from our sellers and local outlets, secondly, by the annual contribution system on the club computer and thirdly by playing Online. Our Online members have grown over the last year so why not join up. Also, when you enter your lines of numbers for up to a year in one go, you need never miss a draw again. You will receive the Lotto results and club news updates by email after each draw has taken place.

Of course, it is interesting that some clubs are moving beyond the traditional maximum Jackpot of €20,000. This is because the maximum prize that could be at stake in any individual draw or series of draws over the course of a week was raised to €30,000 some time ago. So now Clubs renewing their licences are moving to the higher limit. This gives us an option and in order to keep pace with some clubs we may be compelled to do so as punters tend to go for the high option.

Thanks to all who support this hugely important fundraiser for our Club as it keeps the gates open and the pitches ready to go for our all hurlers, footballers, and camogie players. It really is the lifeblood that keeps our facilities up to standard and we hope to plan further developments in the very near future. Here hoping everyone around the club are joined and we encourage all of our friends and supporters to play the lotto. We must all work together to promote our it and help get back in touch with all friends, members & ex-members of our Club who may now be living all over Ireland and the world. Your continued support is much appreciated, and we wish you good luck in future draws.

Castlelyons hurling zoomed into a good season in tough times.

Well this writer had not heard of Eric Yuan and maybe you did not either. Then in April it felt the world got smaller through the popularity of Zoom Video Conferencing and Communications. A whole new game started for all of us meeting through Zoom. Our hurling management have a few computer gurus and introduced the players to meetings and training sessions through this exciting system. This helped as we defeated Blackrock, Inniscarra and Blarney in the qualifying rounds and had a well merited semi-final win over Courcey Rovers before going down to Blarney in the final. Overall, we had a great year as the last time we strung a few victories together was 2013. This can only be bettered by an all-out victory in 2021 so well done to the players and management.

We had a feast of hurling too with our minor hurlers as they had great victories over Mayfield, Bride Rover and Passage West to qualify for the semi-final of the Rebel Óg East. Then drawn at home against a fine Watergrasshill side they hurled very well before losing out by six points. There is a lot of talent in this team and should they stay with the game they will add strong stock to the intermediate side shortly.

Our Camogie players had a great year too as they defeated Inniscarra in the Junior B county final in Castle Road before a limited crowd. The heavy lifting was done in the semi-final with a great win over Bride Rovers as it was a tougher game. There is a nice blend of youth and experience in this team. Niamh Barry was captain and Leigh Hallahan received the Person of the Match Award amid a fever of celebrations. There was a real bualadh bos by locals who welcomed the team in a parade through Castlelyons. There are plenty of young players available to come onto the panel they will be able to hold their own in the higher-grade next year. Well done to all the girls and their management team. Surely a good tip for the junior proper next year. Castlelyons Abu.

Football in Castlelyons and the East Cork Division.

We did not compete in the East Cork Junior Championship this year with a view to concentration on hurling. This was not intentional but the preparatory time from the announcement of the fixture to date of the game was very short. We were not competing in the league and had done little football training anyway. There is need for a review here as it is important to give all players an opportunity to play hurling and football. Indeed, there are clubs who compete in both codes even at senior level and they are not all in the highly populated areas with Newcestown being a typical example and all our neighbouring clubs play championship in both codes.

A recent survey by Conor Counihan tasked with implementing a five-year plan for Cork football showed that many clubs did not think that the East Cork Board were doing enough for the promotion of football in the Division. So, no doubt the Board will be in touch and a good way to ease back into football is compete in the league and be in some sort of championship form.

Of course, Castlelyons can feel good about concentrating on hurling this year as they reached the final of the premier Intermediate hurling championship before going down to Blarney and supplying two players to the County hurling panel. As the bowler says – bate that in two throws.

Votes of Sympathy

Castlelyons GAA wish to express sincere condolences to the Ronayne and Broderick family Castlelyons, and to the Higgins family, Fermoy on their recent bereavements. Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a nainmeacha go léir.

Main Club Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group.





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