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Secretary’s Report 2017

OFF THE FIELD ACTIVITIES

·  Development of Facilities

In comparison with the last few years, development work at our pitches was relatively quiet in 2017. There was a lot more on field action compared to off field. Nonetheless, further improvements have been made.

▫  Replacing and improving floodlights at the present moment

▫  Cameras being installed

▫  Sanding of the main pitch will commence at the beginning of November for the fifth consecutive year.

▫  Several club members need to be thanked for cutting the grass during the year. I think Martin Flynn, Pat O'Callaghan, Pat Reid, Richie Regan & Con Kelleher were the regulars on this job. So, thanks to you and apologies if I’ve missed anyone else who did this very valuable job for us in 2017. Since the summer, our FÁS worker, John Duggan can cut the grass, which takes the pressure off volunteers trying to do it.

▫  The two dug-outs on the main pitch were completed. Thanks to Crowley Engineering and Con Kelleher for this.

▫  I would like to thank John Duggan from FÁS, who has been with us over a year now. John keeps the pitch & the grounds in immaculate condition. He takes great pride in the place.

▫  The great work performed in recent years of adding to, enhancing and maintaining our facilities has continued in 2017 and will continue into 2018. Well done to everyone involved. Thanks also to Seamus & Pat for overseeing all that happens in the pitch, your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

·  Dinner Dance

We held our 60th celebration dinner dance in the Vienna Woods Hotel on 3rd February this year. It was great success with everyone having a great night. Plenty of good feedback came in from people who enjoyed the night. A few days after Finbarr rang Conor to thank us for his gift and his award. He was totally blown away on the night. It was a great occasion for all to meet at this social event.

·  Fundraising

Club Lotto

The fortnightly Lotto draw continues to be a key club fundraiser. It is being superbly run by the sub-committee: Ed Buckley (chairman), Martin Flynn (secretary), Ray Donohoe (treasurer) and numerous other volunteers. It is down to the Trojan work of this committee that funds were in place for developments completed over recent years. It is imperative that club members and locals support this fundraiser in greater numbers so that future works can be planned safe in the knowledge that the financing will be secure.

Car Park Rental

Inform Nutrition continue to rent spaces in our car-park during business hours Monday–Friday. Rental is €650 / month, so this is a lucrative income stream and is of significant help in paying off our Credit Union loan and financing Capital Projects completed over the past couple of years.

Christmas Draw

The 2016 Christmas draw was as usual another significant source of revenue for the club last year with a profit of approx. €8,500. Last December, members went door-to-door selling tickets, and this certainly boosted sales. As usual tickets were also sold in SuperValu, Glanmire and Hennessy’s garage in the run up to the draw. This year there is very good value again in this draw with 61 prizes, €600 first prize, 8 prizes of €100 or more and a further 18 prizes of €50 or more. Many thanks to our long-list of sponsors and ticket sellers. A special thank you to Michael Hennessy of the Stirrup Bar for donating the 1st prize again, this year. I also want to thank Anthony Cotter of Coolgrey Design for printing the tickets. Your support for the draw would as ever be greatly appreciated.

Cork GAA Clubs Draw

The Cork GAA Clubs Draw earned the club an income of a little over €5,000 in the last year. For the coming year, we should realise a similar level of income despite a small drop off in the number of members in this draw for 2017/18. Thanks to Pat Reid who is co-ordinating the running of this draw within the club and thanks also to each of the sellers, who put in the time to keep members interested.

Membership

Annual membership subscriptions from players & non-players is also a significant source of income. So, Pat Reid is to be thanked for his work on this front. Membership fees for 2018 will be discussed later in the meeting.

Sandcastles Pre-School

Sandcastles Pre-school has been running up in the pitch just over a year now. They are excellent tenants and keep the place respectable and clean. We would like to thank Catherine & Co for this. The grounds are busier with new parents visiting the pitch for the first time as their children attend Sandcastles. Aside from the financial part of the arrangement our pitch is now more active everyday which gives the place a great buzz.

·  To finish….

Thanks to Ed Buckley for attending the weekly City Board meeting each Wednesday night throughout the year. And thanks to Dermot Whooley & Ray Donohoe for attending the fortnightly County Board meetings. I would also like to thank the officers of the juvenile club – Mike O Flynn (chairman), Sean Coughlan (secretary) and Teresa Quain (treasurer) for their co-operation and dealings with the adult club

Thanks also to Conor Kelleher for the many ways he ensures that news and activities related to our club are circulated on-line & in print, with very frequent updates on all club related activities being posted on Facebook especially.

Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of my fellow officers and committee members for all their work & help during the year. I especially want to thank our chairman Pat O’Callaghan for putting up with me. Also, Martin & Conor who were always on hand to answer my forty thousand questions over the past year. I probably owe ye a packet of paracetamol each.

Well done to everyone involved in our recent hurling and football successes.

I wish the club, incoming officers and committee more success & silverware in 2018.

Crosaire an Fhaoitigh abú

Is mise le meas,

Marion Ní Dhubshlaine
Mobile 086-3220968

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