Seamus, I got your post today and tried to mail a reply but it boomeranged. My secretary says that hotmail can do that. Anyway thanks for that. It is nice to see that there is a constituency out there. Have a good 2012. Karl represented youse well over Christmas. I'd like to have had a pic. of the 9 in the bar for here so if any relevant and publishable pics develop there, you might forward one, whenever. I'll try to re-send post tomorrow. This is aholding statement. T.

Quiz & presentation Night Photos ... click on any photo to view a larger version ...

Boyle GAA Club concluded 2011 on a high both on the playing fields and on the social scene. The highlight of the week has been the winning by the National Automation Limited minor team of the Division 1 Minor League County Final on Friday in Lisnamult. This win copperfastens this panel's status as the top minor team in the County as they have now done the Championship and League double. This league final victory showed the strength in depth of the panel as it had to be achived in the absence through injury of some prominent members of the panel.They went in at half time just two points in arrears, having played against the elements. It was truly a team effort but special mention must be given to the goalkeeping heroics of Jason McDermott and the ‘Man of the Match’ scoring endeavours of Eoin Lavin. While some of the panel will now graduate from minor ranks and will, no doubt, achieve success in the adult grades, there is a sizeable number who will still be eligible for further success at minor level in the coming year. The Club expresses its gratitude to the entire panel and to the management team of Vinnie, Tom, Liam et al and to their sponsors National Automation Limited and to our loyal supporters who made the trip to Lisnamult in difficult weather conditions. I will have a pic. of the winning Boyle Capt. receiving the trophy tomorrow evening.

The Club was also honoured to have been given the opportunity to host the County Roscommon U21 Division 1 Final in the Abbey Park on Thursday last. Thanks to all Club members who helped in any way to ensure that everything was in readiness for the game.

The annual Christmas Quiz and Presentation Night which was held in St Joseph's Hall on Wednesday night was once again a resounding success. Thanks is again extended to the many people who were involved, including Tony Conboy who prepared an interesting and challenging set of questions and compered the quiz with his usual applomb, also to his team of elves who assisted with correcting etc, to those who prepared the venue and helped in the clear-up on the following day, and also to the DJ Francis Candon and to Aaron and Kevin of the Moylurg Inn and their staff, to Ciaran O'Connor and James O'Boyle for the provision of computerised scoreboard which added to the occasion, to the winning quiz yeam which kindly refunded its quiz prize winnings to the Club and to all who contributed to great night and not forgetting the massive turnout at the event.

The following were award winners;- U21 Player of the Year - Tadhg Lowe, Junior Player of the Year - James Suffin, Senior/Intermediate Player of ther Year - Seán Purcell, Club Person of the Year - Michael Gilmartin. The Hall of Fame winner was Christopher (Kit) O'Connor. Special awards were also presented to Gary Wynne and Barry Greaney who are stepping down from senior team management.

The next big Club undertaking will be the staging of the play "The Pitch", written by award winning writer Shane Connaughton and featuring a semi professional cast including All Ireland winning actor and former Leitrim footballer Seamus O'Rourke. This play has the endorsement of the GAA at national level and is compulsive viewing not only for those interested in top class drama but for all GAA enthusiasts. It will be staged in St Joseph's Hall on Sunday night 15th January. This is the only venue in the region in which it is being staged.

The Club expresses its sympathy to former Club Secretary Martin Henry, Drum, and to his son Derek and daughter Debbie on the death of their wife and mother Mary, also to Betty McDermott, Ardagh on the death of her father and to the Roe family, Greatmeadow on the death of Bobby.

The Club extends a wish of a happy and sporting New Year to all its members and supporters. We hope that these notes provide an informative link with all those –especially abroad- who have an interest in Boyle GAA Club’s affairs. Feel free to forward ideas/material in 2012 to tconboy1@eircom.net. We thank Sean and realboyle for hosting the blog. Slan 2011.

Go raibh maith agaibh,

Martin Dolan/T.C./Fiona Mattimoe.

P.R.O. Dept. Boyle GAA Club

086 2413529.

Quiz & presentation Night Photos ... click on any photo to view a larger version ...

Aidan Lavin, Chairperson

Tony Conboy, Quizmaster

Sean Purcell, Mary Smith

Aidan Lavin, Kit O'Connor

Jim Suffin, Martin Dolan

Tadhg Lowe

Mary Clifford made a presentation to Tadhg Lowe

Mary Halligan, Gary Wynne

Michael Gilmartin

Quiz & presentation Night Photos ... click on any photo to view a larger version ...

Sympathy: Boyle GAA club extends its sincere sympathy to the Henry family, Drum, Boyle on the recent sad death of Mary Henry. Martin Henry was a very active club officer some time ago and Derek was a regular player for us especially at under age.

• It is good to see some former GAA people 'HOME FOR CHRISTMAS' such as Karl Keenan from Oz and Caoimhin Young from London with others en route. We wish those abroad, especially our large constituency in Oz, the very best over the holiday period and in the New Year.
• I am still looking for information as to the whereabouts of the H.J. Feely Tropy which was traditionally awarded to the 'Player/Clubperson of the Year'. Perhaps someone might notice it mixed up with their other trophies and let us have it for Wednesday night.

If anyone has any Boyle bunting we could use same that night also.

Although it's Christmas Week, the Club will still have a busy schedule both on and off the field. The annual quiz and "Player of the Year" presentation night will be held in St. Joseph's Hall on this Wednesday night 28th December as advertised on Martin Purcell's poster above. This is traditionally the social event of the year and the amalgamation of the quiz and the awards presentations and the moving to the more spacious surroundings of St Joseph's Hall will add to the sense of occasion. Full bar services will be avaiable as will sandwiches and finger food and late night music. The all-in admission is €10 per person.

The Club Lotto will be held on Friday night in Dodd's with a jackpot of €5,000.

For those wishing to see a very attractive game in the Abbey Park, the Under 21 Division 1 County Final between Roscommon Gaels and Strokestown will be played in Boyle on this Thursday at 2pm. All Club members are asked to be present to help with stewarding. The Club intself is involved in a very important game when Boyle Minors play the County Division 1 League Final versus Clan na Gael in Lisnamult (Roscommon) on Friday at 2.15pm. Full support is requested for this game.

Preparations are also under way for the staging of the award winning play "The Pitch" in St Joseph's Hall on Sunday 15th January. This play will be performed by a professional cast, will be of special relevance to GAA supporters as well as drama enthusiasts and it will be its only staging in this region. Wishing everyone a happy and sporting New Year.

Go raibh maith agaibh,
Martin Dolan
P.R.O. Boyle GAA Club
086 2413529

Tuesday 12.15 am.

Mary Clifford receiving a plaque in recognition of Boyle being confirmed as 'Roscommon Club Ground of the Year'. Left to right: Hugh Lynn, Dev. Officer Ros. Co.Bd. (Hugh lived in Boyle for a short time when young); Frank Kenny, St. Brigid's, Co. Parks Comm.; Micheal Fahey, Ch. Ros. Co. Bd., managed Boyle a few years ago. Mary, Boyle Co. Bd. Delegate; Martin Dolan of the Boyle GAA P.R. Dept. and More. Pic. taken at County convention at Kilglass.

Mon. 12.14am:

The following were €20 winners at the most recent Club Lotto draw which was held in the Moylurg Inn on Saturday night last;- John and Olivia Kelly, Brendan McQuaid, Rory O'Donohue, Aidan Sheerin, Lorcan Egan, Martin Lannon, Hal Cawley, Joe Kilcullen, Lochlainn Conboy and Lyndsey Masterson. The house prize was won by Patricia Cullen. The jackpot wasn't won and it will stand at €5,000 for the next draw which will be held in Dodd’s on Friday night the 30th of December. The Club extends its sincere thanks to Pat Brogan of Brogan’s and Natural Options Pharmacies who has commenced sponsorship of the Club Lotto envelopes.
The National Automation Limited minors received an unsatisfactory entry into the Division 1 League Final following concession of the semi-final by Michael Glaveys. This concession is symptomatic of difficulties which are faced by fixtures committees and is a contributory factor to the late competion of fixture schedules. Boyle will play Clan na Gael in the final of this competition on Friday the 30th of December at a venue and time to be arranged.
The Club achieved a significant success last week when the Abbey Park was named as the Co. Roscommon ‘Club Ground of the Year’ winner. This is an honour which the Club deeply appreciates and it is just reward for the efforts of the hard working Park Committee which is ably led by people such as Michael Brennan, Martin Purcell, Aidan Lavin and others as well as the dedicated FáS workers led by Gerard Tivnan.
All is in readiness for our social event of the year which will be held in St Joseph's Hall on Wednesday 28th December. The format is changed somewhat this year with the amalgamation of the annual quiz with the presentation of the player of the year awards. It promises to be a special night with the quiz and the awards followed by music, with bar facilities.
The Club is also pleased to announce that it will be one of the regional locations chosen for the staging of the play "The Pitch" which will star National award winning actor Seamus O'Rourke, on Sunday 15th January in St Joseph's Hall. More details nearer the date.
The Senior Club, the Minor Club and the Ladies Club extend Christmas wishes to all our supporters, players, officials, sponsors and our always helpful media.

Boyle Ladies Club;
The U16s held their last training session for 2011 on Friday last. The panel will be notified by text of the date of resumption of training early in January.

Go raibh maith agaibh agus Nollaig Shona dhíbh.
Martin Dolan
P.R.O. Boyle GAA Club
086 2413529

Wed. 11.19 P.M. I just heard that Boyle won ‘The GAA Grounds of the Year’ in Co. Roscommon at the County Convention. That is a nice achievement especially for the principals Martin Purcell, Ml. Brennan, Aidan and Eoin Lavin, Shane Filan and Gerry Tivnan and his FAS group and x. It does not come as any surprise to me as it is a fine facility in a lovely, historic setting.
Odds: If you are outside the Abbey Park on a Wednesday evening and there are empty garbage bins there just drag them inside the gates if there are two of you there. As Tess Flaherty used to say: "An ounce of help is better than a ton of pity”.
At the Club convention a little important (oxymoron) detail was Barney Supple's request that ALL players should equip themselves with GUM SHIELDS. I endorse this fully. I thought it was par for the course now but apparently the efforts of a few years ago, to promote this, have eroded. So perhaps team managers might come up with some directive on the issue and perhaps an arrangement might be made with a local dentist, to provide same, as happened a few years ago.
I heard that there was a vote orchestrated for Team Manager of our sister club, St. Brendan’s, in Dublin in opposition to the incumbent. This came as a big surprise to me as the 2011 manager just had his team promoted for the second straight year. What else could he do? There is perhaps too much expected of managers. This shows the pressure they are under. What was the promoter of this coup thinking of? Anyway the coup was roundly defeated and it is onwards and upwards for St. Brendan’s in 2012 though I believe they ARE adhering to the Croke Park directive re. closed season in December for training.
How often can you recycle a bike?
Goodnight.
Regards to Oz/N.Z./Canada/London and New York Towns and Wolkingham.

Monday 1.50 am.
There was a large and enthusiastic attendance at Boyle Senior Club AGM which was held in the Clubroom on Sunday evening last. Chairperson Aidan Lavin welcomed the attendance and thanked all who have been involved in any way with the Club, including the many panels of players and their respective management teams, the many Club sponsors, those who participated in fundraising, the pitch co-ordinator and the Pitch Committe, Gerard Tivnan and the FAS workers,to the local media for their excellent coverage of our activities, the supporters and his fellow officers. He congratulated all teams and their managements on their successes in 2011 and those who had got chosen on County panels during the year and those from the Club who had formed part of County team managements. He especially congratulated Donal and Enda Smith and Tadhg McKenna on winning Connacht Minor Championship medals and Donal on being chosen as Roscommon's Minor Footballer of the Year. The Chairperson extended best wishes to the many representatives from the Club who are becoming involved with county team managements in varying roles, including Jonathan Conroy, David Casey, Barry Greaney, Joe Sweeney and James O'Boyle.

Club Secretary Kathleen Hanmore's report chronicled a busy year for the Club, the highlight of which was the winning of the County Minor Division 1 title.

The Treasurer, Mary Smith outlined the financial position of the Club and detailed the various fundraising initiatives which are required to keep the Club in operation.
The following officers were elected for 2012;- President-John Joe Nerney, Vice Presidents-Paddy McDermott and Barry Feely, Chairperson-Aidan Lavin, Vice Chairperson-Martin Dolan, Secretary-Kathleen Hanmore, Assistant Secretary-Mary Clifford, Treasurer-Mary Smith, Assistant Treasurer-Mary Halligan, PROs -Martin Dolan and Tony Conboy, Insurance Officer- Michael Furey, Registrar-Brian Supple, Childrens'/ASAP Offficer-Jan Flanagan, County Board Delegates and History Committee-M.Clifford, M.Dolan and T.Conboy, North Western Board Delegates-Michael Brennan and Paul Beirne. Pitch C-ordinator-Martin Purcell, Pitch Management Cttee-M.Purcell, P.Beirne, John Cummins and Shane Spellman.
Tributes were paid to Gary Wynne who is stepping down from the position of senior team manager after two years due to family committments. Gary, in giving a detailed account of his term as team manager returned thanks to the players and officials for their co-operation and he expressed his dissappointment that greater success wasn't achieved.

The new senior team manager is David O'Connor with Bernie Shannon, Dave O'Daly and Stephen Bohan. Junior team manager will be Bernie Shannon, with Aidan Lavin and Paul Beirne. The Under 21s will be managed by David Casey with Martin Purcell, Ciaran Supple and Joe Sweeney.
The meeting passed a vote of sympathy to all Club members who suffered bereavements in 2011 and it sent good wishes to all Club members and family members who are experiencing illness at present.
The long awaited U16 Division 1 League Semi Final versus Michael Glaveys is due to be played in the Abbey Park on Sunday next at 2.30pm. This depends on an U21 result next Friday.

Plans are being finalised for the social night of the year which will be held in St. Joseph's Hall on Wednesday 28th December. This year the format will be changed as the annual quiz will be amalgamated with the annual presentation of players of the year awards. The event will also feature music and bar facilities,to make a very interesting night's entertainment.
Go raibh maith agaibh,
Martin Dolan
P.R.O. Boyle GAA Club
086 2413529