Winning members names will be updated following each monthly draw

AUGUST 2010
Margaret Walshe
Tom King
Michéal Ó Mórain

JULY 2010
Damian O’Neill
Ciaran McLoughlin
Saul Joyce

JUNE 2010
Thomas Dixon
Vincent Keogh
Dermot Nee

MAY 2010
Irene King  
Matt O’Sullivan  
Percy Hyland 

APR 2010   
Richard King  
Niall Malone  
Fr. Gerry Burns

MAR 2010  
Nicholas Griffin  
Richard King
Peter Smyth

FEB 2010    
Irene King  
Jeremy Shanahan  
Kevin Conneely

JAN 2010    
Declan & Cathriona Moran  
Saul Joyce  
John Malone

DEC 2009  
Chris Shanahan  
Paul Keogh  
Paul Coyne

NOV 2009 
Des & Margaret Fogerty  
Robert King  
Gerry Liston

OCT 2009   
Tommy Roe
Tom King  
Mary Lydon

SEPT 2009  
Cyril Joyce  
Peter Smyth   
Annemarie Bennett

Players Meeting:

Connemara Rugby Players had their first meeting in preparation for the upcoming season on Friday evening the 9th of July.
They had decided that training will recommence during the last week of July.  Also a fitness programme is being organised for the Community School Gym.  It is hoped that John Hartnett and John Malone two recognised coaches will help out.  Enquiries to Joe O’Connell.  Pre season games have been arranged with Castlebar, Loughrea & Monivea.  Connacht League games will be held in September with some home fixtures.

Pitch

Tommy Coyne chairman of the Pitch Committee has reported on the excellent shape of the pitch.  It was recently cut and fertilised and will be reseeded and further fertilised and should be in top shape for the new season.  Pesticide has been sprayed on the surrounds to clean up and enhance the grounds.  Well done Tommy.

Seven – a –side Tournament

Connemara R.F.C will have a very special seven – a –side tournament at the Monastery field next July.  It is proposed to accept the first 16 applicants for the Mens section and the first 6 teams for the Ladies section.  There will be a panel of 12 per team and payment of €120 per team at time of acceptance.
The Connacht Branch are very supportive and agreed with the organisers selected dates of  July  1st, 2nd and 3rd 2011.  The games will run on Friday evening, all day Saturday and the finals on Sunday.  It is hoped that local businesses, Chamber of Commerce and the Tourist Board will be very supportive.  The first week in July this year was quiet Tourist wise and this fixture should be of some help locally.
Chairman James Staunton has a committee of Irene King, Matt O’Sullivan, Pete Smyth  & Kevin Keogh.  It is hoped to make this tournament an annual fixture.  There is interest already to teams from the U.S.A, South Africa & England.

Lotto – Please promote and support and our lotto as funds are needed to run this club in a professional way.
 
 
Sales On-Line –
 
Our Secretary Irene King is doing trojan work in organising our sales on line network. Hoodies, t-shirts, polo shirts, managers jackets, rain wear etc will all be available. It is hoped that much needed funds can be generated. Connemara R.F.C has support in many countries including Canada, France and the UK.
 
Tag Rugby
 
Connemara R.F.C are hoping to organise a tag rugby tournament on Omey Beach next summer and to make it an annual outing. The Omey Beach is a magnificent and popular venue.

Matt O’Sullivan – PRO

AGM:
Connemara R.F.C had a well attended A.G.M at the Station House Hotel Clifden on Thursday the 27th May.

President Aidan O’Halloran was congratulated on his election as Junior President of the Connacht R.F.C.  This means that in a few years he will be the Senior President of the Connacht Branch.  The committee for the new season is as follows:

President:  Aidan O’Halloran
Vice President:  Des Fogerty
Hon. Secretary:  Irene King
Assist. Secretary:  James Staunton
Treasurer:  Mary Lydon
Assist. Treasurer:  Chris Shanahan
Fixtures Secretary:  Gerry King
Membership Secretary: Pete Smyth
Head Coach:  Bernard Keaney
Junior Coach:  Gerry King
Team Manager:  Joe O’Connell
PRO:  Matt O’Sullivan
Branch Delegates: Des Fogerty, Peter Keane, Pete Smyth & Charlie Bourke
Child Welfare Officer:  Irene King
Hon. Medical Officer:  Dr. John Casey
Pitch Committee Chairman:  Tommy Coyne
Lotto Committee Chairman: Peter Keane
General Committee:  Rory O’Toole, Gerry Delaney, Breda Coneys, P.J Heffernan, John Sheridan, Mark Foyle & Pat Shanahan

Sympathies:
The Connemara R.F.C have sympathised with the Lydon family on the recent death of Ms. Lena Lydon.  Her son Pat was a stalwart player for the team.  She was predeceased by her son Peter also a great player and club member.

The club also has sympathised with the McDonagh family Cleggan on the recent death of John McDonagh.  His son Ian is a very accomplished prop forward with the Community School Clifden and Connemara’s under twenties team.

Both families have been stalwart supporters since the club was formed in 1974.

Local Golf:
Brother Vivian Cottier of the Franciscan Monastery Clifden and a Connemara R.F.C club founder won Dr. John Casey’s Captains Prize at Connemara Golf Links on Sunday the 27th July.  Br.”Viv” was a great Coach with Connemara but was also a very firm and tactful referee.

Senior Team:
Bernard Keaney addressed a recent meeting of Connemara R.F.C and outlined his ambitions for the coming season.  A few recruits have been signed and it is hoped to widen the experience of our many great local players during the coming season in the All Ireland League & Connacht Competition.

On Tour:
Liam Keogh arrived home on Wednesday the 30th June from his tour with the Irish Rugby Team to Australia & New Zealand.  He gave a very vivid description of the itinerary and met former Connemara Coach Dick Laffan as well as Rachel Wallace of Clifden.
He was happy with the display of the Connacht players and built up a rapport with some of the Irish officials.

Underage Update:
Connemara players are doing very well this season at under age level.  The following have been selected on to Connacht Squads.
Mark Gavin, Chris Heneghan, Cathal Heanue, Roddy O’Donnell & Stephen Mullen (U17 Squad).
Patrick King ( U16 Squad).
James O’Toole, Thomas Joyce, Matthew Gavin (U15 squad),
 
Well done to Oisin Heffernan -(Leinster U16 squad)

World Cup Injury:
It was very sad that Connemara’s Tiernan O’Halloran had to return home from the under 20’s World Cup in Argentina as he suffered an injury.  We were all looking forward to seeing him line out at No. 14 in the game against England.  He was sadly missed.  Tiernan also helped Ireland win this years Six Nations under 20’s competition with some speedy and intelligent rugby.  He was also on the Connacht Senior Team at the end of the season.  We wish him a prosperous rugby season after a deserved summers rest.

Club Membership 2010-2011
Peter Smith our membership secretary will be shortly looking to sign up as many as possible from all age groups and genders.  Also there is lots of room in our 300 Club Membership – a  draw each month. – for €120 per year or €10 per month direct debit.

Congratulations!
Congratulations to Jimmy Screen and Becky Gavin on the recent birth of their son Thomas.  Jimmy who played for Connacht and Ireland A on a good number of occasions gave valuable help to Connemara in the second half of the season to retain their AIL Status.  This helped coach/player Bernard Keaney to fully concentrate during the games.  As usual Bernard was a true Connemara Sportsman doing his work with diligence and great success.

It’s a great club getting better.

Matt O’Sullivan – PRO, Connemara RFC