GAA President for Official Opening in Rathcormac.
This coming Friday, September the 9th is a Red-Letter day in the history of the Bride Rovers GAA Club. On that evening the President of the GAA Christy Cooney will perform the Official Opening of our newly built Hurling Alley and Astra Turf Playing area. Fr. Seanie Barry who was ordained in 1971 will celebrate Mass at 7pm in the Clubroom with the Opening Ceremony timed for 7.45. It will be an evening of celebration for the people of the entire parish as the GAA Club plays such an important role in Rathcormac, Bartlemy and Kildinan.
It was in May 1977 that the Bride Rovers Club purchased 6.6 acres of land from the Scannell family to provide a permanent playing pitch for the Club. Previous to this time , like most clubs Bride Rovers had led a ‘nomadic’ existence with pitches being used in different parts of the parish down the years. In 1979 the new pitch was levelled, fenced in and seeded. The first game was played in the pitch on June 4th 1983. Plans to open the grounds in Centenary year were postponed and instead that year the four dressingrooms were built. One of the leading lights in the purchase and development of the grounds was Tom Barry NT or ‘the Master’ as he was better known. He was the first Secretary of the Club in 1928. He served the GAA at Club, Divisional and County level. He died in March 1985 just a few months before the Pitch was officially opened on June 2nd by then County Board Chairman Con Murphy.
In 1984 the GAA Centenary year Bride Rovers GAA club fielded a total of 17 different teams from u 12 to Junior and also Ladies Football. In 2009 which was the GAA’s 125th ‘Birthday’ the number of Bride Rovers teams on the field had increased to over 30. As well as hurling and football from under 8 to Senior we now also had a vibrant Camogie and Ladies Football Section. Two years ago a Development Committee looked at the needs of the Club into the future. We have just one playing pitch owned by the Club and are very fortunate with the last 6 years to have been able to rent a second field. Providing further facilities for training and coaching of all club players was felt to be an absolute necessity. It was decide to do a phased development of new facilities. The thinking behind this was two-fold, firstly to have the initial phase up and running fairly quickly and secondly not to have a huge debt burden on the Club in these straitened economic times.
The Work.
Work commenced on this project in the autumn of 2010. A decision was made to build a completely flood-lit Hurling Alley with an Astro Turf Playing area attached. This was to be fenced in with netting. The Ryan brothers, Donal and Sean from Mondaniel – both Co. winning Captains with the Club undertook the construction work. As we all know it was a bad and freezing winter and spring but regardless of the weather good progress was made and by March the magnificent facility was taking shape. The Astro turf surface itself was supplied and laid by Ovens based Company Synthi Green. One of the first coaching sessions on the new surfaces was given by former Kilkenny hurler and now Leinster GAA Coach, Lester Ryan. He was delighted with the design which includes fine apron sidewalls. The three walls plus the back wall ensure that the variety of hurling skills which can be perfected are endless. The lighting and fencing work were completed in the last few months.
The Facility.
Even though the project has only been available for use with a short period it is already proving to be a great boon for all club teams. With the walls and the grass-like surface it is brilliant for coaching all age groups from under 6 upwards. The fact that it is floodlit is also very important as it provides a top class amenity on an all year round basis. Over the last few years there has been fierce pressure on our two pitches especially in the March to July period with so many teams trying to get time slots for training. This new development will be a great help as teams can train earlier or later regardless of daylight considerations. It is also envisaged that the facility will be available for hire at a reasonable rate when not being used by Club teams or players.
GAA President.
Youghal’s Christy Cooney is just the third Corkman to hold the highest office in the GAA. Sean Mc Carthy and Con Murphy were the two previous Leeside incumbents. Christy played for many years with the Youghal Club before going down the road of GAA administration. At a very young age he became Chairman of both Cork County Board and Munster Council of the Association. Having been defeated by Nickey Brennan in his first attempt to become GAA President he was selected as President Elect at GAA Congress in Sligo in 2008. He took over in the office at Congress in Cork at Easter 2009. He will serve as President until next year when Laois man Liam O Neill is installed at Congress in Portlaoise. His Presidency has been an extremely busy one. The GAA continues to grow and develop and now has a huge presence all over the world wherever Irish exiles are to be found. All Ireland Finals, International Rules Games and All Star Tours have been part and parcel of Christy Cooney’s life for the last three years. Despite all the travelling and major occasions which he has been part of the individual GAA Club in every Parish is still so important to him. It’s where all GAA activity starts and ends.
The total cost of developing this Phase has been close to €100,000. The Bride Rovers GAA club is indebted to the Parish Development Council for giving a substantial Grant towards the project. When major renovations and refurbishments of the Churches in Bartlemy and Rathcormac were commenced in the mid 1990’s various fund raising schemes were initiated in the parish. Foremost amongst these was the monthly Car Boot Sale which became a phenomenal success. Close on a million Euro was expended on the Churches and a huge portion of this money came from the proceeds of the Car Boot sales. When the Church Renovations were completed a Parish Development Council was set up to continue with the monthly Car Boot Sales. Groups from within the Parish area can draw down funds from the proceeds of the Car Boot Sales. Without the financial aid from this source it would have been extremely difficult to complete the project.
Friday 9th of September Programme.
From six o clock until seven different under age groups of hurlers and camogie players will demonstrate their skills in the new Alley. At seven o clock Fr. Seanie Barry will celebrate Mass in the Clubroom and everyone is welcome to attend. At 7.45 the GAA President Christy Cooney will unveil a Plaque and officially open the new facility. After the Opening Fr. Seanie will Bless the grounds. Refreshments will then be served in the Clubrooms.
The Bride Rovers Club extends a Cead Mile Failte to one and all to come along on Friday night. All Club members, supporters , players and parents of players are invited as well as the general public. Even if you have no interest in Gaelic games you are welcome to come and view the new amenity.
SCRAP COLLECTION.
The Scrap metal collection over the last six weeks has been a great success. We are still taking all kinds of metal from clothes hangers to combine harvesters. If you can bring the scrap to our collection points all the better but if you need to have it be collected this can be arranged. Ring Terry 087 930000 or James at 086 8350741. People have asked if we take ‘small’ scrap like drink and food cans … once it is metal we’ll be glad of it!
MINOR FOOTBALL Cship.
We are down to play combination side Slieverue in the Co Minor F Cship on next Sunday Sept 11th. The game is fixed for Riverstick at 6pm. Best of luck lads.
We have a Minor Football league tie v St Catherines on tonight Thursday September 8th in Ballynoe at 8pm -under lights.
JHL Division Two.
The position in the Junior Hurling League Division Two is as follows. We are in the Final or if St Itas win their three remaining games and Cloyne draw their last game we may be in a three way tie at the top. Last year scoring averages decided what teams got to the Final and at present we are in a good position.
CO. CHAMPIONS.
Well done to our u 14 hurlers who had a magnificent win in their Co Final replay against Dromtarriffe on Saturday last. It was a thriller of a game in Mallow with great scores from both teams. In the second half we came from three points down to win by four. Team Captain Shane Walsh received the Cup from Mark Sheehan Co Board Youth Officer. It was a great win after an eight game campaign
LADIES ON MUNSTER TRAIL.
Recently crowned Cork Intermediate Champions the Ladies Football team set out on the Munster Championship trail on this Saturday Sept 10th when they face Tipp champions Moyle Rovers. The tie is fixed for Ballygiblin at 2.45 but may yet be changed. The Ladies Club are taking a bus to the Cork v Monaghan All Ireland Senior Final on September 25th to support Grace and Eleanor. The Fare is €35 for adults and €15 for Juveniles and that includes a Match Ticket. To Book contact any Club Officer.
SOCIAL INITIATIVE OUTING.
The Parish Social Initiative Group are organising a Trip to Wexford on next Wed 14th of September. The bus will leave Rathcormac at 7.30 stopping in Dungarvan for breakfast. After that it’s on to the Dunbroody famine Ship for a cruise up the river Barrow. Lunch is at 12.30 and then on to JF Kennedy Park and Hook Head and back to Dungarvan for a light meal and music. To book ring 087 2021225, 086 4028398, 087 2177547, 025 36415, 086 8552537, 087 9538077 or 086 8354093.
THE CATS ARE BACK.
They never really went away I suppose but on Sunday last Kilkenny clocked up their 33rd All Ireland Senior Hurling Title. It wasn’t the high scoring contest of last year but the Cats backs only yielded four points from plat to the much vaunted Tipperary forward division. It was great to see Jimmy, Johnny and Ger on the field with their 1986 team-mates and hopefully we’ll soon see those men on the sideline with a Cork team on the First Sunday of September.
