CHRISTMAS DRAW By the time this is being read the Éire Óg AGM (Tuesday 9th ) will be done and dusted and all will be fully apprised of the far from satisfactory state of Éire Óg Greystones finances. Unfortunately no options such as the burning of bond holders are available to the club and we are forced once again to fall back on the generosity of the people of Na Clocha Liatha. It can be appreciated then how important the Christmas Draw is in helping to tide us over the expensive, insurance and team registration, early months of 2015.
STAIR 'Twas fit and well that brothers Danny and Jimmy Hatton looked in last week's Bray People holding up the football used in Craobh Sinsear an Chondae in 1954. Kilcoole won the county championship that year and both were members of the victorious team. Many of the panel have passed on, beannacht Dé lena n-anam, but nevertheless one would hazard that a much uttered phrase on the night by those with memories of this important occasion in the history of the Kilcoole club went something like “60 years ago! Would you believe it?” . Jimmy went on to achieve fame as an All-Ireland hurling and football referee and Danny, who moved to the Mill Road, took up the cause of juvenile Gaelic football in Greystones by becoming a mentor in the nascent Éire Óg. He has an unbroken association with the club since. This is recognised in the fact that he is an Uachtarán of Éire Óg Greystones. One can truthfully say that Kilcoole's loss has been Greystones' gain. Beannacht Dé orthu agus fad saol dóibh beirt.
DEA- GHÚIONNA One was reminded once again, as if such reminding was necessary, that time moves on or, as expressed allegorically in the sean-fhocal, “dá fhad é an lá tagann an oíche” (no matter the length of the day, night comes) on reading in the report of the Coiste na nÓg convention that Pat Mitchell of Rathnew had called it a day with respect to his formal involvement with Coiste an Chondae. Pat has been part of the Wicklow GAA furniture for many and many a year and it will be the poorer for his going. All in Éire Óg wish him every happiness in the days ahead. Bain taitneamh sa do shaol nua, Pat.
