* The Annual General Meeting of St Malachy’s GAC Castlewellan will take place on Thursday 29 November 2012 at 8.00pm in The Social Club writes Michael Maclean. Nomination forms are available from the bar steward or download from the website. They must be returned on or before Thursday 8 November 2012.
* The Under-21 Footballers kicked off their Championship with a tough and uncompromising game with Lower Mourne on a very cold Dublin Road on Sunday. Castlewellan went on to rue the giving away of two relatively soft goals which left them chasing the game. A total of 11 first half wides and the giving away of possession proved to be damaging. When the game was in the balance the Town had a goal disallowed. On the back of this the Lower Mourne went up the field and tagged on two more points.
They managed to hold their six point lead to the end winning 2-07 to 0-07. Good performances by Collie Devlin and Paddy Boyle in midfield with Sean Dornan putting in a good performance at full forward. Rory Burns put in sterling work at half back. Sunday’s team was certainly a team of family connections. We had the Corrigan, Dornan and the Gilmore brothers stripped out in the Green & Black. It was also good to see Aidan Dornan and Finbarr Toner back playing having recovered from serious injury.
* Now that late Autumn and early Winter is upon us and the playing season is coming to an end, you can help your fitness by joining the runners attached to the club. Castlewellan AC athletes are running on a Tuesday & Thursday night. They leave from the club at 7.00pm. It will not be long before the 2013 Spring Lake comes round so it is time to get in shape for it.
* Thank you to all those members who were able to make it to the Club Meeting on Friday evening last. All your input was most welcome with some important issues discussed and certainly food for thought for the Executive Committee to digest.
* Sunday past was a busy day around the Club. Thank you to all of you from near and far who supported the Bingo. The Children’s Hallowe’en Disco was a great success. Thank you to all the organisers, parents and to all the children who made it a fantastic family atmosphere. Terry Connolly was the scariest dressed up person at the disco and he didn’t even make an effort! Proceeds from the disco and bun & cake sale were in aid of The Bridgewater Suite in the Belfast City Hospital. Thank you to Paul McArdle for providing the music and the parents who generously baked and provided the buns and cakes.
* Our Annual Mass for all our members past, present and deceased will take place this Friday November 2nd at 7.30pm in St Malachy’s Church Castlewellan. Everyone is welcome to come along. We encourage all our members to come along in their club gear. Castlewellan GAC plays a big part in Community life in the Parish.
This is the end of the year when we celebrate the year that has been and remember all those people who gave so much to our club and relatives that have now gone to their eternal rest. We invite everyone associated with the club to join us for the mass and a cup of tea in the club afterwards. Everyone is welcome.
* Commiserations to An Dun Schools but in particular Paraic Hardy and Rory Burns who were part of the Schools Team that lost The Danske Bank Mageean Cup Final in Hurling to St Mary’s Belfast last Thursday evening at Casement Park. Rory cracked in a goal on the 51st minute to put his team in the lead. St Mary’s did come back to win 3-14 to 1-13. This is the Down Schools’ first year in the competition. It will be no consolation but the lads have done their Schools, clubs and themselves proud.
* Well after Wolfie’s (as Rónán now likes to be called) trip up Slieve Donard helped his preparation for Castlewellan’s Let’s Dance, I would have thought that some of the other competitors would be inspired to make some audacious effort to outdo Ronan’s Herculean feat. Well there was sort of! Seamus “The Shimmie” Owens has been doing a few extra hours with his dance partner Marcella.
On Friday night past Seamus was busy moving all the chairs so he could practice. Down on the floor went the salt, he slipped into his dancing shoes and on came the music. Poetry in motion! Only problem was he was dancing by himself. You might want to ask Marcella to dance Seamus. You both will have a better chance of winning.
Meanwhile Ray “Goldfinger” Cunningham and his dance partner Amy’s “A Singer” Brannigan spilt up for the weekend. Amy hit the musical trail on Saturday to get some inspiration in a debut performance. And by coincidence she belted out “Nobody does it better”. Staying in the theme, Ray hit the movies to see the latest James Bond installment. There may have been the odd dancer or one with him also! Tickets are on sale on every Sunday Night in the Club from 9.00pm for the two semi Finals on 24 November and 1 December.
* A hurling foundation coaching course will be held on Saturday 3 November with a child protection course on the Friday night beforehand in RGU club rooms Downpatrick. Anyone interested should contact John O’Neill or Aidan Rodgers.
* Winter Fun Coaching Programme will commence on Monday 5th November 2012 in St Malachy’s High School. The timings for each group to attend are as follows; P1-P4 6-7pm, P5-P7 7-8pm. The cost for this £6 for six sessions. Registration will be on the night. Again all children in these age groups are welcome.
* There were no jackpot winners and two £20 winners in this week’s lotto. The numbers were 2, 3, 10, 27. The £20 winners were Mickey McAlinden and Teresa Rice. Jackpot next week is £2450.
