Club News - 31st December 2017

Happy New Year
As the year draws to a close we would like to take this opportunity to thank you our members, sponsors and supporters for the contributions you have made in 2017 that make Roscommon Gaels GAA club such a great success. The year ahead brings many exciting opportunities and we will need everyone's help to turn the dreams of our players and your families, into reality.  Our club belongs to all its members and is there to support the ambitions of our players at all levels and playing codes.  This is YOUR club; its purpose is to enhance the happiness & health of its members, your children, your families, your community and your friends. Please do what you can to develop this club for everyone's benefit.
 Again many thanks for the huge contributions in 2017 and best wishes for the year ahead.

Lotto
There was no winner of the jackpot and next week’s jackpot is €8,500 and the numbers drawn were
8, 12, 16, 19.
The weekly winners of €30 were
• Bridie Fitzmaurice, Sleevinagee.
• Celine Nally, Ballymahon.
• Ray Kennedy, C/o Murray’s.
• Brian McCourt, Antogher Road.

COACHING NEWS (WK 01 2018)
A. Team Managers & Coaches for 2018 - Reminder
Can all Team Mangers decide who will make up their Coaching Group for 2018. The club will be asking each team to forward names of their coaching group within the next few weeks.
 
PLEASE NOTE:
1. Team Managers and Coaches must be Garda Vetted.
2. Team Managers and coaches must have attended a CHILD PROTRECTION IN SPORT AWARENESS class (formerly called Code of Ethics) –
3. Each team manager should identify what Coaching Courses each coach in their Management Team has completed.
 
Team Managers and their Coaches should be considering putting together Coaching Plans covering Short Term, Medium Terms and Long Term Goals for the 2018 season.
 
B. Visit by Roscommon Gaels to Primary Schools in Town - Reminder
Following the positive feedback from the visit by our Football & Hurling Coaches to the Gael Scoil and Abbey Boys (now St Comans Wood) in early 2017 we are planning a repeat visit before our Registration evening which is on 02 Feb. We will be asking our coaches to assist. More details to follow in next couple of weeks.
 
C. Upcoming Safeguarding Courses
Safeguarding Courses - Dates are all Thursdays:
Safeguarding 1: for everyone working with children in sport 11th January.
Safeguarding  2: for children officers, who advocates for the needs and rights of the child 1st of February.
Safeguarding 3: for designated persons whose role is to report suspected or alleged child abuse, 15th February from 7-10pm in Roscommon (venue depends on numbers) cost €15.  We will put another safeguarding 1 on if we have demand. Booking is essential please do so by email to infor@rosactive.org or 0906630853.
         
D. Club Mentoring Workshop / Planning for 2018
Information on implementation of the Programme within our club to follow in coming weeks. The programme will include an opportunity for all our coaches to present their views on how we can improve our club.
 
E. National GAA Developments Conference 2018
The annual GAA Games Development conference in partnership with Sky Sports will take place on Friday and Saturday January 12th and 13th 2018 in Croke Park. The cost of the conference is 60 Euro and for further information and booking details go to the GAA.ie website.

25 Card Drive
25 card playing in the Hyde continues on Monday nights.  The regular clientele are enjoying the cards, the craic and the friendly cuppa.  There is a €5 entry with cash prize on the night. All are welcome. Many thanks to all the players, who competed over the season, for their support of this Club event – we would love to see more players joining on Monday 8th of January 2018 when play resumes.

BAG PACK
The annual bag pack took place in Dunnes Stores on Christmas Eve.  Many thanks to all those both young and old who took the time out from what is a very busy day at home and assisted with this excellent fundraiser.  Thanks to Natasha Comiskey Hoare who coordinated the day.

Quiz Night
The Gaels Quiz night took place last Thursday night in Carthy’s Porterhouse.  Once again it was a great success with a large crowd in attendance and a great night of fun and laughs was had by all.  Mc on the night was Deckie Hoare who did a brilliant job and kept the crowd entertained as did the questions.  On behalf of the club thank you to all the people who came to support the quiz in such great numbers, to those that organised and helped with the quiz and to those who gave spot prizes.  Well done to all concerned.

Registration for 2018
Roscommon Gaels Club Registration Night will take place on Friday 2nd of February at 7pm in the Hyde Centre for all members – underage & senior.
All players must be registered (affiliated to GAA and Insured) before taking part in any club activity (training & games).  Applications forms can be found on the website http://roscommongaels.gaa.ie/documents   it is important we have all contact numbers and emails addresses.  When communicating with juvenile members messages will be sent to parents/guardians only.

MAKING THE MOST OF OUR CLUB
It is important to note that a Club does not have to be winning championships every year to be seen as an ‘active’ Club. There are many examples of positive stories in the Club including:
 • Anniversary of past glories 
• Fundraising success
 • Club social nights 
• Pitch and clubhouse development 
• Juvenile blitzes in the Club
 • County player visiting the Club 
• Club players making a county panel 
One of the most effective ways of ensuring that the Club’s story is told to the members and to the community in general is our newsletter, website and social media.  In order for it to be effective we need more input, more photos, more news.  I am asking all teams, all codes to designate someone a parent a manager a mentor to take a photo, to send in a couple of words we are after all making memories.  Our club is positive, progressive, alive and active’! Let our members see that the Club is a place full of social and sporting activity.  Let us show how much enjoyment and activity that players are getting in the Club. Effective communication requires a ‘team effort’. Every officer every member has some part to play in communicating or providing information when required.   Send in those match results no matter how bad or good they are.  Let’s not assume people know what is going on lets tell them.

Scor na nOg Finals
Our finals were postponed in early December due to heavy snow and our finalists have had to hold off until January to showcase their talents. On Friday 5th January the various clubs will travel to Elphin Community centre to perform and find out who will be crowned County Champions. 
The Connacht Finals will take place in Claremorris on the 14th January. Elphin G.A.A club have already been crowned County Champions in Tráth na gCeist and have been awarded The Pat Dennehy Memorial Cup.
 
This will be a fantastic night of entertainment where the young people of Roscommon will perform in the hope of bringing glory back to their parishes. Please come and support the young people in your area. The tickets cost €10 and can be bought at the door. The competition starts at 7 pm sharp.

Scór na nÓg Finalists
Figure Dancing: St. Dominic’s, Roscommon Gaels, Shannon Gaels, St. Aidan’s
Solo Singing: Saoirse Murray(Kilbride), Ciara Mulheir(St. Croan,s), Joe Cunnane (St. Croan’s), Maeve Bhurton (Ros Gaels)
Recitation: Katie Heneghan (St. Aidan’s), Patrick Mullooly (St. Dominic’s A), Roisin Kenny (St. Dominic’s B), Rose McGreevey (Shannon Gaels B)
Ballad Group: Kilbride, St. Croan’s, St. Dominic’s A, St. Dominic’s B,
Léiriú: Oran, Elphin, Kilmore, St. Dominic’s
Ceol Úirlise: Kilbride, Roscommon Gaels, Boyle, Elphin
Set Dancing: St. Dominic’s, Elphin

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