A Brilliant Banquet

  • Nov 07,2010

Everyone agreed it was a brilliant banquet, the best ever. It was a fitting tribute to a wonderful year in Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football and it marked the end of the 25thanniversary of the County Board. The icing on the cake was the line up of silverware at the presentation table – six trophies in all – including the Brendan Martin Cup.

 

Almost 300 guests assembled to celebrate Dublin Ladies contribution to the Gaelic life of the County in the Hogan Mezzanine Suite in Croke Park on Saturday 6th last. Recognising the special birthday of the County Board, guests of honour included members from the very first committee who were awarded a specially commissioned piece of chrystal ware to mark the occasion by the current Chairman, Camillus Kilpatrick.

 

Following some brief introductions, Louise Kelly of sponsors O’Neills, herself a former Girl in Blue, said that her Company was proud to be associated with the event. The banquet then began while the events of the year were presented on two large screens compiled from Peter Hickey’s GAApic.com archive. The meal concluded with a video of the highlights of the All Ireland success.

 

RTÉ’s Joanne Cantwell - another former Girl in Blue was on hand to guide the speakers through their speeches and first up was Co Secretary Eoghan Mac Aodhagáin to announce the winners in the Club of the Year awards. In his address he noted that there are 58 Dublin Clubs playing Ladies Football. These Clubs are a key service provider and it is recognized that they are committed to maintaining a vibrant contribution though involvement in sport and physical activity for women in our communities, a fact often overlooked. “It is a fact” he added “that women in Dublin are less involved in sport than women elsewhere in the country. But, it is evident from the growth of Ladies Gaelic Football here in the Capital that our Clubs are playing their part to buck that trend”.  The awards were presented to Man O’War in the small Club category, Naomh Barróg in the mid size Clubs and the large Club award went to Na Fianna. After the presentation of the medals to the players, Joanne returned to the Club of the Year award and Camillus Kilpatrick opened the sealed envelope to reveal overall Best Club – which went to Na Fianna.

Fintan O’Curry recollected the Under 16 successes this year which brought home both Leinster and All Ireland cups to Dublin. In his address, he thanked his management team, the County Committee and especially his panel of committed players who made the dream possible. Quoting from Mohammed Ali he said that the motto of the year was ‘a desire, a dream, a vision’.

Angie McNally thanked Fintan and Gerry McGill for their success on behalf of the County. In their quest for success in the Senior “B” championship, she set out the campaign which drew on the talents of many newcomers to Dublin intercounty games. The panel were dedicated and hardworking and in the end paid off with the Aisling McGing trophy. Thanking her management team, she noted the team effort of all concerned without whom the effort would have been impossible. The Players’ ‘Player of the Year’ went to capt. Sinead Treacy and the “Player of the Year” award was made to Olivia Leonard.

Camillus Kilpatrick presented the Dublin Senior management with a memento of the All Ireland success. Manager Gerry McGill thanked the County Executive committee for the support shown to him and his selectors over the past four years. Recognising the efforts of those who had come before him, people such as Louise Kelly, the presence of the Brendan Martin Cup was in part due to the groundwork put in by the teams and managers in previous times. He especially thanked Angie McNally and the Senior “B”s for the lift given to Senior “A”s by bringing home the Aisling McGing trophy the weekend before the All Ireland. Naming each of his selectors he thanked each for their unique talents which had made so much contribution to the team. Gerry Harrington, Chairman Dublin GAA spoke briefly and thanked the Ladies Association from bringing the All Ireland Honours to Dublin. Sean McMullen, Uachtaráin, Leinster Ladies also address the gathering and noted that the Under 14s and Under 16s had collected the Provincial trophies. “The future of Dublin is secure” he said “and an All Ireland win in Dublin is also a win for Leinster”. Gerry and Sean presented the Senior Players ’‘Player of the Year’ to Sorcha Furlong and the “Player of the Year” to Sinead Ahearne.

It was decided to have a ‘Special Recognition’ award for 2010. Putting a few thoughts into verse about the recipient, Bernice Jones Moore left the audience guessing for several stanzas until the last rhyming couplet when Gerry McGill was revealed as the worthy winner.

Music for the dancing was provided by Spring Break and the merriment continued well into the night.

Photography by GAApics.com and Michael Ryan