Contents:

• Hard Slog Life: Teams back to training – Update & schedule
• Development Nears Completion: Changing room / gym update 
• Thanks to Niamh Farrelly: New PRO update
• Skills Appeal: Artist & photographer wanted
• Other news:
  • Jan 28th: Dinner Dance & Club Cleanup
  • GAA National Draw: Tickets back by Jan 31st
  • Scoil on Instagram
  • Appeal to halt new gear orders
  • Video: Ulster football trains the females coaches

Hard Slog Life

Rain or snow, training for all ages resumes after a well-deserved break

With the Christmas break behind us, all teams – from nursery to adults – are back in action as training resumes and cobwebs are dusted off.

The adult male footballers and hurlers can be found in Alfie Byrne all-weather complex on Monday evenings, followed by circuit training in Scoil, which is the scene for full training for both codes on Thursdays evenings. The footballers welcome a new addition to the management team as Tom McNamee has been drafted in by fellow Louth man and current manager Declan O’Sullivan to invigorate a team which has enjoyed exponential growth recently and is on the cusp of greater glory.

Adult training schedules are as follows (subject to change):

 – Monday in Alfie Byrne: Hurlers @6.45pm & Footballers @7.15pm

 – Thursday in Scoil: Hurlers @6.45pm & Footballers @7.15pm

 – Saturday in Scoil: Footballers @8.30am

It was all smiles – albeit with some warm layers – on Saturday morning as our juvenile players were back with evidence of Santa’s arrival in crisp gear and some flashy boots! Our juvenile hurlers will  break out the rubber bas, aerodynamic sliotar and enjoy a break from the elements as they will be taking part in an indoor hurling tournament in Gormanstown for the next five Sundays. Parents should notify mentors as to the availability on a week-by-week basis. It would also be great to see some carpooling to share the burden…and maybe relieve some environmental burden!

Both our ladies adult and minor teams indoor training takes place in Marino Institute of Education Sports hall on Tuesday nights from 8-9pm. 

As always, new players to all codes and levels are more than welcome and should get in touch with the appropriate mentor, found on our Contacts page.

Development Nears Completion

Just final touches needed before the Grand Opening

There was plenty of excitement last week as players basked in the glory of our new changing room setup, and there was no time wasted following the installation of the new gym as the Adult Men’s Footballers were straight to work with fitness tests and tactics sessions.

This development was the result of immense hard work by many people throughout the club and is a significant investment. For that reason, we all must commit to start as we mean to go on and show the utmost respect to what is essentially a second home to many dedicated players.

Thanks to Niamh Farrelly

A shining example

Lifelong clubwoman, mother of players, writer of notes and Saturday morning clubhouse guardian Niamh Farrelly has, as of this week, stepped down from her role as PRO. 

Niamh has served in this role for five years and has never missed a trick in ensuring that all of our members and local media are kept informed of the happenings in Scoil. Niamh previously served as Secretary and will no doubt continue to contribute to our progress; testament to why she is a former awardee of Club Person of the Year! Although we would encourage Niamh to take some well deserved time off and enjoy her newfound freedom from weekly Scoil deadlines.

Thanks Niamh!

Next Chapter

With Niamh moving on I (Alan Cronin) will step in in the interim. With that, like with all handovers, there will be some changes and, with them I’m sure, some nuances. Please feel free to contact me if you have any issues or have feedback/suggestions.

In the meantime, the role is open for succession so if you are, or if you know someone who is, interested please reach out. The plan going forward is to rotate this role far more regularly than in the past so do not be put off on the basis of commitment. It’s a fantastic opportunity to represent the club in a new way, and also to get a great sense of all the wonderful things that we do and people we have amongst us.

Skills Appeal

Do you know artists / photographers?

In order to take some conceptualisations to prototype we are seeking any artists among our members; by that we mean someone who can sketch some ideas is needed! If you are, or know someone who is, of an artistic nature please contact us with details. 

This is not a work intensive request, but a fun project which will have high visability with minimal workload. 

Similarly, we are seeking a photographer/videographer who can help us to fill our new Instagram page with all the fantastic moments which happen in Scoil. Please contact us if interested or have suggestions.

Other News

Scoil extends its social media reach, dancing shoes at the ready, player welfare and more…

• All members are encouraged to attend this year’s Dinner Dance in Clontarf Castle on January 28th @8pm. This is a great chance for long-time members to catch up and newer members to forge new bonds. Always a smashing night for all (over 18!) levels of the club. 
  Contact Declan Hoban (087-6539943), Joan Cushen (087-2222650), Ronan Murphy (087-9295105) or Tiarnán Crowe (087-6492316) for tickets
  There will also be a club-wide cleanup @10am on January 28th. This is a ‘many hands make light work’ project and all members should make the effort to contribute whatever time they can.
   

• As we wish to continue our year-on-year huge performances in selling the GAA National Draw tickets, all members are asked to acquire tickets from Vice Chairman TJ Farrelly; contact TJ on 086-8326644. Tickets should be returned to the Club by 31st January.

• Always appreciative of our beautiful surroundings on Clontarf’s seafront, proud of our vibrant colours and eager to share our members’ success we want to share our (and your!) best Scoil moments on Instagram. Follow us, tag us and send us your photos.
   
• As we are in the midst of examining our brand, colours and our gear procurement processes, an appeal is being made to all mentors to halt any plans for ordering new gear until guidelines have been set. If you have any queries on this matter, please contact Alan Cronin directly
   
• As the Club Players Association takes off, all adult players are encouraged to register so that Scoil has a strong contingent.

See here as ladies football in Ulster is taking a step forward in creating the next generation of female coaches (thank you to Mairead Sandford for the tag!).