The Annual General Meeting of the Park/Ratheniska GAA Club took place in the Clubhouse on Saturday night last. Chairperson Kevin Fingleton opened proceedings and handed over to Secretary Brian Ramsbottom to take the meeting through his comprehensive report of activities on an off the playing fields in the Club for 2022. On the football front the Club celebrated two league promotions and securing Senior status for 2022, as well as a semi final defeat in the Junior C Championship. Kieran Kellys departure as manager was noted, with great praise and thanks paid to the Ballylinan man and his backroom team for his stewardship of the Clubs Footballers over the past 3 seasons and the great success his tenure brought.
On the Hurling front it was a year of mixed emotions for our adult sides. Relegation from Division 2 was a blow, but the Championship was a great success up until the final where the team came up second best to Abbeyleix. The Junior C's had a good run in the league and Championship, however the final defeat here was another disappointment. Discussion followed on the need to drive on at adult level, to ensure we have the best set up available to cater for the hurlers coming through the ranks at present and into the future. The recent success by our U20 hurlers was discussed with mention being made to the manner of the performances and unity shown within the squad and how it needed to be harnessed and drove forward into adult hurling in 2023.
At juvenile level the Club continues to thrive with good numbers in both codes, and with every juvenile team reaching at the very least a semi final, it speaks well for the level of performance and coaching in the Club. Mention was made to the need to ensure all our coaching teams are fully vetted and have the relevant qualification to allow them work with teams and that this is something that will be demanded of all coaches in 2023. Joe Cunningham was praised for his tireless work at Juvenile level, along with Coaching Officer Darch Kennedy who gave a comprehensive run down of coaching activities in his report.
Its been another year of continued development works off the field also, with the completion of the fully lit Walking Track being the lagest development. Brian Kelly & Mark Carroll were praised for their work here, as was the Executive and especially John Kelly for his stewardship of the project. Remedial works were carried out on the current lights to maintain them in the short term, but plans are in place to upgrade the Lighting to match fit floodlights and this will be a tenant of our upcoming 2023 - 2030 Club Strategic Plan.
This plan will follow on from our previous 2014-2019 Plan which has been all but completed at this stage. Brian outlined the current strain our Grounds due to playing numbers and teams training. Given the manner in which the Club is growing, the need is also growing to explore the possibility of sourcing more land to develop another pitch to ease the pressure on resources. The plan is still in its early stages and will kick off with a Club Forum which we will ask all our members and the Park/Ratheniska Community to attend in early Janurary.
On Finance and Fundraising the Club Lotto and County Board Draw continue to be the main financers of the Club. Expenses continue to rise, a by product of being on our own at football and the needs to give our players and management teams the best to allow them develop to their full potential. DIscussion followed on the Lotto and how best to revitalise this once again and it was agreed there could be further examination of this in the Strategic Plan. The Ploughing was the big event of the year and praise was heaped on all involved in this superb fundraiser and social event. Benny Greene and Enda Downey were thanked in particular for their work here with thanks paid to Billy Shaw for his great assistance. The monies raised from The Ploughing are to be set aside to fund the Floodlighting upgrade.
Kevin Fingleton then took the meeting through his Annual Report thanking everyone who assisted him and the Club in 2022. He paid tribute to our Ladies Club on their successes in 2022 and praised all who worked to put the Club on such a good footing again in 2022. He informed the attendance that reviews were currently being carried out at all age groups in the Club and would be finaised shortly. These would assist the Club in planning for 2023 at all grades. Pauline and the staff in Ratheniska NS were thanked for their assistance also and congratulated for their successes on the playing fields in 2022.
Election of Officers followed with the top table being returned once again as below. Christy FIngleton will be stepping down shortly as Treasurer after nearly two decades of stewardship of the Clubs finances, and a need to find a replacement for him will be foremost in the Clubs plans over the coming weeks. Discussion followed on a Motion to remember the great Will McEvoy along our new Walking Track and it was agreed to explore this further. Jim Morrin asked that all coaches be reminded of their responsibilities with regards the Clubhouse and its security.
Votes of sympathy were passed with all those in the community who lost loved ones in 2022, with special thoughts being with the Cahill family Kylevalley on the recent passing of Mary Cahill. A minutes silence was observed, after which returning Chairperson Kevin Fingleton thanked all who were in attendance and wished everybody a safe and peaceful Christmas period.
Presidents : Ned Mansworth & Har Ramsbottom
Vice Presidents : Har Fingleton, Liam Wall, Sean Cushen, Tom Cushen, James Leonard, Mick Cushen, Alo Corcoran, Liam Greene, Brendan Delaney, Johnny Brennan
Chairperson : Kevin Fingleton: 086 7719331
Vice Chairperson : John Kelly - 087 1313749
Secretary : Brian Ramsbottom - 086 8907522
Asst Secretary :
Treasurer : Christy Fingleton - 087 2416876
Assistant. Treasurer : Pat Brennan - 086 8121641
PRO : Barry Delaney - 086 1624707
Asst PRO :
Cultural Officer : Fiona Kelly
Coaching Officer : Darach Kennedy 087 6976851
Children’s Officer : Brigid Walsh - 086 0822038
Health and Wellbeing Officer : Eileen Dunne
2023 Committee :
Barry Delaney; Brendan Greene; Brian Kelly; Brian Ramsbottom; Brigid Walsh; Christy Fingleton; Darach Kennedy; Eileen Dunne; Ger Ramsbottom, Jim Morrin; Joe Cunningham; John Kelly; John Ramsbottom; Kevin Fingleton, Pat Brennan; Tomas Moore; Tommy O'Connell, Brian Fingleton (Raheenduff).
2023 PARK/RATHENISKA JUVENILE GAA CLUB
Chairperson : Joe Cunningham 086 2474434
Vice Chairman : Liam Dunne 085 8495139
Coaching Officer : Darach Kennedy 087 6976851
Childrens Officer : Brigid Walsh 086 0822038
