Castlemartyr Notes (21st Jan)
- Jan 21,2024
NEW MEMBERSHIP BUNDLES 2024
Our Membership Bundles are instrumental to our Clubs development. As we celebrate Castlemartyr GAA’s centenary in 2024 our goal is to enhance the club's facilities. Upgrades to date include – 700m walking track, improved car park, new pitch lighting, improved toilets and improved pitch surfaces!
We could not have done this without your support. This year we plan to continue the development work and will complete our new All Weather Pitch in the next few weeks, with our ultimate long term goal of a new Club House! These facilities will benefit the whole community!
Re Details of Membership Bundles - cost 480, 360 and 252 euro respectively (standard membership is also still available), please contact a club member - we will be more than happy to discuss your options. Bundles include membership of Castlemartyr GAA, Castlemartyr Camogie & Kiltha Óg, and covers all the family! Payment can be made online via Club Force. Contact a committee member with any queries.
The new all weather will be a shining example of the club's vision for the future - we obviously need you continued support more than ever this year. So, we appeal to all members and friends to sign up and also help in recruiting additional support.
- Thanking everyone in advance.
Social Night
Thanks to all who attended Saturday's club social at Clifford's. The presentation of the JFL2 medals for 2022 took place and was followed by the traditional annual awards.
Special words of congratulations to Conor Whyte who had double reason to celebrate as he was named intermediate hurler and junior footballer of the year. Conor was ultra consistent between posts in football producing some top class saves, whilst his outstanding kicking was a big feature of the season. After proving his versatility during the hurling league, Conor made a big impression when breaking onto the championship team and illuminated his displays with some spectacular scores.
Niall Morgan was voted junior hurler of 2023 - he was a star man in what was a marathon league and championship season, when he was top scorer, landing some mighty points.
Meantime, outgoing chairman Mike Falahee took the plaudits as winner of the Frank McLellan memorial club person of the year award. Mike's non stop energy drove the club on relentlessly over the past three years - he got the best out of everyone, leading by example with his huge dedication to the cause- a most deserving winner of this prestigious award.
A special presentation was also made to Seamus Lawton in recognition of his huge contribution to the hurlers success in recent times. It has been a golden era for the club and Seamus and his colleagues oversaw a historic era for our club.
Bonus Draws
As part of last Saturday's social night, the 2023 bundles draw for gold members took place, with the following four people all now €250 richer. Well done to Ciaran Joyce,Trudy Abernethy, Cathal Lynch and Dave Scully.
Mike Falahee was the winner of the draw for 2 tickets for Munster's forthcoming rugby game v Crusaders at Pairc Ui Chaoimh ( or SuperValu Pairc or SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh) ... no doubt he will find the way.
League Fixtures
The 2024 Red FM division 5 hurling league will begin with a short trip to Cloyne on Sunday March 10th. Our first home game is against Argideen Rangers two weeks later, before a visit to Ballygarvan on April 6th and a home clash with intermediate county champions Aghabullogue on April 20th.
The other games are away to Dungourney, at home to Midleton, away to Tracton, at home to Mayfield, before concluding in Watergrasshill on June 30th.
East Cork Fixtures
The Imokilly GAA division will hold its first meeting this Wednesday evening, after which we should know about the fixture structure for the season ahead, with championship draws due to take place.
However, we do have some information already.
- UNDER 21 B FOOTBALL - Castlemartyr will play round robin group games on each of the first three weekends in February. The winners of each group will contest the final on Feb 25th.
- JUNIOR FOOTBALL - Castlemartyr will be in Div 1 League, will have 6 games, beginning on March 3rd. Championship begins on July 7th, with the first of 3 group games. The reds will not be amongst the 3 seeded teams.
- JUNIOR HURLING - Castlemartyr are promoted to division 1 and will have 7 group games, starting on March 10th.
- UNDER 21 HURLING - Castlemartyr have been regraded to a 13- a-side C championship, where they will have 3 group games in late autumn.
Centenary Year
2024 promises to be a very special year in the history of Castlemartyr GAA Club. It's birthday number 100 and despite the bad weather on January 1st, a large crowd turned up to get the party underway
On the field of play the last few years have been some of the most exciting and successful in a century of memories. Two county hurling titles have been won, whilst the club also came within seconds of graduating to senior ranks, before being edged out by Inniscarra in the 2022 premier intermediate decider.
Running parallel to progress on the pitch, has seen some major off field development. Facilities at their home base, Paddy Walsh Memorial Park, named after a true club legend, have been greatly enhanced, as reflected by the current project now almost complete - the addition of a new all weather floodlit training pitch.
Central to this year of celebration will be a major reunion on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, with a big emphasis on a family day with a full range of activities on the anniversary of Gaelic Sunday August 4.
Depicting one hundred years of activity is far from an easy task, but during the course of 2024 the intention is to keep nostalgia to the fore, with regular articles and photographs being updated on the club's website and on social media. Big thanks to Pat Walsh for compiling all this nostalgia content and to Elaine Bowens for all her work on social media etc.
At the end of the year "A Year In The Life" a pictorial review of Centenary Year will be produced ensuing a lasting memory of an historic year. So all managers, coaches etc make sure you get a team shot on day one of your championship season.
Club Gear
On the field of play the last few years have been some of the most exciting and successful in a century of memories. Two county hurling titles have been won, whilst the club also came within seconds of graduating to senior ranks, before being edged out by Inniscarra in the 2022 premier intermediate decider.
Running parallel to progress on the pitch, has seen some major off field development. Facilities at their home base, Paddy Walsh Memorial Park, named after a true club legend, have been greatly enhanced, as reflected by the current project now almost complete - the addition of a new all weather floodlit training pitch.
It comes on the back of other works in recent years which include a new walking track, new perimeter fencing and the considerable enhancement on the club's main pitch, which has made it into one the best playing surfaces in the division.
Now the objective is to continue development work to ensure the best possible facilities are available for Castlemartyr GAA, Castlemartyr camogie club, the recently formed ladies football club and Kiltha Og juveniles. Carey Joyce takes over the reins as club chairman following on from the wonderful work done by Mike Falahee who drove the club with great energy over the past three years.
Amongst the various sub committees established in recent times is the Centenary group, chaired by John Whyte. They have already done a huge amount of work tailored towards making 2024 a year to remember for the ever growing Castlemartyr GAA family.Central to this year of celebration will be a major reunion on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, with a big emphasis on a family day with a full range of activities on the anniversary of Gaelic Sunday August 4.
The club will also host the divisional junior A grade hurling final in early autumn and are also hoping to secure some other high profile fixtures at their very well appointed picturesque venue.
Midsummer will also see the annual Castlemartyr GAA Golf Classic extended to a three day event, whilst a tree planting ceremony in the near future, the centenary long puck and other sporting and social events will also be amongst the ongoing programme. Nostalgia Club Gear
The Centenary gear is now available on the O'Neill's club site, whilst calendars are also on sale locally in Castlemartyr.
Car stickers are also available from the Centenary committee.
Wednesday Walks
January 24th and 31st are the remaining dates for our Wednesday walks from 7pm to 8pm. All welcome to join us
