Castlemartyr GAA Club, Cork

Club News (Archived)

Golf Classic 2008 Results

Bord Gais Castlemartyr GAA Golf Classic a “Major” Success
Padraig Harrington may have not been able to make it, but the quality of golf did not suffer unduly as it took a whopping 66 points to win the GUI section, and 60 to win the non GUI, in the annual Castlemartyr GAA Golf Classic, this year sponsored kindly by Bord Gais.
It was held at the well prepared East Cork Golf Club on Wednesday the 20th last and congratulations go to the team of Brian O Rourke, M.J. Cremin and Adrian Bowens for annexing the non GUI title and the Killeagh GAA trio captained by Ray Rochford who captured the GUI section. Both sections were tied on points for first and second and the unfortunate team on the non GUI was the Vivian Mackessey trio and in the GUI P. O Donavan’s side was narrowly pipped.
Many thanks to our many sponsors who sponsored the tee boxes, their support is kindly appreciated, and also to all who took the time to play and enhance the event. And also a big thank you to Bord Gais and John Mullins for being our main sponsors, hopefully it’s the start of a long and fruitful relationship.

RESULT NON GUI
1. B O Rourke,A.Bowens,M.J.Cremin 60pts
2. V.Mackessey 60pts
3. M.Aherne T.D.
4. D.Roche
5. D.Fleming

RESULTS GUI

1. Killeagh gaa 66pts
2. P O Donavan 66pts
3. C O Sullivan
4. Dagger Walshe
5. Antoinette Whyte
6. Cha O Neill

Longest Drive
Kevin O Keeffe
4.

Pics: (click to enlarge)

August Draw Results 2008

ANNUAL CLUB FUNDRAISING DRAW 2008
DRAW No 2 - RESULTS
1st Prize €1,500 Tim Dunne, Ballindangan c/o Carey Joyce
2nd Prize €700 D Cox, Glebe House, Mogeely Road
3rd Prize €400 Finola Murphy, 11 The Meadows, Mogeely
4th Prize €300 Claire McAuliffe, Coppingerstown, Midleton
5th Prize €100 John Walsh, Castle Manor
6th Prize €100 Martin O’Brien, Old Blackrock Road
7th Prize €100 James O’Donovan, 63 The Willows, Castlemartyr
8th Prize €100 Peter Power, 6 The Meadows, Mogeely
9th Prize €100 Anne & Willie Walsh, Mogeely
10th Prize €100 Ann Taylor, 12 The Willows, Castlemartyr
Congratulations to all the winners.
We would like to thank all our subscribers for their continued support, which is much appreciated.

Golf Classic 2008

Castlemartyr GAA Golf Classic

Castlemartyr GAA is holding its annual fundraising Golf Classic at East Cork Golf Club on Wednesday 20th of August.
This event is our top fundraising activity during the club year and is crucial to the upkeep of our grounds and day to day running of the club.

You are invited to enter a team for this event-an event that has always been a very enjoyable and sociable day out, and includes a meal in the clubhouse on completion of your round
Entry for the Golf Classic is 180 euro per team of 3 golfers.
Furthermore, tee-box sponsorship can be acquired at 50 euro per tee-box.
The entry fee can be paid on the day or alternatively sent to:
Christy O Sullivan
Grange,
Castlemartyr,
Co. Cork
To book a time please ring Christy at 021 4667325 / 086 8040183
Or e-mail: osullivan.christygmail.com
We look forward to seeing you at the Classic.

John O Keeffe Obituary

The recent demise of John O’Keeffe has removed one of the great characters of East Cork, and a major link with the great Castlemartyr teams of the early sixties. John captained the County winning side in 64 and was at the height of his game then.
A strong man, outstanding hurler and natural athlete meant John was always going to have a sporting career for himself. He starred and won an All-Ireland intermediate medal in ’65 with Cork and was on the Cork U21 team that played against Tipperary in Kildorrery where he marked no less a character than ”Babs Keating”. Tipperary had a number of outstanding players that year including goalkeeper Seamus Shinnors, who later played with Galway, Noel O’Gorman, Len Gaynor, P.J. Ryan, Francis Loughnane and Tommy Butler. “Babs” started on the ‘forty’ but went in full-forward in the second half and scored two vital goals that eventually beat Cork. John played in his customary centre-back position. Paddy Dunne (Cloyne) and Fr. Seanie Barry (Bride Rovers) were the two other East Cork players on the team that played with great assurance only to lose by 3-5 to 2-4. Tipp later won their first U21 All-Ireland by beating Wexford.
He was on the fringes of the Cork senior hurling panel for the ’66 campaign when the famine was ended against Kilkenny. He starred for Cork in the Annual Wembley tournament where Cork beat Wexford. At the time John was playing for so many teams he almost lost count. He won two Fitzgibbon Cup medals with UCC, played with Imokilly in the county championships and while residing in Wexford lined out with Na Fianna and played rugby for Wexford County. He returned to play with Castlemartyr in the early 70’s.
An unfortunate accident in the mid-70’s confined John to a wheelchair, but never dimmed his enthusiasm for Gaelic games and he was a fixture at all Cork games and any other club game of note. A deep love of Irish and his teacher training background enabled him to help many a student in exam preparation. His razor sharp mind and recollection of past games and greats, ensured that John was excellent company to be in. When he travelled through Midleton his trips always took longer than anticipated as he stopped to converse with his wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the area. He will be missed.
To his partner Mary O’Donovan, brothers Donie and Dave, his sister Tess and the late Donough and Margaret, on behalf of all in Castlemartyr GAA club we offer our sincerest condolences and rest assured that the name of John O’Keeffe will always be remembered in the club. Beannacht Dé ar a anam dílis.

July Draw 2008

CLUB DRAW
The first draw in our Annual Two Month Draw took place in Shortt’s Bar last Wednesday night the 9thof July. Castlemartyr GAA would sincerely like to thank those who supported the fundraiser so generously, as without your help, the show couldn’t go on..The following are the winners of the July Draw.
€1500 Tom Reilly c/o Jim Costine
€700 Jerome Lynch Killeagh Rd.
€400 Sean McCarthy Heffernan’s Terrace
€300 Mary O Donavan c/o Robert O Donavan
€100 John Curtin Curragreine
€100 Francis O Neill c/o Cha O Neill
€100 Joe Smiddy Ballynameeta
€100 Sonny Shanahan Ballintotis
€100 David Lane 50 The Maples
€ 100 Steve Motherway Dungourney.

Castlemartyr Club Draw 2008

ANNUAL CLUB FUNDRAISING DRAW 2008
2 MONTHLY DRAWS @ €25 PER MONTH
€7,000 IN PRIZE MONEY
1st Draw – Early June 2008
2nd Draw – Early July 2008
Monthly Prizes
1st €1,500 2nd €700
3rd €400 4th €300
5th-10th €100 each
A Chara,
We would like to inform you about our annual fundraising draw for 2008 which is taking place over two months with draws to be held in early June and early July. The monthly subscription is €25 with substantial cash prizes to be won each month.
As you can appreciate, the provision and maintenance of our facilities, along with the running costs associated with all our teams, place a substantial financial burden on our club. Our main source of income in meeting these costs is our Annual Club Draw. In the past all our members and supporters have been very supportive of this draw and we would be very grateful of your continued support.
Our club caters for players from 5 years of age upwards, and fields teams in both hurling and football at all ages from U8 to Adult. While we always strive to produce good players and successful teams, the main focus of the club is to facilitate and actively encourage as many players as possible, of all ages, to participate in and gain enjoyment from our national games.
Our club is enjoying a good year so far in 2008. Our Junior A football team are currently preparing to play Bride Rovers in the 2nd round of the championship on Tuesday 3rd June (having already beaten Lisgoold in the 1st round). Our Junior A hurlers are due to play Carrigtwohill at the end of June.
At underage level, joined with our neighbours in Dungourney and playing as Kiltha Og, we have had a number of notable successes already this year. The U12 footballers have won the East Cork championship (beating Fr O’Neills in the final), while the U14 hurlers hade a great win over Watergrasshill in the final of the County Feile competition. They have now qualified for the National Feile competition to be held in Laois/Offaly on weekend of 20-22 June. This is the first time that our club will be represented in this prestigious event and we wish all involved the very best of luck.
Club members will be calling around to houses within the next couple of weeks, to collect subscriptions for our first draw to be held in early June. Alternatively you may contact one of the club officers as per details below.

Christy O’Sullivan (Chairman) – 086 8040183 Dave Fleming (Vice Chairman) – 087 2265560
Michael John Cremin (Secretary) – 087 6499642 Martin O’Brien (Treasurer) – 087 6109309
Carey Joyce (PRO) – 086 3681382

2007 AGM

The Castlemartyr GAA 2007 AGM took place on Wednesday night last the 12th of December in the School Hall. A large attendance were first welcomed by the outgoing chairman Mick Carroll and the secretary M.J. Cremin gave a comprehensive account of all the clubs activities for the past year. Unfortunately there was no silverware to celebrate this year as the secretary went through the various teams that had represented the club in both codes but hope spring eternal and we look forward with hope, eagerness and no little optimism that 2008 may be the year that we annex a championship title.

Eoin McGovern was thanked for his whistle blowing even though he admitted himself that his pace was slowing down a little, but as was good humouredly pointed out by the outgoing hurling manager Basher Lawton ‘you never had much of that anyway’.

Dave Fleming was thanked for his massive efforts in organising the successful Club Draw as were the organising committee of the popular Golf Classic.

Congratulations were extended to the successful Kiltha Og U-13 team on winning their A football championship which was the first ever A title in the club. Hopefully this is a sign of good days lying ahead with this bunch of talented lads.

The runai also thanked our two-hardworking Board delegates Mick Leahy and Paul O Connell for representing our club so well.

Marty O Briens treasurers report was as comprehensive as usual and it was good to see that our heads were just above water after the year. This of course is one of the least pleasurable aspects of running the club but if everyone could do a little a lot would be achieved.

The outgoing Chairman gave his farewell address and outlined his pride at leading the club for three years but regretted that personally he was disappointed that junior championship success was not secured during his tenure. But he enjoyed his term immensely and looked forward to serving the club in the future.

Proposals were then accepted for the management of both the hurling and football squads and Seamus Lawton and David Haines filled these positions respectively.

Election of Officers. 2008

Chairman: Christy O Sullivan
Vice Chairman: David Fleming
Secretary: M.J. Cremin
Asst. Sec: Mick Leahy
Treasurer: Marty O Brien
Board Delegates: Paul O Connell & Mick Leahy
P.R.O. Carey Joyce

The annual St. Stephen’s Day long puc takes place as usual. Great day out guaranteed and names please to John Walshe, Donal McCarthy and M.J. Cremin.
Our dinner dance will be held on Saturday the 19th of January next in Garryvoe Hotel. Tickets may be procured from any club officer.

Long Puck 2007

LONG PUCK 07-RESOUNDING SUCCESS

The annual St. Stephen’s Day Long Puck was as usual played this year along the road from Kilmountain Cross and finishing several pucks of the sliothar later just before the Bridge on the Mogeely Rd..
A great crowd gathered eager to walk off the previous days excesses, but perhaps also to gain an appetite for the prize giving in Shortts Bar our sponsors of the event this year.
Johnny Walshe, Donal Mac, Michael John and Fong co-ordinated events excellently, and we were very fortunate with the weather even though puddles of water on the road were eventually blamed for slowing down many a promising “miler”.
At the end of the day the team of Adrian Bowen’s, Damien Roche and Donough Mac captured the Joseph Walshe Memorial Trophy with a course record of (cynics might say unbelievable) 42 shots, followed in second on 46 pucks after a play off by the young starlets of Barry Lawton, Killian Cronin and Eton Hayes. Stag, Jimmy Smiddy and guest star Tadhg Dunne filled third spot while Johnny Doc Ollie Murphy and Kieran Collins claimed the fourth berth.
The cheer of the evening was reserved for the Booby Prize winners (or losers), for the team to take the most shots on the road and Mark Bowens and Pa & John O Donavan received that dubious distinction.
The Chairman Christy O Sullivan proceeded over the prizegiving by Dagger Walshe amidst chaotic scenes in Shortts afterwards and to say the least a good night was had by all.
It’s a great event to meet up with lads gone from the parish who religiously participate each year and reminisce about the times when we could run faster and jump that bit higher.
Looking forward to the ’08 one already.

Pics: (click to enlarge)

Obituary - Don McAuliffe

Don Mc Auliffe came to the village at the start of the house building boom that has taken place over the last 10 years. A native of the Dillon’s Cross area of the city, Don moved to London in the late 50’s, which was a common occurrence in the search for work at the time. There he met and married Nellie where they spent all of their working life’s.
When they decided it was time to return, they set up home in Castle Manor where they quickly integrated themselves with the locals. Don joined our GAA Golf Society and brought a much needed, touch of class and elegance to the group. While never in line for the ”Longest drive award” he certainly put many to shame once he got sight of the flag with a sublime touch around the greens. He was also a good man to attend a GAA match and cast an eye over proceedings.
Don had many friends in the locality, as he was the most easy going and charming man you are ever likely to encounter. At his funeral the word ”Gentleman” was on many lips and certainly in this case it was true.
To his wife Nellie and son Troy we offer our deepest sympathy. We also extend it to Troy’s wife Diana and his 3 grandchildren Elizabeth, Danielle and Shannon. At his funeral his 3 grandchildren paid a most moving and heartfelt tribute to their Granddad who passed away on the 6th May.
His party piece was ”My Way” and he most certainly did. If in the recent growth of Castlemartyr and the other villages of the area, that more like Don will come to live and become active in their Communities, then it will be the better place for us all.

Obituary - Anthony Brennan

Anthony Brennan, who passed away on the 28th April 2008, had a long association with the Castlemartyr Club. We in the Castlemartyr club would like to offer our deepest sympathy to his partner Jacqueline, his sister Margot and her husband Liam Foy and their children Mairtin and Katie and his other sister Eileen and her family.
He grew up in the Loughaderra area and played with the club from an early age. By 1946 he was on the junior hurling team who beat O’Brien’s in the East Cork final while still only 17. In 1947 Anthony was one of five Castlemartyr players picked for the county minor side with Billy Abernethy, Willie O’Connell, Billy Joyce and Michael Lawton and while that particular Cork team had no success it showed the strength of the Castlemartyr scene at the time. In 1951 he played on the County Junior Hurling winning side which Paddy Abernethy served as Captain.
To show his versatility as a sportsman in 1952 he was on the Russell Rovers football team beaten by Youghal in the East Cork final. Anthony through his work commitments didn’t feature again on Castlemartyr teams but later served as Chairman of the club for a time in the mid-fifties.
Later on his past-times turned to greyhounds and horses and while these commanded a lot of his time, he always had a keen interest in the local GAA club. Anthony, through his company Brennan and Foy have been benefactors of the club for a long time and never refused any request for assistance when it meant the development of game locally. He will be a great loss to the club and the area in general.

Condolences

Castlemartyr GAA offers its sincerest condolences to the families of Anthony Brennan a former county final winner with the club in the 50’s and also to Don McAuliffe who was a current club member.

Congratulations - Adrian Bowens engaged to Elaine Buckley

Also congratulations are in order for Adrian Bowens who recently got engaged to Elaine Buckley. This announcement of course takes the spotlight off them and instead focuses it strongly on other long term relationship couples what seem to be biding their time, for a long time.

Congratulations - U14 hurlers of Kiltha Og

The u-14 hurlers of Kiltha Og were magnificent in winning the Feile County last Saturday evening in Caherlag against Watergrasshill on a scoreline of 4-19 to 1-4. They will now go on to represent Cork along with Na Piarsaigh in the All-Ireland above in Co. Laois. Well done to all concerned.

Football Championship

The draw has been made for the quarter finals of the East Cork Football Championship and we have been paired with last year’s winners and strong favourites for this year’s title Bride Rovers. This will prove to be an enormous challenge for the Reds to overcome and will take a performance not seen from a Castlemartyr football team for at least a decade, in order to triumph over the Rathcormac based outfit. The matches been fixed for either the last weekend in May or the first weekend in June, depending on the Rovers progress in the Senior Hurling Championship. The Reds will be lacing up the football boots for the first time in many weeks when they take on Russell Rovers in a Div. 2 F.L. match next Thursday night the 15th in Shanagarry.

Mick Leahy - This is Your Life

Very enjoyable function held in the Midleton Park Hotel to honour Mick Leahy who has given so much of his time to Castlemartyr GAA club for many years.
While the night was organised by the local GAA club to thank Mick for his service down through the years, it also looked at his life from his early days in Mount Uniacke up to the present.

Many friends, relatives and former work mates attended to recount their memories of Mick and how his generosity of spirit has enriched their own life’s. Many thanks to John Joe Regan from Lisgoold who acted as MC on the night in his own inimitable way and his wit and humour added greatly to the occasion. The night was organised by Michael Carroll, Castlemartyr GAA Chairman and he received assistance from his wife Charlotte and Donie O’Rourke who produced the ”Red Book” on the night. This would not have been possible without the covert assistance of the Leahy family who helped fill in the pages on Mick’s life.
Speakers on the night included Michael Carroll, Fr Mairtin Conroy, Mossie Hodnett, Christy O’Sullivan, Patrick Walsh, Willie Ring, Ted O’Brien and Jerry O’Keeffe. They spoke about Mick from his early school days to his work in Sportscraft and on to Dairygold in Mogeely and his time with his shop in the village. Tributes were paid about his work as an officer of the GAA club and how he has acted in all officerships within the club and represented the club at East Cork Board level for many years.

John Joe had his background work done well and spoke of Mick’s love for the ballroom dancing and the show bands of the time. This was with the assistance of his wife Rita and his children Sean, Martin and Margo. They attended with their respective partners and some grandchildren. Ursula O’Tuama provided the background music and we even got Mick and Rita onto the floor for one number to show us their steps.

Finally, Mick rose and having gathered his thoughts and concentration, he thanked all present for the honour bestowed on him. Being modest to a fault, he spoke of the many great Castlemartyr GAA men that he worked with through the years that would have deserved this. He thanked his own relations and friends from long ago for attending, and recalled growing up following Christy Ring and the great teams of that time, that first gave him such a love of GAA that has stayed with him all his life.

A great night, well organised and highly entertaining for a deserved recipient of such an honour.

Pics: (click to enlarge)

June 2007: ”2 Month Draw” - Part 2 - Prize winners

ANNUAL CLUB FUNDRAISING DRAW 2007
DRAW No 2 - RESULTS

1st Prize €1,500 Dick Forrest, Mogeely
2nd Prize €700 Sinead Coveney, c/o Dan Barry
3rd Prize €400 Ivor Knowles, Ballintotis
4th Prize €300 John Hogan, 44 The Meadows, Mogeely
5th Prize €100 John O’Meara, 8 Bridgetown Mews
6th Prize €100 Mary & Sandra Connaughton, Heffernans Tce
7th Prize €100 Pa Beausang
8th Prize €100 Patrick Cremin, Carewswood
9th Prize €100 Liam & Rose Costine
10th Prize €100 Gavin Barry, Loughaderra

Congratulations to all the winners.
We would like to thank all our subscribers for their continued support, which is much appreciated.