2024 marks the clubs 100 year anniversary and while the official birthday is on the 20th April, the club launched the centenary year celebrations on Friday 16th February. A fantastic night was had by all which included the unveiling of our centenary flag along with our juvenile awards presentation.
Many thanks to our special guest Jimmy Barry-Murphy for his attendance and his inspiring words addressed to our youths. Thanks also to Cork County board chair Pat Horgan, county board officer Donal McSweeney, Muskerry board chair John Feeney & secretary Enda Linehan.
We also thank the great volunteers who organised the event, helping to set up, catering and parking. We really appreciate all of the help.
Well done to all of our youths on their brilliant achievements in 2023. There were 173 medals to given out across 82 players.
There will be many more events during this our centenary year for Ballinora GAA club. The next big date is the 20th April 2024 so keep your diaries free!
There was also a night of celebration on Friday 8th March in the Oriel Hotel for the adults GAA and Camogie awards from 2023. Again thanks to Muskerry board chair John Feeney & secretary Enda Linehan for their attendance on the night with almost 200 in attendance where the great successes of 2023 and early 2024 were celebrated. Again thanks and well done to all the organisers of this event.
Congratulations to all players who received awards at the Muskerry awards night in January with special mention to Shane Kingston and Meabh Murphy who were monthly award winners in 2023.
On the games front the new season got off to a flying start with an historic win for our u21 footballers in the Mid Cork final over Ballyvourney following a semi- final win over Ballincollig. This is the first time ever winning this competition and kicks off a great start to our centenary year.
Congratulations to Neil Lordan on making the Cork panel for the league along with winning the McGrath Cup.
Well done to Jack Hegarty for making the Cork Minor Hurling panel.
In Camogie well done to our Cork panelists Meabh Murphy, Cliona Dooley, Rachel Muprhy, Louise O’Neill, Ellie McCauliffe and Amy Riordan. Amy and coach Jamie Cronin are also with Cork Minor footballers. Congratulations to Shane Kingston on winning the Canon O’Brien cup with UCC and to Kate O’Shea and the UCC Ladies Football team on their Lynch Cup Final win.
Ballinora had good representation on School, College teams and squads and to all involved with Colaiste Choilm on their All Ireland success. We wish all our players involved every success for 2024. Ballinora GAA is very proud of you all.
The club was delighted to support the Karen Fenton Memorial 5k run on March 3rd. There was a great turn out and this has become a hugely popular community event for a great cause.
All teams are busy preparing for the season ahead and there has been huge activity in the hall, ball wall and gyms with preseason fitness regimes in full swing. Of course, no team would exist without the backroom team behind them, and we thank all for volunteering for the coming season.
Our club lotto continues to grow with prize money now over €10,500k. These funds are vital for the future development of our club facilities for all teams. We can already see works progressing in Ballinora with new ball stop nets with more to come for the year ahead.
The Rebel bounty draw is in full swing and thanks to all who are participating. Membership of this draw is still open, and we hope we can repeat some of the wins we have had in the past.
Club membership is now open, so if you wish to renew your membership or become a member, please log on to www.foireann.ie or contact any club officer. All who enter before April 16th will be entered into a draw for an €80 meal voucher for the White Horse or 2 tickets to see the White Horse Guitar club, all kindly sponsored by the White Horse.
There will be regular updates of all club activities on all our social media sites so please follow us on any of these.
Wishing all teams, players, mentors, committees, volunteers every success for the season ahead.
Baile Nóra Abu!
