ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The Annual General Meeting took place in the clubhouse, with a healthy attendance.
Secretary Aedin Foley gave a comprehensive outline of the club’s affairs on and off the pitch. At the beginning of 2024, the club held a historic celebration night to honour our three-in-a-row Hurlers of the Year. The event was organised in a short space of time, with gratitude to the committee of John McDermott, Denver Morrissey, John Fitzgerald, Declan O’Grady and Des Foley for their hard work and dedication in making the event a great success. The night was MC’d fantastically by TJ Ryan; joined by the esteemed panel members of Ger Hegarty, Cyril Farrell, Richie Bennis and Jamie Wall. A special thanks to John Kiely for joining us on the night and to County Board chairperson Seamus McNamara.
Two other awards were presented on the night – a Distinguished Services award to our longtime sponsors Duggan Systems for their continued support and Club Person of the Year 2023 went to Muirne Bennis, Irish Culture officer, for her commitment and dedication to the club for many years.
Aedin noted the club’s three regular forms of income and fundraising, namely Membership, Lotto and Club Limerick Draw. Membership is a very valuable income for the club and this year brought in a record amount in membership fees. She acknowledged the hard work of Maurice Fitzgerald, Registrar and Sinéad Gardiner Registrar of the Camogie Club for the diligence.
The weekly lotto is one of our longest running fundraisers and a great weekly income for the club. A special thanks to Maurice Fitzgerald, Tommy Reidy, Seamus O’Riordan and Christy O’Reilly for their commitment in managing this every Monday night. Thanks also to our ticket sellers and to those that support our lotto week after week. Thanks to our Club Limerick members for their continued support. This draw is a fantastic way to raise funds to support the day-to-day expenses of the club. A special thanks to Seamus Riordan and James McCarthy for co-ordinating the draw this year again and to our many promoters within the club.
In addition, Aedin noted that various other fundraisers were run this year and she acknowledged the hard work and support from everyone who led and helped out in raising money. Thanks to the generosity of JP and Noreen McManus for their very generous contribution to all clubs in Ireland and the Con and Anne Kirby Derby, which our Camogie Dog’s finished 3rd in. A massive word of thanks also to our longtime sponsors Duggan Systems for their continued support in 2024 again.
Turning to facilities, in recent weeks the upgrade of the astroturf pitch was completed along with the additional training area behind the hurling wall. These works were fully funded from the 2018 Sports Capital Grant. Shortly after these works were completed, the club received the incredible news that we were successful in our bid to secure the LSSIF Sports Grant of €650,000 – with a further announcement a few days later that, we were allocated a €200,000 Sports Capital Grant from the 2023 application.
These grants are a significant boost to the club and will allow us to develop our playing facilities to a very high standard. Aedin gave special thanks to the Chairperson of the Development Committee Paul Foley and Finbar O’Brien for their time and dedication to this project and the motivation, perfection and commitment they gave to ensure it got over the line. She also recognised John McDermott and his committee for their work in applying for the Sports Capital Grant in 2023, which was the highest possible grant under this funding. Aedin expressed gratitude for the support the club received from our public representatives with these grants.
Aedin complimented the great work undertaken every Saturday morning by the Maintenance Committee to keep our current facilities in great condition. A massive word of thanks must also go to Niamh Geoghegan who co-ordinated the booking of the facilities again this year.
On the field of play it was a mixture of highs and lows. The Senior Hurling Team reached the Championship semi-final, when we bowed out to a stronger Doon. Aedin thanked Patrickswell’s senior manager Ciaran Carey, his management team and background team for the dedication and commitment.
2024 was a great year for our Junior A team under management of Keith Murray. They beat Tournafulla in the County League final after a fine performance. In the championship the Junior A’s reached the semi-final but after a tightly contested match they lost out to a strong Monaleen side.
The Under 20 were managed by Pa Earls and contested the championship extremely well. Aedin thanked everyone involved and acknowledged the talent within this group of players and look forward to watching them progress through to senior.
The highlight of the year was winning the Minor B County Championship in a classic game against Adare which we won after it went to a penalty shootout. Under the management of Tom O’Brien, they showed heart, passion, pride and discipline throughout the year was great to see and in particular in the final. Again, it was great to see the Senior hurlers on the sideline helping with this team.
A Player Development Programme has been set up this winter to further develop players between the ages of 16 and 20 to support them to progress up through to Senior level. This programme is led by Tom O’Brien along with Damien Gillane, Kevin O’Brien and Des Foley. Justin Daly is the S&C coach. They have almost completed their first 6 week programme where all players are turning up week after week. Thanks to all involved for their commitment in supporting these players.
Aedin reflected that both Juvenile and Camogie Clubs had a busy year at all levels. She was heartened by the number of young players at the pitch every night of the week and builds a fantastic atmosphere around our club. A special thanks must go to all the coaches and volunteers who support these players at all matches and training. Without their dedication and commitment this would not be possible.
The year finished for these young players at the end of October with the Parish League. It was great to host this in Pairc Antoin Ó Brian this year. A fantastic day was had by all and a special thanks to Tony O’Brien Pharmacy for their continued sponsorship of the trophies for this event, and to all who supported the event in any way on the day.
Patrickswell Senior Club are very grateful for the strong relationship we have with both our Juvenile and Camogie Club. In particular, Aedin thanked John Murphy and Peter Maher of the Juvenile Club and Pat Barry, Shannon Gillane, Maureen O’Grady and their fellow Camogie officers for all the support and hard work in 2024. A special mention was given to the Camogie Junior B team, our 2nd adult camogie team, on winning the County Championship against Na Piarsaigh in very tough conditions.
Aedin thanked to all the teachers in Patrickswell National School for continuing to promote our club in the school. A special mention must go to Mary Lordan, principal, Dave Bulfin, Paul O’Connor and Nicky Quaid. We have a strong traditional link with the school and in the year ahead we plan to further enhance this link.
It was great to see Patrickswell being represented again in Scor this year and Aedin thanked Muirne Bennis, Irish and Culture Officer and Secretary of Scór, for her role in ensuring the tradition of Scor continues year on year.
She congratulated Aaron Gillane, Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes and Jason Gillane – our four players who were part of the successful Limerick Team who won six Munster Titles in a row, a fantastic achievement. She extended her congratulations to John Kiely and Limerick County Board too. Congratulations must also go to Limerick Under 16 A Camogie team who won the All-Ireland title for the first time ever, especially to Caoimhe Hennessy, Rachel and Sophie O’Grady, Kailey O’Donnell and Natal O’Grady who were all part of the team.
On a sad note, we have lost friends and members of Patrickswell GAA and the wider community this year. Aedin expressed her deepest condolences to all their families and friends. May they Rest in Peace.
Before Aedin finished, she thanked both Ray Fitzgerald and Mike McDermott for their help throughout the year and mentioned our County Board delegate, Michael Joyce and City Board delegate Martin Ryan and thank them sincerely for representing Patrickswell at the monthly or annual meetings. Aedin thanked James McCarthy for his dedication and commitment in keeping everyone up to date on what is happening in the club and for all his match updates throughout the year.
Aedin recognised Paul Foley, Central Council Delegate, for his help and advice throughout 2024. She took this opportunity to wish Paul well in his new role as Development & Training Officer in the County Board. Appreciation was also given to PJ O’Grady and our hard-working committee and sub-committees, without whom the club would not run and to all our members and volunteers.
She closed by stating that 2025 will be a fantastic year for Tobar Phádraig, which will see sods being turned and new and exciting playing facilities being developed, while continuing to work to develop our players to help them compete at the highest level.
Michael McDermott then delivered his Treasurer’s Report for 2024. He thanked everyone for the significant achievement of bringing in so much funding during the year through Sports Capital Grants and LSSIF funding. The Finance Committee are on course to exceed their donations target, thanks to the generosity of club members. The upcoming club development will be a financial challenge, but Michael reiterated that the club was on a sound footing. He thanked Maurice Fitzgerald for looking after the club finances and to Ray and Aedin for supporting him.
The keynote speech was the Chairman’s Address from Ray Fitzgerald. Ray thanked the club’s volunteers, on what was International Day of the Volunteer. He expressed his appreciation to his fellow officers, the delegates, committees and sub-committees. Ray was satisfied that the key revenue streams were performing well and thanked the donor who donated equipment to address critical needs. The Chairman thanked his predecessor John McDermott for a seamless handover and Paul Foley & PJ O’Grady for their advice.
Gratitude was expressed to all coaches, memtors, backroom staff, medical teams, physiotherapists and Dr. Dominic Harmon. The highlight of the year was the Under 18 B County Championship, a triumph of attitude and work rates. He saluted the Development Programme for players aged between 16 and 20 which will prepare them for senior hurling.
Ray congratulated Cian, Aaron, Diarmaid and Jason for claiming a sixth consecutive Munster title and the Limerick Under 16 A camogie team for winning an All-Ireland Championship. Kate Feasey was also praised for winning a Munster Junior Championship. He thanked Pat, Shannon and Maureen of the Camogie Club for a successful year with a Junior 12-a-side Championship and fundraising.
Ray recognised the trojan work of John Murphy and Natal O’Grady of the Juvenile Club, who develop boys aged 5 to 16. It was his hope that player numbers could increase in the near future. The heart screening programme by the Dylan Quirke Foundation was greatly appreciated. The Chairman lauded the efforts of the Maintenance Committee and everyone who performed jobs free of charge. The Club Development Committee were singled out for special praise due to their remarkable progress and professional calibre.
Due to the exceptional quality of their submission, the LSSIF funding of €650,000 was secured. In addition, €200,000 was acquired under a Sports Capital Grant and €68,000 from a Biodiversity grant. Ray thanked our public representatives and all local partners who wrote letters of support.
Ray confirmed the need for Matched Funding, which needs to be raised by the club. In this respect, he heralded the incredible success of the Finance Committee under Mike O’Connell in raising donations. Ray finished his address by thanking Mike McDermott and Aedin Foley and remembered deceased members of the club.
A number of speakers addressed the membership. Fr. Mike Cussen highlighted the club’s ability to bring people together, especially in a time of huge isolation problems in many communities. Maureen O’Grady of the Camogie Club thanked the senior club for all its support and Juvenile Club Chairman John Murphy congratulated the senior club on the new infrastructure development, which would benefit youngsters. He thanked everyone coach and Natal O’Grady for his guidance and John McDermott for managing sliotars. He noted that Ryan Foley, Eoin Hennessy and John Murray were part of the Limerick Minor set-up for the year ahead.
President PJ O’Grady stated that 2024 was the best AGM ever. After years of hard work by great administrators, the Development Committee had made dreams a reality. In 1977, Patrickswell owned a single field and we have come so far. He complimented the professionalism of the officers and the generosity of volunteers. Paul Foley, our Central Council delegate, thanked Finbar O’Brien and the three officers for their achievements. The platform was established by the acquisition of Courtney’s field and is now being progressed. He noted that the club had a great response from Limerick City and County Council and the local estates. He thanked Croke Park for the LSSIF success and the GAA consultants who assisted. Paul thanked Mike O’Connell and Marian Graham plus the local representatives Dan McSweeney, Fergus Kilcoyne, Niall Collins and Patrick O’Donovan.
The final part of the meeting was the election of officers and the committee.
CLUB LOTTO: The Club Lotto draw on Monday December 2 was not won. The numbers drawn were 2, 6, 18 and 20. The bonus number was 32. The €50 Lucky Dips were won by Fiona Carmody and David Byrnes, while the €20 prizes were claimed by Karen Ryan, Harry Smith, Marie Franey, Lisa Garvey, Maura Toomey and Mai McCarthy. This week’s jackpot is €16,400
