BRIDE ROVERS GAA NOTES.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Well 2025 is here and 2024 has been consigned to history so we wish each and everyone a very Happy and heathy New Year.  Time was when GAA Clubs went into virtual ‘hibernation’ from the end of November until perhaps the end of  February. That’s all changed and Cumann Luthchleas Gael is now a year round passion.  Though the so-called ‘secondary’ inter-county competitions have been scrapped this year so  Counties are now playing challenge games this week already. At Club level we finished on December 15th with the County Under 21 Final but hundreds were back in action on St Stephen’s day and next Monday January 6th is another important ‘Date for the Diary’- truly never a dull moment. Nach bhfuil se go h-iontach!

St Stephen’s Day 5K.

A mild week in the lead up to Christmas Day  and no change threrafter meant a massive turnout for the Annual 5K on December 26th, St. Stephen’s Day. Some ran, some, jogged while others walked and sauntered on a lovely day. It was great to see such a turnout and thanks to all who helped organise the event, those who helped with stewarding and with catering. It was a memorable event and enjoyed by all who took part or just watched on. In the Clubrooms after there was a brilliant festive atmosphere. The results were as follows; 1st male, Struan Simpson, 1st  female Orla Tuohy,  Under 18, male,  Shane Curtin, Under 18 female, Shannon O Gorman, Under 15 Boy Cathal Barry, under 15 girl Emilie McElevaney, under 12 boy Conor Healy, under 12 girl Cliona Hurley. In total we had 259 runners and walkers -mighty.

 

Bride Rovers Christmas Lotto Draw Result17th of December* - 

 

Numbers drawn were 2, 17, 26 & 30 - No Winner

Congrats to our 5 x lucky dip €50 cash winners and our spot prize winners -

Christmas Lotto Draw Prize Winners €50 - Bride Rovers GAA Club

Nigel Murphy, Castlemagnier, €50 - Bride Rovers GAA Club

Michelle and Margaret Barry, Knocknaboula, €50 - Bride Rovers GAA Club

Lorraine O'Keeffe, Bartlemy, €50 - Bride Rovers GAA Club*

Oliver O'Connor, Bartlemy,€50 - Bride Rovers GAA Club*

Mick Desmond, Bartlemy *Bottle of Red and White Wine - Bride Rovers GAA Club* Lisa Keating, Blackpool

LOTTO DRAW ON DECEMBER 23rd.  Lotto Result: 23rd of December - Numbers drawn were 5, 8, 27 & 28 - No WinnerCongrats to our lucky dip Christmas Draw €50 cash winners: Shane O’Connor, Scartbarry, Heidi Ryan, Mondaniel, Nathan Buckley, Shanowen, Marina Gould, Cobh, Paddy Brennan, Castlecomer.

Over the Christmas Season I read a great book, a superb GAA book. entitled ‘Our Finest Hour’ it was written by experienced GAA journalist, Edwin McGreal.  This book features glory days from 54 football and hurling clubs throughout the County of Mayo but is also a tribute to the clubs themselves and what they give to their communities.  Edwin writes of Clubs winning All Ireland titles, County Titles, North Mayo Junior C Grade championships, League wins and Minor B wins. The Finest Hour of some of the Clubs, according to themselves, was just getting to a particular Final -though they might have lost the game.  Reading the book got me thinking about ‘Our Finest Hour’ n the Bride Rovers GAA Club.   We won the County Junior HC in 1998, the County Intermediate HC in 2003 and reached the Senior County Final in 2008 -losing by a point to Sars.  Was one of these game ‘Our Finest Hour’? Over last weekend I did a Quick Pik, Text poll on my old mobile phone. I randomly sent the text to 40 people and got a 95% response. The results of the ‘opinion poll’? Well it nearly split three ways. Many thought that the 1998 win was the starter, the real change of fortune for the Club after 29 years without even an East Cork A grade title. A few went so far as to say that the 1998 County semi final  v Ballinascarthy was the catalyst for the next decade. 2003 was just special winning the Championship and League double and going up Senior. Then in 2008 reaching the County Senior Final. Several who had played with the Club in the 1960’s felt this was our finest hour -beyond the wildest dreams of generations of Bride Rovers players. Everyone has an opinion on the matter but all are agreed that no one could ever have envisaged what happened after 1998.  Over the next few weeks we might look a little closer on those years and where the Club has come from in a relatively short space of time. Perhaps readers may have other games that they think were ‘Our Finest Hour’ down the decades - let me know!

MUNSTER COUNCIL GRANT.

The Munster GAA Council announced their 2024 Development Grants in mid December. Out of a total amount of €1.3million Cork got an allocation of €404,748. Twenty six Clubs in total in the Rebel County were successful in their Applications for 2024.  We in Bride Rovers were delighted to get a grant of €20,000.  Last year we also got a substantial Grant, in fairness over recent years where Clubs have been doing major development work the Provincial Council have been proactive with giving a helping hand in terms of finance.  With our Development work on the New Pitches at Ballybrowney an ongoing project we will be making further and ongoing applications to the Munster Council.

 

 CAR BOOT SALE 2025. There will be no Parish Development Fund Car Boot Sale in January. The first for the New Year of 2025 will be on Sunday February the 2nd.  Volunteers are always wanted for the car Boot Sales. If you could give even an hour or two each month or even for a couple of Sundays in the year it would be much appreciated. If interested contact Tom, Billy, Mossy or and Bride Rovers Club Officer.

IRELAND LIGHTING UP. The 2025 Ireland Lighting up series starts on next Monday evening January 6th (Little Christmas). Anyone who would like some exercise in company is welcome to come to the pitch next Monday evening. It’s a fun, non-competitive event where people can goat their own pace. Monday is the first of six evenings out so write them dates in your new 2025 Diary.

JOIN BRIDE ROVERS CLUB 100.

A few years back as we began planning for our Club’s centenary in 2028 the Club 100 concept was put in place.  With projected spending of close to  One Million Euro in the coming years the need for several ‘finance streams’ is vital. The Club 100 is a method whereby supporters and benefactors of the Club can commit to financially helping the Bride Rovers GAA Club. All finance raised has gone into major Club developments in recent years. Now with massive 3 pitch Development project in Ballybrowney well under way we will need huge funds over the next decade. There are three levels of Club 100 membership; Gold, Siver and Bronze. The Gold membership costs €480 annually and for this on gets 2 Annual Club Lotto tickets plus,2 Rebel Bounty Draw Tickets and family Membership of the Club.

The Silver costs €360 and give 2 Lotto and 1 Rebel Bounty and Membership for 1 adult and 1 child or 2 children)

The Bronze option comes in at €240 and brings 1Annual Club Lotto ticket plus, 1 Rebel Bounty and individual Membership. Many people make a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ at this time of year- why not consider joining our Club 100.? Full details from any Club Officer.  At the end of each year the Bride Rovers Club holds a special draw confined the Club 100 members with substantial prizes. Just before Christmas we had the 2024 confined Draw for Club 100 Members. 1st prize was a pair of Premium Tickets for all games in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in 2025 and the winner was former Club Rubai and player Joe Barry, well done Joe. The 2nd prize of €500 went to Bill Fitzgerald of Fermoy- a Bride Rovers legend. Prizes of €100 each went to Alan Murphy Mondaniel, Patsy and Brid O Connell, Ballinwillin, Vincent Cronin Rathcormac, Tom Kearney Ballybrowney,  Michael Walsh Mondaniel,  Damian Healy Rathcormac,  Chris Hoare Rathcormac,   Blaithin Keating Mondaniel,  Michael Dorgan Ballinwillinm,  James P O Suilleabhain, Desert.

 

EAST CORK CENTENARY BOOK.

Copies of the Imokilly 2010-2024 History Book  are now available at €40 per copy and can be ordered from Club Officers or phone 087 9538077.

SCRAP COLLECTION. We have had a few enquiries already about the next scrap metal collection. We have no definite date yet -probably the last week of January or early in February. Anything from a biscuit tin to a combine harvester will be gladly accepted. Just ring 087 538077 for collection details.

CHAMPIONSHIP 2025.Iknow tis only the first week of January but it’s just twenty eight weeks until our first Senior Hurling Championship game! That’s a clash with Blarney once more. Our three Group games are fixed as follows; Round 1;Sunday August 3rd v   Blarney   in P Ui Rinn, 3pm, Round 2  Friday August 15th v   Courcey Rovers in Riverstown, 7.30pm, Round 3 Sat Sept 6th v Watergrasshill in Ballynoe, 6.30pm. Pairc na Bride is set to host three County Championship games -two involving Kilworth, those fixtures are as follows; Sat August 2nd Carrigtwohill v Fermoy,7.30pm, Sat August 16th Ballincollig v Kilworth, 6.30pm, Sun Sept 7th  Ballinhassig v Kilworth, 2.00pm.

CLUB ALL IRELANDS. Again we send best wishes to Russell Rovers, Watergrasshill and Sarsfields as they finalise their preparations for their forthcoming All Ireland Club Finals in Croke Park later this month..

CORK HURLERS MEET WATERFORD ON SATURDAY. The first match for the Cork senior hurlers in 2025  is on next Saturday January 4, as the Rebels travel to Fraher Field in Dungarvan to take on Waterford in a challenge match.. As well as allowing Cork boss Pat Ryan and his opposite number, the newly-appointed Peter Queally, to assess their options, the game will serve as a fundraiser for The Friends of Brian Greene and Waterford Hospice. Brian Greene was  a member of the Waterford side that won the Munster title in 2002 – the county’s first in 39 years – received a cancer diagnosis in 2022 and has been unable to work. His father Jim – who won an All-Star in 1982 – feels that the visit of Cork should draw a crowd, but more than that, that the community spirit of the GAA will be demonstrated at its finest when Rebel and Decie fans  contribute to a very worthy cause.

BALLYBROWNEY PROGRESS. Amazing is the only word to describe to transformation that has taken place at Pynes Field in Ballybrowney in just over a year. With the pitches laid out and looking magnificent and now the Car Park and entrance nearly finished -it’s just fantastic.   With one sand based pitch and with floodlights to follow, in time we’ll have dressing rooms too. Overall the complex is really turning out to be a truly outstanding playing arena.

SYMPATHY. Bride Rovers GAA extends deepest sympathy to the family of the late Michaeel Shehan of Ballyarra, Castlelyons. Michael was a lifelong member of the Castlelyons Club. As a player, officer, fundraiser and committee member he gave sterling service to his Club. He also served to Community in so many other positive ways over a span of seventy years. Truly ni beidh a lethid ann aris.

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres             

                                                                      Fermoy Print & Design             

                                                                    Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veolia