NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS: We wish all our members, supporters and readers of these Notes, at home and abroad, a very happy, peaceful and healthy New Year. Mar a deireann an sean-fhocal – go mbeirimíd beó ag an am seo arís.
CENTENARY BOOK: A reminder that our Centenary Book is available to buy from the following outlets in Tralee: Paudie Commane’s Book Shop on Rock Street; Kevin Barry’s Shop, Rock St.; Rock Street Post Office; Nolan’s Garage North Circular Road; Garvey’s Super Valu Rock St.; Easons, The Mall; First Chapter Manor West; Polymath Book Shop, Court House Lane; and O’Mahony’s Book Shop, Castle Street.
This 364 page A4 size Book retails at €25 per copy. Historical books of this nature will never go out of date no matter what time of year they are acquired.
The Book is also available to purchase online on www.austinstacks.ie with postal options for Ireland, UK & International – so spread the word to Rockies at home & abroad’.
CLUB CALENDAR: A reminder also that our very popular Club Calendar 2018 featuring all our juvenile teams boys & girls is still on sale at Kevin Barry’s Shop. Price €5.
PRESENTATION NIGHT: Our thanks to Club Secretary, Elma Nix for the following report. Players & supporters enjoyed a very nice social get together in the club last Thursday night (Dec 28th).
Proceedings kicked off as Club Chairman Liam Lynch welcomed everyone on what he said had been a very sad week for the club with the deaths of great club stalwarts Paddy Scanlan & Paul Lucey.
A poignant minutes silence was observed for both Paddy & Paul. Liam then gave a brief history of our first club Chairman Dan O’Sullivan.
Dan, Liam said led the way for the countless officers who have served our great club since through its 100 year history, much of their work unseen and unselfish. Dan’s picture was unveiled by his nieces Marie Griffin and Mairéad Fernane.
This was followed by the presentation of the 2016 Senior Club Championship & Town League & the 2016 & 2017 Junior Town League winners medals.
MC Timmy Sheehan did a fantastic job on what was a tall order with 64 players to receive medals. Thank you Timmy. Finally the 2014 team photo of the Munster & Co Senior Champions was unveiled by Club PRO, Martin Collins.
Martin, always a person to shy away from the limelight, had no idea he was to be tasked with the job but as everyone agreed no better man than Martin – the man who has stood on the sideline of every game and recorded every kick and whose contribution to our beautiful Centenary History Book is evident on every page.
Stephen Stack was then presented with a fabulous framed listing of his 99 games in charge of the club – in his four years at the helm his team won 3 Town Leagues, 2 Town Championships, 1 Co. League, 1 Club Championship, 1 Co. Championship and 1 Munster Club Championship. The All Ireland Club Championship the only title not achieved.
The last presentation of the evening was reserved for the very popular Aidan O’Connor who was Club Chairman in 2014. Aidan received a replica of the 2014 team photo which will no doubt be given pride of place on the walls of the Greyhound Bar.
The evening concluded with music and song and the hope (the same hope that we begin every new season with) that more space for more team photos will have to be found on the club walls.
And we thank Elma herself who organized the whole event, including the purchase of all those medals and the listing and notifying of all those 64 players who were the recipients on the night.
CLUB AGM: All Club Members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club taking place in the Gym Hall, Connolly Park, on Sunday 14th January, 2018 at 12.00 p.m.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Our footballers have been hard at it before and during the Christmas season under the guidance of new team Manager, Wayne Quillinan in preparation for 2018.
And the Tralee Town Board have been quick off the mark also issuing the fixtures for the forthcoming Town League – the five rounds are fixed for consecutive Sundays from the 28th January to the 25th February incl. – the top two teams will qualify for the final which is fixed for the weekend of the 4th March.
Our five round games are as follows: at home to Ballymac on 28th Jan; away to Na Gaeil on 4th Feb; at home to Kerins O’Rahillys on 11th Feb; at home to John Mitchels on 18th Feb and away to Ardfert on 25th Feb.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties and Functions. Enquiries about Club Bookings should be made by contacting Harry Hynes at 087 2467286.
CARDS: After a short break for the Christmas period the 45 Card Sessions will now continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (23rd December) Jackpot, worth €7,300, was not won. The numbers drawn were 2, 9, 12, 29. The €20 winners were: John & Phil Breen, and Sarah Barry, both c/o The Club; Pauline McDonald, c/o Rock Street Post Office; James Henry, c/o Joe Naughton; Michelle Carroll Slattery, c/o Club Rockies.
Tickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from our other regular sellers.
From next week the Lotto Draw will revert back to its usual Monday night slot and will take place on successive Monday nights from then on at the usual time of 9pm.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – David Moriarty, The Kerries West; Declan Casey (nee Mangan), Lios Beag, Oakpark; Jeremiah (Ger) Church, Leedale, Caherslee; John F. Moynihan, ‘Rossard’, Racecourse Road (President of the Dr. Crokes GAA Club, Killarney); Hanna Carroll (nee Sugrue), St. John’s Park and formerly Dromavally, Farmer’s Bridge (mother of former Club Footballers Mike, Pat, Jerry, Anthony and the late Seánie); and PJ Ryan, Old Marian Park and formerly Mitchel’s Villas and Loughmore (Co. Tipperary).
