Joseph O’Connor, Senior Team Player of the Year, receives the Andy McAllen Memorial Award from Chairman Billy Ryle and Mary McQuinn, Social sub- committee. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
ROCK & ROSE VICTORY SOCIAL: What a great turn-out at The Rock & Rose Victory Social last Saturday night at the Rose Hotel – the highlight of which was the presentation of medals to our Senior and C Team winning footballers, brilliantly hosted as usual by our own Timmy Sheehan.
Club Chairman, Billy Ryle’s welcoming speech was another master class where he thanked everyone involved in the organisation of such a brilliant event, as well as all those who received awards on the night.
Billy of course paid tribute to the late Seán Murphy whose removal to his native Carlow took place earlier that day.
Senior B Player of the Year, Paul Galvin, is presented with the Jackie Power Memorial Trophy by Noreen Power and Chairman, Billy Ryle. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
He also congratulated Tralee CBS on winning the Corn Uí Mhuirí, captained by Seán Quilter and with ten other Club players in its ranks, as well as Tim McMahon, Damien McLoughlin and Alan Duggan who were members of the Management team.
He also thanked Colin Teahon and his company PST Sport who were the Club’s main sponsor for the past eight years and was delighted to welcome Kirby’s Brogue Inn as our new main sponsor for the next three years.
He also thanked those who sponsored the awards on the night (see below) and the many businesses who contributed spot prizes as listed on the Club’s Facebook page.
The Award Winners were – Club Lady of the Year (Carmel Quilter-O’Neill), Club Man of the Year (Noel O’Connell), Senior Lady Player of the Year (Jemma O’Connell), Senior C Team Player of the Year – The Charlie Healy Trophy, presented by Charlie’s wife, Ena (David Courtney), Senior B Team Player of the Year – The Jackie Power Trophy – presented by Jackie’s wife, Noreen (Paul Galvin), Senior Team Player of the Year – The Andy McAllen Award (Joseph O’Connor), Best Dressed Lady – sponsored by the INEC, Killarney (Breda O’Callaghan) and Best Dressed Man – sponsored by Celsius Mensware (Jack Morgan).
Austin Stacks Chairman, Billy Ryle with Ena Healy presents the Charlie Healy Memorial Trophy to Senior C Player of the Year, David Courtney. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Senior Lady Player of the Year is Jemma O’Connell, and receives her trophy from Chairman, Billy Ryle and Mary McQuinn of the organising committee. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Finally he paid special thanks to Siobhan Power, Chairperson of our Social Sub Committee and her team of helpers including Mary McQuinn, Lorraine Scanlon, and Noreen Power who left no stone unturned to make this such a superb event. He also thanked the trojan work done by Elma Nix and Ricky Moloney who organized all the medals for the 42 Senior players and the 48 players on the C Team panel.
And then to conclude the night there was some brilliant music provided by ‘Heart & Soul’ followed by the one and only Francie Breen who is never found wanting at any special Club event – a DJ unequalled.
Club Lady of the Year, Carmel Quilter O’Neill was presented with her trophy by Chairman Billy Ryle and outgoing Chairperson, Mairead Fernane. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Noel O’Connell is the Club Man of the Year and in his absence, his son Ciarán accepted his trophy from Chairman Billy Ryle, Siobhan Power, Chairperson of the Social sub-committee and Mairead Fernane. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Best Dressed Lady was Breda O’Callaghan. She received a voucher sponsored by INEC Killarney from Mary McQuinn and Siobhan Power of the Social sub-committee and Chairman Billy Ryle. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Best Dressed Man was Jack Morgan. His prize was sponsored by Celsius Menswear and was presented by Mary McQuinn, Siobhan Power (Social sub-committee) and Chairman, Billy Ryle. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
DEATH OF SEÁN MURPHY: Seán, who was the Club’s oldest member and who celebrated his 98th birthday just over two months ago (14th Dec 2019), passed away peacefully on last Tuesday evening (18th Feb) after a short illness.
His good friend, Tadgh McMahon scripted a beautiful piece about Seán’s involvement in the Club which appears in pages 197/198 of our Centenary Book and this has now been posted on our Website for all to view.
The article covers Seán’s work in the Dept. of Agriculture and his time in Clonakilty where he spent ten years playing Hurling and Football with Clon, and winning three SF Co. Championships and six West Cork Hurling Leagues during the 1940s.
His move to Kerry saw him involved in a big way in greyhound sport and the late Kevin Barry introducing him to the Rock Club where he served for many years as a hurling and footballer selector and subsequently acted as Vice Chairman during Dan O’Connor’s term as Chairman.
Seán was a member of the delegation who approached the Tralee Urban Council seeking to purchase land at Connolly Park and with the assistance of Paddy Scanlon, Town Engineer, was successful in acquiring the land where we are now based.
Seán attributed the success which the Stacks footballers had in the ‘Second Golden Era’ (1973-1994) to the Juvenile development started by Michael Hayes in Tralee CBS and fostered by the club in subsequent years.
In addition to his other positions Seán, along with Dan Ryan, represented the Club as Delegate to the Co. Board, a position which he took very seriously and was respected for his knowledge and dedication to the rules of the Association.
When the Club needed to organise the ‘Ciste na Banban’ pools Seán was again to the fore. Seán was in such robust good health, for a man of his age, that everyone was hoping he would reach to grand old century towards the end of next year – but it was not to be.
Sincere sympathy is extended to Seán’s sisters Áine and Maura , his brother Liam and his extended family and friends, including his good friend, Tadgh McMahon.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is also offered to the families of the following who died recently – Paddy Brosnan, St. Brendan’s Park and formerly Farranfore; Kathleen Daly (nee Doran), Cloghereasta, Hawley Park and formerly Balloonagh Estate and Casement Avenue (sister of the late Richard, who was a valued member of our Card Players for many years); Sister Finian Kearney, Presentation Sisters, Castle Street and formerly Kilmurry, Cordal; Tadhg O’Shea, Meadowlands; Miriam Frances De Regibus, Shanakill; and Jeremiah (Jerry) Dowling, Rathmines and formerly Tralee.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: There seems to be no let-up with this severe weather. Last Friday’s Town League game, away to John Mitchels, had also to called-off after our game against O’Rahillys had suffered a similar fate a few days previously.
The Mitchels game has now been refixed for this Friday night at 8.30pm. If we win this game then our round 3 game, away to Kerins O’Rahillys will double as the Town League Final and will go ahead in Strand on next Sunday afternoon (1st March) at 12.30pm.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our Town League game against Kerins O’Rahillys has been refixed for this Tuesday evening (25th Feb) in Connolly Park with the throw-in time still to be confirmed but this game is also in doubt as we write. Round 2 of the Co. League (away to Dr. Crokes) is still scheduled to go ahead on this Saturday (29th Feb) at 3.30pm .
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.
Bar opening hours are as follows: 7pm to 12.30am on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, and 12 noon to 11pm on Sundays.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Night’s (24th February) Jackpot, worth €13,250, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 21, 23, 28.
The €20 winners were: Kate Carmody, c/o Kevin Barry’s, Michael O’Donnell, Tommy Costello Jnr. and Declan Mangan, all c/o The Club; and James Shea, c/o Carmel O’Neill.
Lotto Tickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from our other regular outlets. And from now on tickets will also be on sale at Kevin Barry’s Shop in Rock Street.
We continue to remind members that we are in competition with other clubs until April 2020 to retain our very important Lotto Franchise at our local post office on Rock St. Every time you are in the post office let Martin and staff know that you are a Rockie and to register your transaction in favour of Austin Stacks. The Club with the most points will win the franchise.
