CHAIRMAN’S THANKS: As our season resumes, I’d like to thank our entire club membership for the disciplined way in which we responded to the Croke Park Directives and Government Health Guidelines in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
The past three months were difficult, especially for our players, from the youngest to the oldest, who were denied the joy of training and the thrill of competition. But we are returning to training this week and we’ll be playing games before too long.
Austin Stacks is raring to go and can hardly wait to get started. We are ready, willing and eager. Let the games begin. In the meantime, The Rock will continue to comply fully with the Croke Park Directives and Public Health Guidelines.
I am encouraging our entire membership to study and complete the Covid-19 Club Education eLearning Module, which aims to inform all of us about our roles and responsibilities in the safe resumption of Gaelic games activities.
It’s particularly aimed at Covid-19 Supervisors, Club Officers, Players, Team Personnel, and the Parents/Guardians of Underage Players.
However, its essential that anyone present at training sessions and/or games completes it to gain an understanding of the Safe Return Guidelines. Please go through the 12 lessons on the module. Lesson 11 requires you to answer the five questions on the Quiz.
Lesson 12 provides you with a Certificate of Completion if you score a minimum of 80%. Type your name on the Certificate and then take a screenshot of it on your phone. Please complete the Health Questionnaire as soon as possible and before you arrive for your first training session. Sign in – parents sign in underage players – with your team’s Covid-19 Supervisor as soon as you arrive for each training session.
Please comply fully with all directives from your Covid-19 Supervisor.We saw the best of our Club during the lockdown beginning with our Club Community Response. This wonderful initiative by Elma Nix, Wayne Quillinan, Ciara Nix and their gallant band of volunteers meant that no one in need was left unaided, alone or isolated.
Our young team members willingly took on the tasks that housebound people couldn’t do for themselves. By their many good deeds and fundraising initiatives, our members proved that Austin Stacks is more than a Club.
It’s also a caring community. I want to thank the Club’s Executive Committee for keeping the club ticking over by way of our virtual meetings via Zoom. I’d like to mention Club Secretary Elma Nix, in particular, who diligently kept us up-to-date with all developments and events.
I want to thank our Senior Team Manager Wayne Quillinan, Ladies Club Chairperson Bernie Mannix, Juvenile Club Chairman Tim McMahon, Coaching & Games Development Officer Eamonn O Reilly and all of our team mentors who kept in regular touch with our players with fitness and drill instructions.
This initiative kept morale and enthusiasm sky high amongst the players during the lockdown.
Field Committee Chairman, Jim Naughton and his willing volunteers have done an outstanding job of grounds maintenance and painting, even enlisting our fellow club member, Mike O Donnell to adorn the area with his beautiful mural art.
I’d like to say a special thank you to our Clubman of the Year, Noel O Connell for his invaluable advice and assistance during the lockdown.
My thanks to Finance Committee Chairman, Nial Shanahan, Club Treasurer Mike Tangney and Club Assistant Treasurer Anne Marie Healy and the Finance Committee for managing to stretch our limited finances during the past three months.
I’d also like to acknowledge the generosity, in very difficult times, of our main club sponsor, Kirby’s Brogue Inn Bar and Restaurant and our Ladies’ club sponsor Terry’s Butchers. They stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the dark days of COVID-19. We will do our best to repay them with silverware in the good days to come.
A special thanks to our dedicated Club Lotto Committee – Bernie Mannix, Carmel Quilter O Neill, Brendan O Regan, Martin Collins, John Breen and Nial Shanahan who were first out of the starting blocks by getting the Lotto up and running again. It’s wonderful also to now have our Lotto accessible online.
Finally, my gratitude to everybody in the Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club, who helped out in any way during the lockdown. We move forward together in anticipation of an enjoyable and, hopefully, a successful season. Rockies forever!
GAME TIME: While we have no confirmed fixtures to hand as yet things are progressing with the reopening of sporting activity and the bringing forward of opening dates for training and competitions. Our Senior players, for example, can now be back training from this Wednesday (24th June) with Minors and Juveniles back training from next Saturday (27th June).
Then Club competitions can start a fortnight earlier than originally planned with games free to commence on Friday, 17th July. No change has been made to the date when Inter-county competitions can begin – the 17th October is still the scheduled date for that.
STACKS 100: We continue to remind all club members that our Award Winning Stacks 100 website is now available to view – check out club memories, matches & podcasts – a great way to spend an enjoyable few minutes or hours and hours and hours . . . www.stacks100.ie.
ONLINE CLUB SHOP OPEN – check out the newest ‘official’ Austin Stacks Club Merchandise – only available to order on this link (free delivery on any orders over €50) see www.oneills.com
CLUBHOUSE: Our Bar and Clubhouse continue to remain closed until further notice.
ONLINE LOTTO: This new initiative, which was launched last week, is to reach out to a much wider playing audience locally, nationally and worldwide. Playing the Austin Stacks Club Fundraising Lotto online will be very straight forward. It takes just six easy steps to play. All you need do is visit our club Website, Facebook Page or Twitter Account, click on the lotto links and follow the steps.
Online tickets purchased up to 6pm on a Monday will be included in that evening’s Lotto draw. Tickets purchased online after 6pm on a Monday will be included in the following Monday’s Lotto draw. Results of the Austin Stacks GAA Club fundraising Lotto draw are published weekly on our website, club notes and social media platforms.
LOTTO RESULTS: To Night’s (22nd June) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 4, 6, 14, 30.
The €20 winners were – Ciara O’Sullivan, Mary McCarthy and Conor Jordan, all c/o The Club; Brendan O’Connor, c/o The Gym; and Brian McKivergan, c/o John Breen.
For the time being the Jackpot will be capped at €13,400 and of course if it’s won it will then restart at €2,000.
We would be delighted to continue to hear from any other businesses who wish to sell lotto tickets for Austin Stacks GAA Club.
If interested please get in contact with Bernie on 086 0767415 and in exchange we will promote your business, special offers and products to our vast membership through our extremely popular social media outlets which command a very high following. Hussey’s of Princes St. have now come on board as well as Kevin Barry’s and Paudie Commane who have been there for the past few weeks.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died during the past week: Conor Cusack, The Kerries; Gabriel (Gay) MacHale, Meadowlands Estate and formerly Ballina; Gárda Colm Horkan (sympathy also to his Gárda colleagues and to the members of his GAA Club – Charlestown Shamrocks); and Mike (Sull) O’Sullivan, Kevin Barry’s Villas.
