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New Chairman of Austin Stacks Billy Ryle with outgoing Chairwoman Mairead Fernane in Rathmore on Sunday. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
SUNDAY was a good day for Austin Stacks GAA Club with the seniors winning the Division 1 County League title to add to the Club Championship win earlier that year.
The beat Rathmore in the east Kerry village after a penalty shootout with Kieran Donaghy scoring the decisive penalty.
It capped off a great day for Billy Ryle who was elected as the new Chairman of the club at their convention that morning.
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The Rock Street native, in his speech, said he was honoured to take up the position and looked forward to the year ahead.
“Thank you for electing me as your new Chairman for 2020. It’s a privilege to take on this position in the Austin Stacks Club, where my roots are deeply imbedded,” said Billy.
“It’s a job I’m taking on after careful consideration and I’m certainly aware of the responsibility that it places on my shoulders. I will put time and effort into the position and I will engage with it to the best of my ability. My only agenda will be to do what’s best for The Rock. I will be a Chairman for the entire club – gents, ladies and our valued young members.
“As incoming Chairman, I’m adopting, with a slight modification, the motto of President John F Kennedy from his 1961 inauguration speech: ‘Ask not what your Club can do for you – ask what you can do for your Club’
So, today I am asking you, our members, to give everything to your Club. Ask for nothing in return other than thesatisfaction of being a valued member of one of the greatest GAA clubs in Ireland.”
Billy also paid tribute to Mairead Fernane, the outgoing Chairwoman, who did such a great job.
“You have the distinction of being the first female Chairperson of our Club. That honour is yours forever. You have been an outstanding Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of Austin Stacks. Mairéad, in your courteous and gracious style, you have done The Rock some service. I will be calling on you, from time to time, to do some more!” he said.
