UNDER 7 FOOTBALL: Boys born in 2016/17/18 will begin their 2023 season on SUNDAY NEXT at 10am in the Mercy Mounthawk Gym. Fáilte roimh chách….everybody welcome. Just come along…and bring a friend, if you wish. Be part of the rolling Rock!
PEIL FAOI 9 All boys born in 2014/15 are invited to come along to the new season’s Gaelic football activity which will begin at 11am in the Mercy Mounthawk Gym on Sunday NEXT. Everyone welcome! Tosach maith, leath na hoibre!
UNDER 11 FOOTBALL: To all boys born in 2012/13…welcome back, lads! The Green CBS Astro is the venue for you all on Sunday NEXT at 11am…and bring a friend or two!
PEIL FAOI 13: We look forward to meeting our U13s (lads born in 2010/11) on Friday evening at 7pm at the MTU Sports Academy, Munster Technological University, Dromtacker, Tralee, V92 CX88. What a venue! Can’t wait to begin the new football season! Tús maith, leath na hoibre! Here comes The Rock!
BACK TO SCHOOL: Good wishes to all our players and supporters as they settle into another school/college term….give it your best shot, lads, and work as hard as you can at the books! ‘Twill be worth it in the long run! Aoibhinn beatha an scoláire!
CRUINNIÚ CINN BHLIANA (Roinn na nÓg): Yet another juvenile section AGM took place i bPáirc Uí Chonghaile on Monday night last. A good crowd of the faithful attended. Many important topics were debated, the past year’s activities were discussed en détails and plans have been hatched for a most successful Rock 2023! A good discussion took place on the importance of and the need for more mentors and helpers with the various groups/teams; the committee would like to have many more parents involved in club activities; bheadh fáilte roimh gach cabhair. Volunteers are especially needed for the U11, U13 and U15 groupings. The urgent need for referees at juvenile level was also strongly noted; the club is required to provide réiteoirí (as are all 64 clubs in the county!) and refereeing courses are regularly provided for interested people (even for transition students). One just needs to speak with a club officer or mentor to get information on any kind of club involvement.Comhghairdeachas lenár gcathaoirleach nuacheaptha, Richie Conway, agus lenár n-oifigeach scileanna nuatofa, Tim McMahon. Tribute was paid to our outgoing chairman, Tim, who led our juvenile section committee with great success for almost 20 years. on was also publicly Another unsung hero is Michael Lynch who continuously does the hour-consuming task of organising almost everything in roinn na n-óg. Senior section chairman, Shane Lynch, spoke glowingly of the work of the whole juvenile set-up and spoke words of encouragement to all who’ll be working tirelessly over the coming season for the youth of The Rock. Labhair sé go spreagúil le dáiríreacht, le díograis agus le díocas. Shane, as well as Siobhán de Paor, gives great support to the juvenile section. Adrienne McLoughlin’s ‘talented, tireless and timeless’ contribution was also publicly acknowledged. Riarthóirí na bpáirceanna were also praised for their important input, often in very inclement weather: John Breen, Noel O’Connell, Kevin O’Leary, David Hill and Lee Munzter.Best wishes to both Richie and Tim in their new roles and the best of luck to The Rock juvenile meitheal for ‘23. An fhoireann oibre….our juvenile leadership team for the coming season….cathaoirleach: Richie Conway; leaschathaoirleach: Noel O’Connell; rúnaí: Michael Lynch; coiste dúiche agus central division representative: John Slattery; assistant registrar: Colm Mangan; oifigeach scileanna: Tim McMahon.And the people ‘on the ground’….the bainisteoirí/mentors and their helpers….U7 Football: William Kirby, Kevin O’Leary, Amy Lucid, Martin Courtney, Joe Kinsella, St John Hegarty, Liam Walsh, Séamus Smith; U9 Football: Michael Lynch, Tim McMahon, Mikey Collins, Kevin Counihan, David Lucid, Richard Long, Darragh Long, Eamon Scanlan; U11 Football: Colm Mangan, Wayne Quillinan, Brendan Smith, Jon Magnier and Kieran O’Flaherty; U13 Football: Dan Ahern, Donal Corcoran, Ciarán Murphy, Micko Horan, Ger Teahon, Brian Horgan, Kyle Fitzgibbon, Jack Morgan; U15 Football: Pa Laide, Morgan O’Connell, Theo Diggin, Ger Hobbert, Frankie Murphy; U17 Football: Richie Conway, William Kirby, David Scanlon, Shane Lucid, Darragh O’Brien, Damien Rael.
SCÓR na nÓG: Please, feel free to be part of Scór na nÓg ’23? If interested, please contact Carmel O’Neill. Items: a four-person table quiz team, a grúpa ceoil, solo singing, a five-person (boys or girls) ballad group, a figure dance, a set, a recitation/dán/scéal. Think about it! Don’t be shy! Plenty vacancies on the team!! Singers, quiz buffs, actors, musicians, dancers, etc, urgently required to represent The Rock!
COLÁISTÍ….ROCK PLAYERS IN COLLEGE GAMES:
(i) The Mercy Mounthawk U19 senior boys are scheduled to play Clonakilty Community College in the quarter-final of the Corn Uí Mhuirí competition on Wednesday 18thJanuary.Good luck, boys! The Rock boys: Paddy Lane, Daniel Kirby, Cillian Litchfield, Michael Tansley, Jack Murphy, Ben Murphy, Noah Townsend, Liam Carmody.
(ii) Gaelcholáiste’s gaiscígh have been faced with a bumper series of matches in the U16½ and Senior age groups: (a) na Sinsir (Faoi 19 ~ Corn Sheáin Uí Mhurchú) will meet Coláiste Rís, Inis, in Rathkeale on Wednesday next, 18ú Eanáir, in a much-delayed (and highly-anticipated) fixture in their Munster C quarter-final match agus (b) imreofar ‘cath’ eile i gCionn tSáile (1601!!) ar an Aoine seo (13ú Eanáir) when the U16½ boys encounter Kinsale Community School. The Sinsir, to test their skills, recently undertook a challenge match v Spanish Point (Scoil Naomh Iósaf) at the Sports Complex, Cluain Darach, and fantastic displays were given by Marc Ó Loingsigh (0-3), Gavin Ó Cathasaigh (0-1) and Cian Ó Duilleán. With wonderful flourishes of play and the creation of some spectacular opportunities, they’ve proven themselves to be more than ready to provide Coláiste Rís le cluiche iomaíoch spleodrach. Guímis, mar Stacaigh agus mar phobal scoile an Ghaelcholáiste, gach rath orthu! (D.Ó Loingsigh)
(iii) Good luck to the Tralee CBS (Faoi 16½) boys who’ll face Coláiste Bhréanainn in the final of the Dunloe Cup (Kerry colleges) competition. Dáta, am agus ionad imeartha le socrú fós. Best wishes to Ryan O’Driscoll, Rónán O’Carroll, Fionnán Ryan and Donnacha Horgan.
CLUB LOTTO: Thanks to all who continually support and promote our club lotto: (i) O’Flynn Interiors (Malachy Nagle), Lower Rock Street, (ii) Brogue Inn Uí Chiarba, Lower Rock Street, (iii) Deli Uí hEosa, Prince’s Quay, (iv) Carmel Uí Néill and others, (v) Maguires’ Butcher Shop, Caherslee, (vi) Ollmhargadh de Barra, Upper Rock Street, (vii) Paudie Commane’s Bookshop, Rock Street, (viii) The Burger Shack, Monavalley (ix) www.austinstacks.ie (x) and/or on https://play.clubforce.com/play_newa.asp?ll_id=X529#Anchor
CLUB AGM (SENIOR): The club’s AGM (senior section) will take place on Sunday next (15th January) at 1.30pm in Connolly Park. Everybody is welcome. Is maith an fhaire an fhógairt!
SIOPA AN CHLUB: Our Club shop is open seacht lá na seachtaine. Official Austin Stack Club merchandise is only available to order on www.oneills.com
AN RAIBH ‘FHIOS AGAT? Since 2006 over 1,000,000 youngsters from ages six to 13 years have participated in the GAA Cúl Camps. These camps run for one week in the summer months. The camp activities take a games-based approach which revolves around enjoyment and participation in Gaelic games. Each young person who takes part receives a geansaí, a zip top and a backpack. The gear does not generally go on public sale which ensures that the people participating are part of an exclusive GAA group. With logos and different designs annually Cúl Camp gear is a ‘uniform’ that encourages the wearer to feel comfortable, confident, special and proud to play Gaelic games….caid, iománaíocht, liathróid láimhe, rounders. Cúl Camps are among the most popular recreational settings i rith laethanta saoire an tsamhraidh. In 2019, Wexford GAA developed the first specialised camp for autistic children; it involved a more sensory friendly experience for attendees and their siblings (who also attended). This idea has developed across the land; it encompasses the true spirit of community and inclusion for young people of various abilities. And The Rock hasn’t been found wanting, thanks to an enthusiastic committed group of parents, coaches and helpers.
SINSIR CHIARRAÍ: ‘Well done’ to Dylan, Jack’O and Greg who recently wore the green‘n’gold v Cork (bíonn gach tosach lag!) and v Clare (a nice win!).