Seán Donnelly RIP 

Fr Manning Gaels was deeply saddened to learn of Seán Donnelly’s sudden passing at the weekend. Seán was a former player and served the senior club as Registrar between 2007 and 2010. He managed and was a selector for many teams and one notable success came as manager of the Division 3B team which won the league in 2009. Seán was manager of the side and it featured sons Declan and Seán junior in the half-back line as they defeated Colmcille, 1-5 to 0-6. Seán was also heavily involved with training teams at underage level, coaching at each age group from U-10 all the way up to Minor with St Vincents. He will perhaps be most fondly remembered in football terms as the coach of St Patrick’s NS Ballinamuck for many years, leading the school to a number of notable league and championship successes. Seán and his wife Phyllis were also very much involved in the formative years of the local lotto and were always on hand to assist the club in any way. Son Declan is a current member of the senior panel while also being responsible for doing statistics for team the past number of years. Seán junior is heavily involved with underage coaching with St Vincents. Seán was above all a gentleman and a community man who was deeply proud of the local area and we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Phyllis, children Mark, Michael, Seán, Gerard, Declan and Martina, brothers Brian, sisters Annette and Chrissie, grandchildren, extended family and many friends. 

Solas na bhFlaitheas air. 

Scór Sinsir 

Best of luck to our Novelty Act, Figure Dancing, Instrumental Music and Recitation Scór Sinsir competitors in the Leinster semi-finals this Sunday at 2pm in Wilkinstown, Co Meath. 

St Vincents Annual Quiz 

Thank you to all who supported the Table Quiz last Tuesday night in Cassidy’s. Thank you to Tom for his hospitality and use of the venue. 

Get Well Soon 

The club extends its best wishes to club great James Breslin who is recovering from illness at present. We look forward to seeing James out and about again soon. 

Corn Hill Challenge 

The Corn Hill Challenge is back this year after a hiatus of a number of years, this time in conjunction with Fr Manning Gaels, and kindly sponsored by Longford Precast. May 18th is the date for the big event, with the link for registration coming soon. Chipped time, T-shirt, medal and refreshments (kindly sponsored by ABC Childcare) all included. It is €35 to enter the 10-mile race, €25 for the 10k, €10 for the 5k and €5 for all U-16s. 

Lotto 

Our lotto draw which was due to take place on St Patrick’s Day was called off as a mark of respect to the late Seán Donnelly. Seán and Phyllis were very much involved with the lotto in its formative years. It will now take place in O’Reilly’s Bar on Monday, March 24th. 

Club Membership 

Club Membership for the forthcoming year is now available. The cost is €50 for adults and 

€40 for students/OAPs. Membership is required for all playing members. Membership entitles you to attend monthly club meetings and if received before March 31st, entitles you to a vote at next year’s AGM, entry into the draw for All Ireland tickets and the chance to win a night away for 2 in Kilronan Castle. To pay please contact Registrar, Graham Lee or through the Clubspot app. 

Longford 

Best of luck to Paddy Collum, Enda McGahern and the rest of the Longford team and management this weekend against Wexford. 

ACFL Division 2 

The football season officially starts this weekend as we face Grattans in Dunbeggan in the first round of the league at 5.30pm on Saturday. Best of luck to the team and management.  

Sympathy 

The club extends its deepest sympathy to player Clayton Finn on the passing of his grandfather Seamus Finn recently. The club also extends its condolences to the McGoldrick family and our neighbours in Killoe GAA on the untimely passing of their stalwart clubman and former Chairman Jim McGoldrick. Solas na bhFlaitheas orthu. 

Shane Lawlor RIP 

Fr Manning Gaels was deeply saddened to learn of Shane Lawlor’s passing on February 15th. Shane helped coach with St Vincents and was always on hand to help fundraise for the Gaels. He was a community man through and through and our deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Orla, daughter Niamh, son Cian, parents Pat and Mary, sisters Louise, Nikki and Clodagh, brothers Cathal and Conor, extended family and many friends.  

The club met with the Lawlor family last week to discuss the most regrettable circumstances of Shane’s untimely passing and how we as a club can work to ensure that such a tragic situation will never happen again.  

We welcomed the arrival of a new AED for within the grounds of Monaduff Park last week and are forming a dedicated committee with the sole objective of maintaining the defibrillator every fortnight with a report to be submitted and discussed at every monthly executive meeting going forward. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to be part of this working group and if anyone else would like to be part of it, please contact any member of the executive.  

We urge our fellow GAA clubs and all community groups who have AEDs to ensure this life saving equipment is regularly maintained in order to help prevent any similar tragedy from impacting your area.  

We also look forward in time to erecting an appropriate memorial to Shane at Monaduff. 

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar anam Shane. 

Scór Sinsir 

Massive congratulations to our Scór Sinsir competitors who had a great night last Saturday in a packed Abbeylara. It was the most successful night the club ever had at Senior Scór with four titles won as well as the coveted Club of the Year for the sixth time, the first time in ten years. We progressed through to the Leinster semi-finals in the Novelty Act, Figure Dancing, Instrumental Music and Recitation and were unlucky in the Solo Singing and Ballad Group. 

Our Novelty Act performing “The Nursing Home” was: Séamus Gallagher, Owen Brady, Anthony McKeon, Georgina Courtney, Brean Kane, Graham Lee, Mark Mulvaney and Michelle McNally.  

The Figure Dancers who danced a High Cauled Cap were: Mairéad O’Reilly, Siobhán Gearty, Ciara Donnelly, Laura Murtagh, Amanda Duffy, Linda Ondze, Brooke Molloy and Breda Lynch. 

The Instrumental Musicians were the Culliney brothers; Darren, Cathal and Liam and they played a jig and a selection of reels. 

Siobhán O’Neill Donohue recited “At The State’s Expense”. 

Antoinette McCormack sang “Grace” with music by Tom Cassidy. 

and the Ballad Group was Tom Cassidy with his nephews Cathal and Liam Culliney and they sang “The Ferryman” and “Spancil Hill”. 

Thank you to Lorraine Corrigan who organised it all on the club’s behalf and she was ably assisted by Von. Thanks also to Mary Gillooley who helped with the sketch and Mary Leonard who helped with the Figure Dancing. Best of luck to our Tráth na gCeist team of Joseph Gill, Gabriel Higgins, Pauric Gill and Ciarán Cooney who are in the quiz at the end of the month. 

St Vincents Annual Quiz 

The annual table quiz for St Vincents, which normally takes place around Christmast (postponed due to the Oskars) is this Friday, March 14th at 9pm in Cassidy’s Olde Village Inn, Drumlish. A table of four costs €40, and there are prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd as well as a raffle with loads of great prizes. Please come out and support, a great night’s craic is ensured as always. 

Corn Hill Challenge 

The Corn Hill Challenge is back this year after a hiatus of a number of years, this time in conjunction with Fr Manning Gaels, and kindly sponsored by Longford Precast. May 18th is the date for the big event, with the link for registration coming soon. Chipped time, T-shirt, medal and refreshments (kindly sponsored by ABC Childcare) all included. It is €35 to enter the 10-mile race, €25 for the 10k, €10 for the 5k and €5 for all U-16s. 

Lotto 

Our lotto draw took place in The Mill Bar, Drumlish on Monday last, March 3rd. The Jackpot was €3,600. The numbers drawn were as follows: 

7, 22, 24, 25 

There was no winner. The Jackpot is now €3,800! 

The three €50 winners were: 

Angela Leneghan 

Beatrice Gill 

Mickey Quinn 

Thank you to all who support our lotto. Thank you Owen and Caroline for use of the premises, providing refreshments and facilitating the draw. The next draw will take place in O’Reilly’s Bar, Drumlish on St Patrick’s Day. Please play again on Clubspot by selecting the Fr Manning Gaels option or from the usual ticket sellers. 

Club Membership 

Club Membership for the forthcoming year is now available. The cost is €50 for adults and 

€40 for students/OAPs. Membership is required for all playing members. Membership entitles you to attend monthly club meetings and if received before March 31st, entitles you to a vote at next year’s AGM, entry into the draw for All Ireland tickets and the chance to win a night away for 2 in Kilronan Castle. To pay please contact Registrar, Graham Lee or through the Clubspot app. 

Night at the Oskars 

Copies of the Oskar films are available for sale at €20. Please contact any member of the executive if you wish to purchase one. 

Longford 

Best of luck to Paddy Collum, Enda McGahern and the rest of the Longford team and management this weekend against Carlow. 

Our Club: The Fr Manning Gaels Story 

The Gaels history book can be purchased in Seamus Kane’s, Whitney’s, Kiernan’s, Drumlish Post Office and the shop in Ballinamuck or by contacting Pauric directly, particularly if you want it posted. The book costs €50. There are also a limited number of special hardback copies of the book available. Please contact Pauric directly if you would like one. These books cost €60. 

Tá CLG Ghaeil an tAthair Ó Mainnín ag glacadh páirte i bhFondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonnacha don gchéad uair. Beidh neart le déanamh againn chun duais a bhuachaint agus tá fáilte roimh chách chun an Gaeilge a chur chun cinn sa chumann. Bígí linn.

Fr Manning Gaels is taking part in Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonnacha run by Glór na nGael. The foundation aims to promote the use of Gaeilge in all of the club’s activities.

Please let us know if you are interested in promoting Irish in the club and indeed community

For more information go to

https://www.glornangael.ie/clg/

Lotto 

Our lotto draw took place in The Mill Bar, Drumlish on Monday last, March 3rd. The Jackpot was €3,600. Results are currently on the club website and social media and will be published in next week’s notes. Thank you to all who support our lotto. The next draw will take place in O’Reilly’s Bar, Drumlish on St Patrick’s Day. Please play again on Clubspot by selecting the Fr Manning Gaels option or from the usual ticket sellers. 

Club Membership 

Club Membership for the forthcoming year is now available. The cost is €50 for adults and €40 for students/OAPs. Membership is required for all playing members. Membership entitles you to attend monthly club meetings and if received before March 31st, entitles you to a vote at next year’s AGM, entry into the draw for All Ireland tickets and the chance to win a night away for 2 in Kilronan Castle. To pay please contact Registrar, Graham Lee or through the Clubspot app. 

Sympathy 

The club extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Frances Courtney (Kilnashee), Elizabeth Gray (Cloncowley) and Benny & Brigid Nertney (England) who all sadly passed away recently. Solas na bhFlaitheas orthu. 

Night at the Oskars 

Copies of the Oskar films are available for sale at €20. Please contact any member of the executive if you wish to purchase one. 

Longford 

Well done to Paddy Collum, Enda McGahern and the rest of the Longford team and management on their one-point victory over London last Sunday. 

Our Club: The Fr Manning Gaels Story 

The Gaels history book can be purchased in Seamus Kane’s, Whitney’s, Kiernan’s, Drumlish Post Office and the shop in Ballinamuck or by contacting Pauric directly, particularly if you want it posted. The book costs €50. There are also a limited number of special hardback copies of the book available. Please contact Pauric directly if you would like one. These books cost €60.