Sarsfields AGM

                     The AGM of the Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club was held in the Arts Centre on Friday night last November 29th and there was a nice crowd in attendance as the club reflected on a pretty momentous year on and off the pitch with lots of outstanding highlights . The following officers were elected for the coming year :

Patron – Kitty Walsh

President : Michael Byrnes

Chairman : Ryan O`Connor

Vice-Chairperson : Michael Doherty

Secretary : Kevin Deignan

Asst-Secretary : Philip Craig

Treasurer : Tom McLoughlin

Asst- Treasurer : Emmet Gavaghan

P.R.O : Stephen Healy

Asst. P.R.O. : Ronan Kenny

Coaching Officer ; Kiefer Craig

Health and Well-Being Officer : Stephen Healy

County Board Delegate : Noel Gallagher

East Mayo Board Delegate : Patrick Breheny

                     Outgoing Chairman Liam Breheny presented a very comprehensive report thanking all members, coaches and officers for all the work they did in the club during the course of a busy and significant year in the long and storied history of our club. The official opening of the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch & Walkway by An Taoiseach Simon Harris on Sunday June 2nd was a monumental if emotional day for the club and Horkan family as it was the culmination of four years of meticulous planning by the Liam , the executive and a very dedicated group of core members who moved heaven and earth to make it possible. The support the club received from all corners of the community, country and across  the globe cannot be overstated but Liam and his committee managed the whole project brilliantly and deserve every bit of kudos and credit for doing the same with the pitch & Walkway finished to a very high spec and something we as a club and can be immensely proud of as we celebrated and honoured the memory of a man who was embedded in the club and community and who left a terrific legacy of memories and mementoes that will never be forgotten. The final  stage of the project, the lighting of the walkway,  will be completed in the new year with the finance having been secured from  the latest round of lotto allocations which will complete the jigsaw so to speak and leave the club with a facility that ranks right up there with anything any club has to offer the length and breadth of the country. Liam thanked all the management groups of the senior, junior and Under-21 teams for their commitment and dedication throughout a busy and turbulent season with the  securing of the club`s senior league and championship status very much welcomed by all associated with the club. Liam thanked the weekly lotto sellers who do such a trojan job keeping the club lotto ticking over and thanked Emmet Gavaghan for all his help in getting the tickets and results sheets into the shops promptly following the weekly draw on the Sunday night. Liam also referenced the work around Fr O`Hara Park that was completed in 2024 namely the erection of a new shed and the purchase and upgrade of maintenance equipment to keep our pitches in trim and pristine condition and he was at pains to thank the park committee spearheaded by Ciaran McBrien, Ryan O`Connor and many other outstanding volunteers who beaver away behind the scenes on a daily and weekly basis keeping our facilities in terrific shapes which makes them the envy of so many throughout the county. He thanked the sponsors of the brand new two new scoreboards that will adorn our pitches in 2025 , namely the Donoghue family and St Attracta`s along with Liam Folliard and the Ladies club which is very much appreciated by all connected with the club and once again underlines the strong bond that exists between the club and community. He thanked the club`s excellent social media team who keep all the various social  media accounts updated and provide a crucial link and contact between those at home and abroad with their work and input finding wonderful favour with all our exiles and ex-pats, He thanked the Local East Mayo Athletics Club for all their help and support in the organisation of the Colm Horkan Memorial Run which has been a magnificent success since its first staging in 2021 and has attracted support from all corners of the globe. He paid special tribute to Gemma Higgins and Siobhan Doherty in this regard and all the many other people who worked so hard in each of the four events to date to bring it to fruition, He complimented Bord na n-Og for the wonderful work they do at underage level and the fantastic  progress they have made in revitalising the coaching set-up and infrastructure that once again has us  participating at a high grade and competing for silverware at East Mayo and county level. Their efforts , he stated , deserved the highest commendation and they are an absolute credit to the club  and the community. Liam paid special tribute to his fellow officers for the support and assistance they have provided him and the club over the past number of years.  He stated it was a pleasure to serve with Tom McLoughlin and Kevin Deignan as they were men of the highest possible calibre who executed their duties with integrity and honesty at all times as they put the club first in each and every one of their dealings.  He thanked the club`s main Sponsor Alan Crean of Crean`s Mosaics for his unwavering and steadfast support of the club during his reign and the business community of Charlestown for their input and assistance at all times but particularly during an extremely busy last number of years. He indicated his intention to step down after nine years at the helm and leaves an amazing body of work behind him that marks him down as an outstanding clubman who had the vision, ambition, intelligence and leadership qualities to bring so many brilliant initiatives to completion notwithstanding the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch & Walkway was without doubt his greatest triumph. Liam`s efforts received a rousing ovation from all present as incoming chairman Ryan O`Connor stepped into the chair keenly aware of the big boots he has to follow as he acknowledged the magnificent work of the outgoing chairman.

                         Secretary Kevin Deignan`s report was every bit as detailed and insightful as he covered all aspects of the club`s business and affairs. Kevin is heading into a remarkable 17th year in the position as he continues to set new standards of organisation and efficiency into what`s  become a very demanding and challenging position. Kevin continues to make it look easy and seamless however and the club are lucky to have a man of his ilk in their ranks as he shows no sign of slowing down or handing in his papers so to speak. His report was wide ranging covering every minute aspect of what the club accomplished, achieved and developed on and off the field, His delivery touched on all that Liam referenced in his final report as Chairman with Kevin effusive in his praise of his fellow officer`s input and ability to get things done during his nine years in the role of chairman. Kevin had a terrific working relationship with the chairman . He thanked the many people who held coaching positions in the club at all levels of competition and grades and stated the club was lucky to have such committed, dedicated and talented people in our midst. He thanked all the sponsors who gave  support and donations of one form or another to the club which manifested itself in many ways such as jerseys, team sponsorship , pre- and post-match meals with their contributions proving invaluable and once again reinforcing and highlighting the strong bond that exists between the club and community as a whole. He praised all involved in the organisation and preparation of the official opening of the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch & Walkway and went on record to describe the immense pride he derived from Sunday June 2nd as the club and community celebrated the unveiling of a special facility in memory of a very special person who was steeped in the green and white. It was a touching and emotive day which tugged on the heart strings as the GAA family stood as one with the Horkan family to exhibit a facility that stands as a monument to all that Colm stood for and represented. Kevin `s report was professional , far reaching and superbly delivered as he heads into another year in total command of his brief.

            Treasurer Tom McLoughlin delivered a very comprehensive report as he presented the balance sheet to the members present. He was in the happy position to report a surplus  which speaks volumes for his prudence as he kept a tight check on the finances with every cent and euro scrupulously accounted for Tom has done a wonderful job in charge of the club`s exchequer with the amount of money flowing through the club`s accounts akin to a medium sized business such has been the flow of cash into the club account and the Colm Horkan Pitch & Memoriaal Walkway account which Tom managed to keep on top of brilliantly and seamlessly .He carries out his duties with the utmost of  propriety and decency and always keeps members briefed and in the loop at all times on matters pertaining to finance with the income side showing a healthy surplus which he attributed to a lot of hard work on the part of all associated with the club. He referenced the success of the online and smart lotto and stated how it formed a critical part of our income with membership and annual lotto tickets also forming a key part of our revenue stream. There are always expenses to be incurred in a club such as our own but Tom and the executive take a very smart and sensible approach when it comes to spending and this was very much reflected in the figures with circumspection and judiciousness always been observed and practised when it comes to spending club funds. Tom paid particular tribute to Emmet Gavaghan for his help and support with his work in the lotto and distribution of the same very much appreciated by him and the club at large. The meeting were delighted to hear of Tom`s intention to remain on in the role for 2025 as he continues to set new standards in terms of excellence and professionalism in a role he has most definitely revelled in and made his own since taking it on some four years ago.

                     Incoming Chairman Ryan O`Connor finished up by thanks his predecessor Liam Breheny for the magnificent job of work he did during his nine years at the helm and reiterated his desire to build on the wonderful legacy left by Liam as he wished all members and supporters  a happy and peaceful Xmas and a prosperous and healthy 2025 .