Club Aontroma’s half-time draw, which raises funds for Antrim GAA’s Centre of Participation at Dunsilly kicked off at the weekend at the Antrim v Sligo match in Casement Park. The winning ticket went to a Saffron – Gerard Magee from Ardoyne Kickhams, who is pictured with his son Naoise Ó Cuilin Mac Aoidh, Nóirín McGoldrick Club Aontroma and Jim Murray, Cathaoirleach Coiste Chontae Aontroma.

This year Club Aontroma, in partnership with Anrtim GAA, are launching ONE ANTRIM – a unique membership scheme which will resource the development of Gaelic Games acorss our clubs and county. When you join you will see your name on the back of a Saffron jersey and can avail of a range of benefits, offers and an exclusive membershp draw. To register your interest please email Catherine O’Hara – catherineo@btinternet.com.

Just a short note of thanks to everyone who supported us at the Club Aontroma Race Night at Drumbo Park on Friday 28th October. Despite difficult economic times a substantial number of businesses and individuals came out to support us and to make our race night a great and successful occasion.

Special thanks must go to our Event Sponsor, Premier Electrics. This company has been a staunch supporter of Club Aontroma and Antrim GAA for a number of years and we are delighted to have such an organisation behind us.

Also, our three Corporate Partners – Sperrin Switchgear, Contact Marketing and Sisk NI Ltd, have helped to make this event as good as it could be. Thank you all very much.

We also had our featured “Human Race” with all five contestants giving 100% and big Jackie Carson showing that an “old dog” knows plenty of new tricks when it comes to outrunning the young pups of Antrim football, hurling and Camogie. Many thanks to all our runners, Rhona Torney, Eleanor Mallon, Tony Scullion, Brian McFall (2010 Champion) and Jackie Carson.

Last but by no means least, a huge thanks to all of you who supported us in any way, whether you were there on the night, sponsored a race or a dog, advertised in the programme, provided a prize for the ballot or did anything to help. With this level of support and all of us working together to enhance the future of Gaelic Games in Antrim, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

IS FEIDIR LINN

Go raibh maith agaibh

Is Mise, Le Meas

Colm McKenna, Chairman

Jim Murray, Antrim County Board Chairman with Colm McKenna, Chairman Club Aontroma at the Night at the Dogs

Back by popular demand this sell-out fundraiser was a huge success in 2010.
Enjoy 11 exhilarating greyhound races on the fabulous Drumbo Stadium track and an additional 11 races via satellite on multiple screens. Soak up the atmosphere of this unique race night from the comfort of your seat as you dine with friends in the luxurious restaurant located upstairs at Drumbo Park.

An unobstructed view is guaranteed for all guests through panoramic glass fronted windows overlooking the track. Add more interest to your night out by sponsoring a racing dog.
The evening’s grand finale is the much anticipated ‘Human Race.’ Top Antrim County players replace the greyhounds for the last race on the card.

Tickets – £50.00 per head.

Price includes – Admission – Race Programme – 4 Course Meal – Tote Attendant – Waiter/Waitress Service.

Table Bookings Available.

BOOK NOW!

SPONSORHIP OPPORTUNITES including;

Dog(s) Sponsorship – Race Sponsorship Packages – Hare Sponsorship and Corporate Sponsorship Packages.
Programme Advertising from £50.00

For Further details contact Catherine O’Hara – Club Aontroma Business Manager.
t: 028 2175 9966 m: 07720 464 543 e: catherine @clubaontroma.com

Top teams included former Clare hurler Ollie Baker with Dominic Kearns, Shane Staunton and Neil McAuley who finished six shots ahead of Turlough McKeegan’s Cushendun contingent.

Gerry Dillon and Brenda McNeill recored the top individual scores while Dr John McSparran pipped leading lady Karen Coyles for the longest drive. Ivor Torrens playing with ‘Team Ballycastle’ took home the ‘nearest to the pin.’

Special guest – US Deputy Consul General, Kevin Roland, teed off with Ortus General Manager Seamus O’Prey, Martin Arkins and County footballer Paddy Cunningham. The US State Department official praised the Antrim GAA. ‘We work closely with the GAA and other organisations involved in sport and community development in the North. The work the GAA do within the community is fantastic and I am delighted to be in a position to hit a few balls in support.’

Formerly based in Iraq and Cairo, the links course and the weather proved challenging ‘ I donated quite a few golf balls to the rough. The course was a challenge but it was a great day’s fun in a stunningly beautiful part of the world.’

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“I’m not only looking forward to meeting up again with some of my old county hurling team colleagues but also playing on the excellent Ballycastle course. I was a club member there for half-a dozen years,” says McCallin, presently playing off an eight-handicap at the Balmoral Club, Belfast.

“After I quit serious hurling and football competition with St John’s, I took to the golf . . . just like some of the other old hurlers, such as Niall Wheeler. For quite some time I was a team playing member at Cushendall.

“I remember a great Irish Senior Cup Ulster first round win against Ballycastle at Ballyliffin. Also in that Cushendall team were good golfers such as Mark McCambridge, Ciaran Mort, and Ally McGregor. I used to be a five and six handicapper when at Cushendall, and was also in Junior Cup and Jimmy Bruen teams.”

Andy’s sporting exploits were much more far reaching when he was at the top of his hurling and football game. Arguably one of the best wing forwards of all time, the gifted one had the distinction of being in the first Carrolls All Star football team of 1971.

The historic All Star ‘15′ toured the United States at the end of that season. The other Ulster ace listed with Andy was Down’s multi-Sam Maguire medal winning hero . . . the inimitably steely centre forward Sean O’Neill.

Versatile McCallin, however, held an extra edge in that he was equally skilled as a hurler. The class act from Corrigan Park, a winner of eight Antrim County football and two Antrim County hurling medals with ‘The Johnnies’, he helped the Saffron’s clinch the All-Ireland Under-21 title of 1969.

One year later, the will o’ the wisp craft of McCallin was key to Antrim’s iconic hurling side that blazed a glory trail to the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship. McCallin will be a big attraction at Ballycastle, where Club Aontroma push to raise funds for the County teams and for the new ‘Centre of Participation’ at Dunsilly.
McCallin and his brother John, an 11-handicapper at Balmoral, are among those answering the call. Andy added:”Along with brother John, I’ll also have St John’s and Antrim forward Mickey Darragh in my four-ball.”

“The GAA may be an amateur organisation but requires very significant resources to assist in the development of Football, Hurling, Camogie, and Ladies Football within each club and within the county. Support from all Antrim Gaels is vital to the success of the fundraising efforts of Club Aontroma. In this economic climate a concerted effort is essential to maintain the development of all our Gaelic games. I am really looking forward to the golfing outing. It will be a wonderful social occasion for all Gaels to meet and I look forward to it,” said Mairead.

Mairead will line out with a few other well known names.Ballycastle’s Karen Coyles teams up with Cushendall’s Joan Campbell, while Bernie Daly from the All Saints Club Ballymena brings a corporate Four Ball from training agency ‘People 1st.’

Mairead Magill, former O'Duffy Cup winning Captain, who will tee-off at this Friday's Club Aontroma 4-Ball

Club Aontroma Frank MacElhatton reported on activity over the last year

Club Aontroma Secretary Frank MacElhatton reported on the main fundraising activities of 2010 / 11 which included the Half Time draw at Antrim’s senior hurling and football National League matches and the successful Night at The Dogs which is set to be repeated this October at Drumbo. Another source of fundraising remains the core subscribers to CA. Frank also highlighted the high profile Club Aontroma Twitter feed which provides timely updates on developments in the county to almost 1,000 followers. Crucially, the body handed over £66,000 to the County Board in the course of the year, towards the completion of the Dunsilly project. Other donations in the past year went to ladies football and camogie.

Club Aontroma Chairman Colm McKenna outlined an ambitious 5 year vision for CA, built on core fundraising events, a targeted donations efforts focussed on Dunsilly and most significantly a membership scheme which will be launched next month. Colm paid tribute to the work of the small and dedicated CA committee, especially Carl Whyte and Patricia Goldsmith who have carried the bulk of the work in putting together the membership scheme. Mention was also made of the forthcoming golf classic in Ballycastle, set for Friday 19th August, which has already outsold the previous Club Aontroma Golf Classic held in Antrim in May this year.

The attendees were introduced to Catherine O’Hara who has come on board in a sales / administration capacity and is already making a difference by adding the most crucial element to the work of the CA volunteers: time. Catherine and Frankie Quinn have helped ensure the success of the Golf Classics.

County Chairman addressed the meeting and stressed the importance of the work of Club Aontroma, as the main fundraising body in the county. While two separately constituted bodies it is clear that the partnership between Club Aontroma and Antrim County Board is very strong with a shared vision, a shared determination and a shared drive to see our county being as successful as it can be.

Jim oversaw the election of officers which saw the return of Executive members:

Colm McKenna, Chairman
Frank MacElhatton, Secretary
Roisin Lynch, Treasurer
Carl Whyte, PRO

The outgoing committee was also returned and Colm McKenna re iterated his oft made appeal for other GAA members in the county to join in the work of Club Aontroma.

Brendan Mulgrew

The pair were joined by Antrim legends Karl McKeegan and Kevin O’Boyle, Nigel Cole from Donnelly & Taggart and Antrim GAA Secretary Frankie Quinn. Donnelly & Taggart have kindly provided the top prize of a Honda Jazz for any Saffron skilled enough to follow in the footsteps of Tom Watson at the Open. The prize is for any player scoring a hole-in-one at the 17th hole.

Speaking at the launch, Club Aontroma Chairman Colm McKenna said: “Our hurling, football, camogie and ladies football teams have given all Saffron fans a great year and have shown the solid ground on which we can build. Support from all Antrim gaels is vital if the county is to build on this year’s performance. I would urge everyone to get involved and support the Musco Lighting Club Aontroma Four Ball in Ballycastle on 19th August. All proceeds will be used to fund the development of all four codes as well as the ongoing development at the county’s Centre for Participation at Dunsilly.

“For the first time ever in Antrim, we have secured a top prize for our expert golfers. The 17th hole is one of the tougher holes at the North Antrim links course and anyone with the skill or luck to land a hole-in-one will win the top prize of a Honda Jazz. I would like to thank Donnelly Taggart for this generous donation and also Musco Lighting who are the main sponsors for the event,” he added.

Anyone wishing to reserve a place at the event or sponsor should contact Catherine O’Hara on 077 2046 4543 or Catherine@clubaontroma.com.

Colin Brown of Musco Lighthing said: Musco are proud to be the preferred floodlighting supplier for County Antrim GAA and look forward to continuing our relationship long into the future.”

Nigel Cole from Donnelly-Taggart said: “We are delighted to support the Club Aontroma Golf Day and hopefully we’ll see a winner for the top prize at the 17th hole. Donnelly Taggart is proud to support communities right across Northern Ireland and we look forward to working with Antrim GAA in the future.”

The Musco Lighting Club Aontroma Golf Classic will tee-off at 9am and will include a ‘Beat the Pro’ and ‘Longest Drive’ competition with top prizes including golf outings and golf shoes. A meal and Club Aontroma goody bag are also included.

I am delighted to invite you to join me at our AGM, which takes place on Tuesday 9th August 2011 at 8.00pm in the boardroom of O’Neill’s Sports, Kennedy Centre, Belfast.

The AGM is an extremely important event in our calendar. It gives the opportunity to reflect on what we have done and what we need to do to fully play our part in developing our games within the county. This year has been a little disappointing for our senior football and hurling teams, with our footballers back to Division 3 and our hurlers missing out on the play off stages of the league and the All Ireland ¼ final. On the bright side, we are moving, albeit slowly, in the right direction with the hurlers recording their first win in a Leinster Championship. Our Camogs continue to build on last year’s All Ireland victory and hope to repeat the success this year at intermediate level. Our lady footballers continue to work hard and our Minors contest an All Ireland Final this weekend. However, we must be realistic. Recent heavy defeats in senior and minor hurling and senior football championships show us just how far behind we are in relation to the top counties in the game – just how far we are from the position we should aspire to be. But what are we going to do about it?

As you may be aware, the plans for our county’s new Centre of Participation at Dunsilly are well advanced. This initiative will create a centrally located facility with a sports hall, fitness suites, multiple pitches including a “state of the art” championship size 3G surface and very much more. This development will allow us in Antrim to realize the full potential within our association and to build the future that our younger generations deserve; a future that we as a county can and must deliver.

We in Club Aontroma, are ready to play a pivotal role in raising the finance to realize these aspirations. To achieve success, we need more people to come forward to help. The opportunities as presented by county management are much too attractive to miss. We cannot and will not allow that to happen. Together and only together, we can do it.

Despite the relative lack of success in 2011, our teams in Antrim have shown that they can win and bring pride back to the county jersey. The team that is Club Aontroma has a very clear goal – to raise the necessary finance to make the “on the field” success possible and continuing. We need every one to work together. Already a number of very committed donors are helping to make a difference in Antrim. We want to widen the net and bring in more members and activists as we move forward. The time for sitting back and waiting for someone else to do it has passed. It is up to every one of us to take control of our county’s future.

We will use the AGM to outline the plans we are developing in addition to our fundraising events such as the “Dunsilly Draws”, Club Aontroma Race Nights and Golf Classics. These plans are by necessity very ambitious but they are equally exciting and when realized they will make a real and lasting difference to our association in this great county.

Many of you are already making a real difference and fully playing your part. Are the rest of us ready to stand up and be counted?
I look forward to seeing you.

Is Mise, Le Meas

Colm McKenna – Chairman

www.clubaontroma.com
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