Seamus Arkinson - Chairmans Address

Céad míle fáilte romhat

It is 80 years since our club was founded in 1929. It was only 12 months ago that we celebrated this momentous occasion- 30 years unbroken 80 years strong- with our Gala in the Great Northern Hotel Bundoran. What a successful night that was.

2009 was the first year in the clubs history that a team from Eskra has won the League and Championship Double at any level. Congratulations to the U-16s and their management. The minors also provided further success to make it one of the best years in the clubs history at youth level. Congratulations must also go to our senior players for having maintained Division 2 status for the seventh year in a row, the longest period in the clubs history. We as club should feel very proud of our achievements this year, which is a reflection of all the hard work that goes on and off the football field

The fund-raising over the past 3 years, including our monster draw, has left us in a great financial position for capital development. Our greatest need has been identified as a second pitch for training purposes.

A lot of work was carried out behind the scenes last winter. We agreed terms with the Diocesan trust to lease 4.5 Acres of land, which was the perfect location for a training field. We completed an extensive application form and enlisted help from within and outside our own club to help with the application. Our hopes were high. However to our major disappointment the application was unsuccessful. Our lack of numbers compared to other organisations was cited as the main reason. We hope that further opportunities to apply to Sport NI will arise in the near future. We hope that Nelson McCausland realises that the GAA has an important role to play in the positive development of our youth and has played a massive part in all of our development and the GAA deserve their fair share of any grant aid which becomes available in the future.

We, here in Eskra, can see the benefit of good facilities,good infrastructure which have been put in place by previous committees, and to them we will always be grateful.

We do need more voluntary workers with a variety of skills to help with the increasing workload in running our club.

I also call for greater support for our fundraisers whether that is the quiz, barbeque or whatever. We welcome suggestions for the future and thank all those who have supported us in the past year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing committee for all their work, dedication and commitment, throughout the year.

Without your voluntary and selfless help, our club would not function as well as it has done and urge you to continue the good work.

To all the helpers, coaches, mangers sponsors, fundraisers, and anyone who has helped our club in any way I would also like to thank you on behalf of the club.

We wish all our teams and members the best of good luck for 2010

Is Mise Le Meas
Seamus O Horcain
Cathaoirleach