Annual General Meeting

Mullingar Shamrocks AGM was staged in the Clubhouse in Springfield on Saturday 24 November 2018. In the course of the year greater emphasis was placed on strategic planning and the introduction of sub-committee responsibility for various club activities. This was reflected in the AGM where the traditional model was adjusted to reflect the changed administrative responsibilities of the year. As a result reports were presented from the various subcommittees including Marketing and Communications; Grounds Operation & Management; Membership and Registration; Healthy Club; Strategic Planning; Coaching and Games Development; Events & Fundraising; Adult Football; Ladies Gaelic Football; Social & Cultural, and Child Protection. These reports highlighted the immense body of work carried out by the club officers, executive and committee members in 2018. Truly magnificent and to see it documented in booklet form was a real eye-opener to the casual observer. After these reports were delivered, dissected and discussed the AGM returned to the more traditional format and Maria Carroll delivered her forensically detailed Treasurer's Report, Pat Collins, the Underage Report and finally Seán Hynes summarised what has been a great year for the club when he delivered his first Chairman's address.

Chairman's Address

The winning of the senior championship took pride of place in Seán's address and special thanks was given to Ned Moore and his management team for 'their fantastic work in giving the Club one of its most glorious and momentous days'. For the chairman 'the second last Sunday in October was one of the greatest feelings I have had in football and crowned a great year for the Club'. The achievement of the LGF team in winning Division 4 of the league was also acknowledged. The establishment of a Coaching and Games Development Sub-Committee early in the New Year to oversee all aspects of games development in the Club was identified by Seán as a priority. This committee's brief will include identifying new coaches, encouraging parents to become involved in coaching and insisting that all Club coaches have GAA Coach Education and Child Welfare qualifications. The committee will also ensure that there is a balanced programme of games in place and that all players get an opportunity to play and participate. This committee will be responsible for drawing up a 5-year plan for games development. Seán expressed some disappointment that our association with Scór has regressed in recent years. 'Shamrocks was once the powerhouse with regards to both Senior and Junior Scór and I feel we need to concentrate on getting us back to competing in a wide range of events like we once did'. Sympathy was extended to those who suffered bereavement during the year and the contribution of Tommy Lennon was particularly acknowledged: 'Tommy left us 3 days after winning the Flanagan Cup. It was very special that Ned, Eddie, Michael and Shane were able to bring the Cup to him on the Monday before he died. Tommy’s dedication to Mullingar Shamrocks was second to none in his work with the underage, Seniors and in his later years as a fundraiser. Tommy was one of the Club’s outstanding characters and the attendance of Shamrocks people at his funeral was very special and particularly heartening to see', Seán stated. The work of the various sub-committees was acknowledged and commended by Seán who noted in conclusion 'that the values of the GAA including Community Identity, Amateur Status, Inclusiveness, Respect, Player Welfare and Teamwork were clearly evident in our Club this year'.

News Headlines from the AGM ...

A number of merchandising days were held and the club's online shop was open for business on three separate occasions.

Membership numbers and income from membership was at record proportions.

Mullingar Shamrocks is one of only 150 of the GAA's 1,600 clubs to be included in the association's Healthy Club Project.

The On the Ball and Strictly Shamrocks were two of the most successful fundraising and social events staged by the club for some time. The buzz at the 'After Strictly' party with Mugs as D.J. was unbelievable and epitomised the great feeling in the club at present.

Mullingar Shamrocks were beaten on only three occasions in 2018 and lost out on a place in the league final on score difference.

The senior championship campaign of our LGF senior team was compressed into an incredible twelve day period! And this after a summer of competitive inactivity.

100% compliance was achieved on adult players paying their club membership.

Katie McCarthy won the Scór Senior Solo Singing title and represented Westmeath in the Leinster final.

It will be essential to generate approximately €119,000 'to satisfactorily maintain the club's many activities for 2019'. In the region of 50-55 people are involved in underage coaching.

Organising the three blitzes in June, July and September 'was a serious logistical exercise, which ran like clockwork and the credit for this goes to all those involved'.

And the Award for Sound Bite of the AGM goes to ... Micheál Burke: 'Membership is a requirement not an option for active members'.

Election of Officers

The meeting concluded with the election of officers for the 2019 season. Ritchie Daly stepped down from the secretary's post and was replaced by Aidan O'Donoghue in what was a managed transfer of responsibility as the change was planned prior to last year's AGM. Ritchie continues his involvement as assistant secretary. Paul Doolin also retired from his post as Cultural Officer and this post was not filled. The post of Coaching and Games Development Officer will be filled later in the year when the club's football committee is established. The following officers were elected.

President: Detty Cornally; Chairman: Seán Hynes; Vice-Chairman: Adrian Keaveney; Secretary: Aidan O'Donoghue; Assistant Secretary: Ritchie Daly; Treasurer: Maria Carroll; Assistant Treasurer: Micheál Burke; PRO: Tom Hunt; Registrar: Des Maguire, Karen Hegarty, Anthony Clinton; Cultural Officer: Vacant; Healthy Club Officer: Joan Ormsby; Children's Officer: Lisa Burke; Players' Representative on Executive: Daragh Daly; LGF Players' Representative on Executive: Karen Hegarty; Underage Committee Chairman: Barry Kelly; Underage Committee Secretary: Pat Collins; Delegates to County Board: Tom Hunt and Terry O’Dowd.