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Sean Breathnach |
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A dhaoine uaisle, is mór an onóir domsa mar Chathaoirleach ar Choiste Chontae Chiarraí, bheith I láthair anseo anocht. Ba mhaith liom fáilte is fiche a chur roimh gach einne don Chomhdháil Bhliantiúil. Impím oraibh tamall a thabhairt dom mo thuairimí a chur ós bhúr gcomhair. Bliain an-shásúil ar fad a bhí again I mbliana. Nuair a bhuann Ciarraí Cluiche Ceannais na hÉireann bíonn athas agus sonas ar ghach duine sa Ríocht. Tá an sásúlacht sin ann mar d'oibrigh foireann peile Chiarraí agus an bainistíocht an-dhian dicheallach agus go cliste I rith na bliana. I mbliana bhí toradh maith uainn arís. Chuir gach duine a lan oibre isteach ó thus na bliana agus mar a deir an seanfhocal “mura gcuirtear san Earrach ní bainfear sa bhfomhar.” Ag deireadh Mí Mean Fomhair thugamar aghaidh ar Pháirc An Chróchaigh. Bhí an obair chruaidh déanta. D'imir an fhoireann go hiontach agus thugamar Sam linn abhaile. Bliain sásúil leis an toradh cheart. 2004 ALL- IRELAND CHAMPIONS In addressing you three years ago I used a well-known quote to illustrate the mood in the Kerry camp. “The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling but in rising after you fall.” Over the past three years we in Kerry rose again and again. This year we untied all the knots and with a new management team we brought Sam back to our beloved Kingdom. The great American Football Coach of the last century Vince Lombardi, once said “the dictionary is the only place where success comes before work,” and how right he was. The last twelve months have proved that. The winning of the 2004 All-Ireland Final just didn't happen, it came about as a result of meticulous planning, dedication and a willingness to work hard by the Kerry management team and a very willing panel of players. The All-Ireland was won on the back of eleven months of hard work. The outpouring of emotion that followed Kerry's great victory was recognition of the fantastic football played by the team as much as celebrating Kerry's 33 rd All-Ireland. Football of the highest quality is always appreciated but especially in Kerry. In winning the National Football League, Munster Championship and All-Ireland titles, this year the team restored the faith in Kerry Football and indeed in football in general with their style of football, high fielding, accurate passing, long range point scoring and a work ethic that surprised even those close to the team. Twelve months ago pundits were proclaiming the death of football, as we knew it, we are delighted that it took a Kerry team to restore the pride in Gaelic Football. The return to a free flowing game from the packed defence type game is welcomed by the thousands of supporters that travel to our games. The countless hours honing the skills of this team were well spent. To Jack O'Connor and his selectors Ger O'Keeffe and Johnny Culloty we owe a huge debt of gratitude. They worked tirelessly and effectively over eleven months to ensure that everything would be right on the day, faced with what looked like insurmountable obstacles such as injuries to major players at critical times didn't deter or diminish their enthusiasm towards finding a winning formula, along with Pat Flanagan, who brought a whole new dimension to training Kerry teams, they worked brilliantly as a team and put together a panel of players that brought in the concept that hard work will reward and did reward. Our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all of them. DARA Ó CINNÉIDE Is é an onóir is mó do aon imreoir I gCiarraí a bheith ina chaptaen ar Fhoireann Sinsear an Chontae. Bhí captaen den chéad scoth againn I mbliana agus ba chóir go mbeimís go léir bródúil as an tslí inar ghlach Dara Ó'Cinnéide as Chumann Chaide Na Gaeltachta na cúramaí agus na dualgaisí chuige féin. Bhí sé mar chaptaen agus ceannaire ní hamháin ar an bpáirc imeartha ach lasmuigh den pháirc comh maith. Tá ard mheas ag gach duine ar Dara agus táim cinnte go dtugann an dea shampla a thugann sé do dhaoine óga I bhfeidhm go mór orthu. Ní dhéanfaidh éinne dearmad go deo ar an óráid bhrea a thug sé in Ardán Uí hÓgain tar éis dó an Chorn a ghlachadh on Uachtarán, Seán Ó Ceallaigh. Gaeilge beo, líofa agus blasfar a d'ardaidh spiorad Chiarraí I measc an tslua amuigh ar an bpáirc agus muintir Chiarrái thar lear a bhí ag féachaint ar an teilifís ar fuaid an domhain. KERRY MINORS To the Kerry Minors we say congratulations and well done, to fall at the final hurdle on All-Ireland Final Day is indeed heartbreaking for the players and management alike. To the manager, Seán Geaney, his management team and players we say thank you for the many hours of enjoyment and entertainment that you gave us this year. I have no doubt that many of this year's minor team will go on to represent Kerry with distinction at a higher level and we all look forward to that day. For now they have done their parents, club and county proud. Beidh lá eile againn. HURLING While it has been a roller coaster year for the Senior Football team, the same cannot be said for our Senior Hurling Team. It was a very disappointing year; the failure of the team to finish out the championship programme and a number of key players not making themselves available for the Munster Championship undid all the good work done with this panel over the last couple of years. I have constantly said over the past number of years that Kerry Hurling will only be successful if all the players of intercounty standard make themselves available for the county team. That did not happen this year. I believe that everything that is required for the preparation of the team was in place. There were no shortcuts and the dedication and enthusiasm of Maurice Leahy was not matched by some players. The players that travelled to Cork to play Cork are to be complimented; it would have been a lot easier to stay at home rather than travel for what looked like an inevitable defeat. We can pontificate all we want about Kerry Hurling and the state of the County Hurling Team but until there is a change of mind set by the unwilling players to give the commitment to the county as they give to their clubs then this will not change, and if it doesn't change we should plan accordingly. A lot of people have worked tirelessly on behalf of hurling in this county and feel passionate about the game and the success of the game. The clubs have some tremendous workers, hence the success of club hurling. Our County Championship could not be more successful or committed, but unfortunately the same enthusiasm does not exist for the county team. NEW HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT For the coming year the senior team are in a championship that reflects their standing. The restructured championship suits Kerry, as they will play teams of their own standard in Tier 2 for the Christy Ring Cup. With proper preparation and commitment, reaching the final of this competition would not be out of reach for the team. The success of the team will not depend on the management team to be appointed shortly but on the attitude to the players to the team and the competition. We have the players to compete at this level and be successful. VICE-CHAIRMAN -JEROME CONWAY The Vice Chairman has the brief for Hurling in this county and for the past seven years that was the remit of Jerome Conway. Nobody has worked harder or more diligently for the team or the clubs of this county than Jerome. No job was too big or no journey too long for Jerome. He leaves the Executive today in the full knowledge that he has given seven years of loyal and dedicated service to this county, to the clubs the county team and Coiste Iomana. Your presence on the Executive will be greatly missed, Jerome. On behalf of the clubs, I thank you and your wife Eva and your family for the time and contribution you made to this Board over the last seven years. On a personal level, as chairman, I thank you for the help, advice and courtesy you showed to me at all times. I know you won't be far away from GAA affairs due to your involvement with Cumann Na mBunscol and the Comhairle Programme. On behalf of everybody, Jerome, I say Míle Buíochas. SCÓR Bhi bhlian iontach sasúil againn arís gcúrsai Scór. Bhuaidh iomaitheoiri ó Chiarraí dhá craobh uile Eireann I Scór Sinsear na bliana seo. Comhgairdeachas mór le Chumann Peile Na mBan ón Spa I gCill Airne atá tar éis Croabh Uile Eireann I rince Foirme agus Rince Seit a bhuachaint. Don Foireann Rince Fóirne; Triona and Mairead Mangan, Patricia and Aileen Moynihan, Caroline Murphy, Siobhan Casey, Helen O'Connor and Maureen Hegarty agus don fhoireann Rince Seit; Triona and Mairead Mangan, Patricia Moynihan, Caroline Murphy, Eoin Cronin, Denis Cronin, Michael O'Rourke and Sean Lynch comhgárdachas mór as ucht an éacht atá déanta agaibh agus do ghach éinne a chabhraigh libh an craobh a bhuachaint. Comhgháirdeachas do fhoireann Rince Fóirne Gleann Fleisce a bhuaidh Craobh Na Mumhan I Scór Na nÓg. Molaim go mór an méid oibre atá déanta ag Oifigeach Cultúra Coiste Chontae Liam Mac Coitir agus Runaí Scór Mary Sugrue chun Scór a eagrú. Comh maith le sin an eagraiocht a rinne Liam dos na Scoláirechtai Samhraidh I Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne. Scór Na bPáistí, for National Schools was very successfully organised for the first time in the county. Heartiest congratulations and best wishes for the future go to former Scór Secretary, Mary Sugrue who got married this year. COMHAIRLE PROGRAMME The Comhairle Initiative for the training of club officers is being promoted strongly by our Uachtarán, Sean Kelly. We have to train and recruit new officers at club level, to help lighten the load on overburdened officers. Too many people of quality are leaving clubs in the GAA due to over work. We should be able to combine those who voluntarily give most of their leisure time to us and those who give a little bit. Every job done lightens the load and spreads it. We now have the opportunity, through Comhairle, Pre AGM and Club Development programmes to learn how to delegate and work as teams at Executive level as we play as footballers on the field of play. The overworked officer will frighten potential officers who may not be willing to give the same commitment, but with proper delegation at executive level this problem can be overcome and will have to be overcome if our club structures are to continue. The failure to elect officers at Annual General Meetings is as much to do with fear of the unknown as unwillingness to do the job. The Comhairle Pre AGM would of huge benefit to any club finding difficulty in recruiting officers and should be considered seriously. Our hardworking Administration and Development Committee will have an intensive Comhairle programme in the coming spring, especially with the Code of Ethics, which will have to be taken by every mentor that intends to work with underage players at club level in the coming year. Attending these seminars should be the minimum requirement of any under age mentor at club level. The successful switch to email between club and county must be applauded, especially the role-played by club secretaries. While some hitches were expected and experienced at the start, these were easily taken care of, and the full worth of email was experienced at All-Ireland time during the distribution of tickets. There is no doubt that switching to email will enhance the communication between club and county going forward. I would like to pay tribute to everybody that helped this process, especially the facilitators that trained the club officers in the use of email. ALL- IRELAND TICKETS The distribution of tickets in an All-Ireland year can be time consuming and difficult. At executive level we would like to pay tribute to the role played by club secretaries in helping to distribute tickets to club members. We feel that our system of distributing tickets through the clubs is the fairest way ensuring that our members that deserve tickets get a ticket. I would also like to restate that I believe our Ticket Purchase Scheme is excellent value for money, with the members receiving stand tickets for six matches this year, up to and including the All-Ireland Final all for €70 a year contribution. We hope to be in the position to provide the same service next year. Obviously it goes without saying that we would like to have more tickets at our disposal on a year that we contest the All-Ireland Final and particularly for the centre sections of the stands, but we can only work with what we receive from Croke Park and it is my contention that we went a long way towards satisfying the demand of our members this year. Without tickets for public sale there are always people who will not be in a position to get a ticket. Our duty first and foremost is to our members and as already stated, through our clubs is the best way to achieve that. INTERCOUNTY TEAM FINANCES Writing in the Irish Independent on the morning after the All-Ireland Final, Martin Breheny wrote, “The GAA netted over €4m. in gate receipts at Croke Park yesterday but Kerry supporters were the only ones who didn't feel shortchanged.” If our supporters weren't shortchanged the same cannot be said of our County Board . While I totally accept that we are part of the GAA that netted €4m. the return to the county for the county's expenses is totally unacceptable. With astronomical cost increases in preparing county teams due to the number of players allowed on senior county panels, a rise in travelling expenses, a rise in the cost of providing complementary tickets for the players, practically all at the expense of county boards. With no team in the All-Ireland Final in 2003 and with two teams in the 2004 All-Ireland Finals (Senior & Minor) we as county received a mere €17,000 extra from a €4m. gate. I am calling for an immediate review of grants paid to counties across the board including this year. While playing in an All-Ireland Final is the ultimate goal and honour for any county, the financial remuneration to the county board expenses from headquarters should reflect at least the costs incurred in getting to an All-Ireland Final. The County Committee cannot continue to carry the burden for the biggest payday of the year for the GAA. There has to be a realisation that preparing teams to play in All-Ireland Finals is a very expensive business. TEAM HOLIDAY In response to recent articles in some newspapers and comments made on local radio I would like to state that we are quite happy to accept the contributions made towards the Kerry Team Holiday Fund to the tune of €80,000 from Bank Of Ireland, Munster Council and Croke Park . The players themselves decided to sell the official framed team photo to supplement these contributions to allow them enjoy the holiday they so richly deserve. KERRY GROUP I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of our sponsors Kerry Group to the Kerry Team Holiday Fund and I thank them for their overall contribution to the Kerry County Teams from Under 14 to Senior in both hurling and football, a contribution, which is quite substantial in a year in which we reach the All-Ireland Final. CLUB DEVELOPMENT As evident in the Financial Report clubs of the county continue to expand and upgrade their facilities at an alarming rate, with clubs spending around €3m. again this year. While players and spectators comfort is now paramount with clubs they come at a very high cost. We have to be very careful and ensure that the balancing act between physical development and games development is kept right and that the skills of our games are not neglected to the advancement of bricks and mortar. We have a very worthwhile coaching programme in the county and the clubs should make more use of our coaches and coaching courses to ensure that the best possible methods of coaching and training are available to our young players. This is the only way we can ensure that our high standards are maintained and improved. The level of physical development has been greatly enhanced by the contributions from Munster and Central Council. But more importantly in the contributions from the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism. Our organisation has benefited greatly from funding by this Department. Credit must also go to progressive club officers that were in a position to make proposals for National Lottery funding. I would also like to pay due tribute to the Minister, John O'Donoghue for his commitment to the GAA at every level. CROKE PARK The handing over of the final payment by the government for the final phase of Croke Park was the only action open to the government. It is a recognition by the government firstly of the contribution made by countless volunteers over the last hundred years to the development of our youth and secondly to recognise the massive achievement by an amateur organisation in building one of the finest stadiums in Europe . Of course having the finest stadium has brought its problems and criticism in relation to its use. It is time for Cumann Lúthchleas Gael to bring closure to the matter in relation to opening Croke Park . For me the most disappointing aspect of the whole affair was not having the matter up for debate at Congress in Killarney last April. People with opinions on the matter would at least be given the opportunity to put these opinions, whether for or against the opening up of the stadium. There is no doubt that due to the change in rule that took place at Special Congress, the whole matter, where delegates will bring the wishes of the clubs of their county, will be up for debate at the next Congress in Croke Park in April. Rule 42 has served the Association well in relation to protecting club, county and provincial grounds for our members. Any changes to rule should only involve Croke Park . Our Association has never shirked its responsibility and in relation to removing rules form the book that were no longer necessary for the good of the Association and I believe that Congress 2005 should prove to be another milestone in that regard. Whether Croke Park be opened or not won't have much effect on the thousands of volunteers around the country that will be training and coaching young boys and girls every Saturday and Sunday morning. Of course I am referring to the real unsung heroes of the GAA, whose only reward is to see their charges play to the best of their abilities and hopefully go on to represent their county at some level. These mentors have the organisation what it is today. As chairman I want to compliment them and thank them. Also to Coiste Na nÓg for the fantastic amount of work they do in organising and co-ordinating over 800 games in the county every year. I say thank you. It is at this level that we see the real worth of the GAA. HANDBALL Kerry Handball enjoyed huge success again this year and are now reaping the reward for the massive effort that was put into underage handball in the county over the last number of years. When Marie Daly won Handball's first Ladies' Senior title for Kerry it was a cause for justifiable pride for Kerry. I would like to thank the Kerry Handball Board for allowing me the opportunity of presenting Marie with her All-Ireland Medal earlier this year. LADIES FOOTBALL There has been a return to the big stage for Kerry Ladies Football. I would like to congratulate the Kerry Ladies Senior Team in getting to the All-Ireland Semi-final this year and look forward to the day when the two organisations will have closer links, something I have no doubt will benefit both organisations. COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS As Christmas approaches and the year draws to a close one would expect that competitions would be over, but I assume it is a measure of our success during the year that we are still able to indulge in our passion every weekend of attending top class matches. What a year it we had with our local championships, with Kilmoyley winning their much sought after four-in-a-row in Hurling and South Kerry winning their first senior football championship in 22 years, a victory that was a result of a lot of work done a long number of years. The fact that South Kerry contested all finals from Under 16 to Senior shows the strength of football in the Division at the moment. The minor review group also came up with and excellent competition for the minor clubs, which proved very enjoyable and successful. This competition could form the basis for minor competitions in the future. EVENTS SUCCESSFULLY STAGED IN KERRY DURING 2004 Congress in Killarney was given the highest of praise for the efficient way in which it was organised. Thanks to everybody who ensured that the delegates were given a hearty Céad Míle Fáilte to the Kingdom. It was also a personal triumph for our Uachtarán, Sean Ó'Ceallaigh. The Kerry Team Open Day the Saturday before the All-Ireland was very well organised and was enjoyed by thousands of young supporters. Thanks to all who were responsible for such a wonderful occasion. The biggest and best homecoming ever for the All-Ireland winning Kerry team. Many people were actively involved in the organisation of all three events. Thank you one and all. BUÍOCHAS I extend my thanks to my fellow officers for their help and support during this magnificent year for all of us and thank them for their stewardship of their respective committees, without which the board could not function. Eamon O' Sullivan in his first time in control of the distribution and allocation of All-Ireland Final tickets did an exceptional, efficient and outstanding job in this very difficult and onerous task. He did his utmost to ensure that everybody who was entitled to get a ticket was accommodated. In his dealings with the clubs and the public he was courteous and fair in every sense. He has made hard work and diligence his hallmark since he became Rúnaí. Eamon, I thank you for your help, support and advice during the year. In what proved to be one of the busiest years yet in the office, particularly leading up to the All-Ireland Final the staff Breda, Kate, Catherine, Laura, Suzanne and Peter Twiss contributed enormously to the efficient and smooth running of the office. To each of you I say thank you for your continued courtesy, work and help on behalf of the clubs of the county. Also to Vincent Linanne for getting through a very major workload during the year. In conclusion, delegates, I thank you for your attendance here tonight, for your continued support during the year; a year that was indeed a very momentous and a landmark year for the Kerry Senior Football Team. thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to be your Chairman for the coming year, a position that I am honoured and privileged to hold. I wish each and everyone of you and your families a very happy, holy and peaceful Christmas and a very successful 2005. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.
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