An Riocht / Kingdom

 

Tuesday 12 December

6pm Irish Dancing; 7.15pm Bootcamp; 8.15pm Basketball. 

Wednesday 13 December

11am Men's Shed visit from Portaferry Men's Shed; 6pm Ladies Circuits; All Together Now Disability Inclusion programme Christmas Crafts; 7pm County Convention in Newry; 7pm Kingdom Walkers; 7pm Senior Football Strength & Conditioning; 8pm Senior Camogie fitness session; 8pm U16 Football in the hall; 8pm Cards - 45 @ Dunavil.

Thursday 14 December

6pm Irish Dancing; 6.30pm to 8.30pm Activities for aged 4 to 8 boys and girls; 7pm to 9pm Girls Club for aged 8 to 12 years; 7pm Yoga.

Friday 15 December

11am Men's Shed; 5.30pm P5 Gaelic; 6.30pm P6 Gaelic; 7pm Boys Club aged 8 to 11.

Saturday 16 December

Presentation at Páirc an Chrócaigh where Aogán Ó Fearghaíl, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael and other guests will present a 2017 Seosamh Mac Donncha Medal to Dianna Uí Chlár, An Riocht Irish & Culture Officer for being part of the successful first year of Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha; 8am Kingdom Walkers; 10am Senior Camogie fitness session; 11am P1/P2 Gaelic; 12pm P3/P4 Gaelic; 3pm Birthday Party.

Sunday 17 December

10.30am Breakfast at Dunavil; 8pm Bingo.

Monday 18 December

11am Men's Shed; 6.15pm P6 Gaelic; 6.30pm to 8pm An Nollaig, come along for a cosy Christmas Eve wearing your pjs and slippers; we will be writing our letters to Santa, making reindeer food and having a Christmas story with hot chocolate and marshmallows, all through the medium of the Irish Language and Daidí Na Nollag (Santa) will make an appearance, pre-school children must be accompanied by an adult; 7.30pm U12 (born 06/07) Gaelic; 8pm Senior Camogie fitness session; 8.30pm Senior Football Strength & Conditioning; 9pm Lotto. 

Tuesday 19 December

6pm Irish Dancing; 7.15pm Bootcamp; 7.30pm Christmas, Coffee & Camogie, a celebration event at Dunavil for current and past camogs; 7.30pm An Riocht Football General Meeting, a time to look back at the season past and plan for 2018, if interested in football in An Riocht, you should be there; 8.15pm Basketball. 

 

On Christmas Day we provide a free Christmas Dinner at 1pm at the youth club to anyone wishing to avail of it. If it's something you may be interested in or if you know someone who may be, please contact the youth club, we may be able to provide transport; our number is 028 417 63681; anyone willing to give a hand is also asked to contact us in advance. 

 

The Irish Language beginners class finished up for Christmas on Monday past with the presentation of 'Cúpla Focal' certificates, fheiceann tú go léir sa bhliain nua.

 

On Monday past pupils from St Columbans College with vice-principal Mr Gerry Jones attended Dunavil for an intergenerational horticultural project with Kingdom Men's Shed and Conservation Volunteers when they helped plant over 400 Hawthorn, Hazel, Rowan, Silverbirch, Cherry and Dogwood saplings; well done everyone.

 

The All Together Now Disability Inclusion programme enjoyed a change of scenery on Wednesday with a trip to the Quays for shopping and cinema.

 

The Men's Shed Christmas Dinner took place on Thursday past in the Kilmorey Arms Hotel.

 

Down GAA Draw November Winners Damian Sherry £1,000; Richard Doyle & Brian McAlinden (Glenloughan) £50 each; 2018 Down Draw tickets are now being distributed. This is An Riocht's main fundraiser so please support, its only £2.50 a week which is not beyond anyone's means. This year over £6,400 came to An Riocht ticket holders and the big Christmas Draw will hopefully bring even more.

 

Following our recent AGM and our first Executive meeting, the five key objectives of our Five-Year Plan were reviewed:

(1) The need for more qualified coaches to improve and be role models for our young people is ongoing, there can never be enough coaches, the more coaches there are the greater the ratio of coach to child so the more one to one each child gets with a coach, and coaches require back-up support, there's a role for everyone in running a successful team. There will be a Foundation Football Coaching course at Dunavil on Friday 12th & Saturday 13th January. There are a few places still available, to book contact Football Coaching Officer Seamus Curran or leave your name into the office. Also, if we can get 14 current Foundation level coaches interested, we can also run a Level One Football course at Dunavil; its important coaches keep progressing through the qualifications and cascading their knowledge if we are to meet our Five-Year Plan vision that 'our underage section be one of the best, that we achieve excellence in coaching standards and in providing games for our young players in a safe and enjoyable environment. That our club's adult teams perform to their full potential because we have the best possible coaching and games development structures in place.' In Camogie, there is a Camogie Foundation Coach Award and a Level 1 Award also planned for the new year, again please make your availability known to Camogie Coaching Officer Veronica MacGreevy; with ever increasing numbers at camogie, we need more coaches and if it's not adult players giving a little back or the kids' family members, just who is supposed to coach them? Another interesting project for the coming playing season will be an Irish language workshop for team mentors when they will learn a 'Cúpla Focal' to take onto the practice and match pitches; another example of the Irish language been brought front and centre in our club following all the successful innovations of the past year as Gaeilge.

(2) The second objective that 'our club excels in its administration, that we have the structures in place appropriate to the club's needs and that our Club Executive is vibrant, and we have increased the number of people volunteering in the club' was also addressed at the AGM with commitments to reinstate our Volunteer Recognition event and for An Riocht and Kingdom Youth Club to appoint a joint Volunteer Co-ordinator to work with Volunteer Now to recruit and retain more people. Also, to renew our Club Maith and Clubmark accreditation and undertake a review of Club Officer Roles and Club policies and procedures; since 2015 the make-up of the An Riocht Executive has been transformed with only 5 of the 21 members retaining the same position now as then. There is a club officer training night to inform and refresh on 10th January in Castlewellan, more details later. The Engage Her programme helps organisations recruit and retain members by looking at their structure, PR, programmes, volunteers etc. As recruitment and retention becomes increasingly difficult, this programme should help us better understand how we could recruit new members and increase the club lifespan of existing members. On Thursday 28th December at 7.30pm there is a joint Volunteer Appreciation event to say thank you with some music, food and drink at Dunavil, we hope all our volunteers drop-in.

(3) Aspiration number three that 'our club be the best possible sporting, cultural and social organisation in the community. All our members and supporters be connected through traditional and new media and be aware of everything that is happening in the club.' To meet this widespread brief, the Camogs are addressing the next stage in the development of the Camogie Academy, a hugely successful project recognised by SportNI, it now needs to age with the young people it supports. Efforts to explore the possibility of having an An Riocht U12 hurling team have been confirmed and if interested in this project please contact Joseph Donnan at Dunavil. Arising from our AGM, work is progressing on providing allotments set in part of the area behind the Ballyardle end goals and if anyone is interested in this please contact the Men's Shed any Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 11am and 1pm and there are plans afoot to extend the Men's Shed with the addition of a tea hut freeing up more space in the main shed for wood working etc. The Servasport Text System for notifying club members is being rolled out to all teams, committees and members. A PR sub-committee is being set up to ensure that alongside our excellent photographic coverage, we address all other facets of internal and external communication. There is always a need for a proper flow of information so that everyone understands how the Club operates. The PR sub-committee will be responsible for ensuring that the Club is well presented to the public, it can provide valuable experience for any young person thinking of a career in marketing or could fill a couple of hours for a retired person. Think about it, and speak to club PRO Jane Eakins or call into the club. Another area down for increased attention this year is our healthy club hub and plans are afoot to expand the Kingdom Walkers and have some workshops on health and wellbeing topics. Another topic raise at the AGM was how best to remember past club volunteers and players and anyone with any suggestions should contact the secretary. 

 (4) 'Our Club be successful in fundraising and in financial excellence to support its continued development. That we have new and innovative fundraising ideas and have new people helping in the fundraising efforts.' Having elected an assistant-treasurer/entertainments officer for the first time, we are now establishing a fundraising committee, and again its club supporters, players and families of players who will be required to populate it. Already a function for Saturday 24th February is planned, the Shillelaghs Folk Group and Rory's Stories GAA comedy show combined. If you are prepared to help, speak to Sheila McAlinden.

(5) The Dunavil Village Plan project is at an advanced stage and planning for a walking / running trail and an adventure play park are with the planners, key tenets of the fifth objective of the Five-Year Plan that 'our players and members now enjoy the very best possible facilities in the area, both on and off the pitch.' 

We keep repeating we want our club to be at the centre of the community, it is an aspiration that with your help can be achieved.

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