A carnage weekend in Last Man Standing...

A total of 455 entries were submitted 9 days ago, we had 181 fallers in week 1, but this weekend, it was absolute carnage as  no fewer than 235 entries were eliminated, thus highlighting the unpredictable nature of the National Football League or maybe the competitive nature of the competition with four divisions of equally matched teams as football slowly chokes itself to death.  It was almost as bad as the Foinavon Grand National (check it out on Google!). Laois’ defeat at home to Louth, Clare’s late goal to salvage a draw away to Armagh and Westmeath’s draw with Carlow accounted for approximately 70% of entries that failed to make round 3. Lisa Burke, Tom Hunt, Ty Masterson, M. J. Burke, Susanna Buckley, Karen Hegarty and Ted Aherne are among those from Mullingar Shamrocks still standing.

Dinner Dance ...

We promised the social event of the year and its difficult to see the Mullingar Shamrocks Dinner Dance surpassed by any other social occasion over the next eleven months. It began with medal presentations to  our successful underage teams before the dinner was served. After the food was consumed we had short addresses by club chairman Seán Hynes and county chairman Billy Foley who acknowledge the club's achievement and the contribution of Mullingar Shamrocks personnel to the wellbeing of Westmeath GAA. 'Mullingar Shamrocks is only as good as the people in it' Seán told us, 'and I think we possess some of the greatest whether they be members of the Executive, Players, Fundraisers, Coaches, Parents, Shamrock’s Mothers, Committee members or Supporters'.  'The values of the GAA', Seán stated  'Community Identity, Amateur Status, Inclusiveness, Respect, Player Welfare and Teamwork. I think many of these have been evident in our Club which is why it so great to be involved'.

Sarah Jane Foster sprang a surprise by presenting Seán Hynes with a magnificent framed collage of photographs of her superb county final photographs for display in the clubhouse. A lovely gesture. A short, brilliantly created video thanks to the technical wizardy of Niall Masterson showcasing the club and its range of activities and achievements for 2018 was then shown. The ring master on the night Bernard Flynn, then introduced the two special guests, Colm O'Rourke and Joe Brolly who made the long journey form Belfast for the occasion.

Brolly and O'Rourke entertained the guests with talk of football and foreign trips in the last century before the main business of the night began with the medal presentation for our LGF champion league team along with a few wise words from Debbie Newman, the chairperson of our LGF committee. The main reason for the gathering then took place, the presentation of the medals to our county senior champion team of 2018. The achievements of the players was appropriately acknowledged.  Specially engraved medals were presented to  Ross Brady, Barry Maguire, Enda Monaghan and manager Ned Moore who explained the personal and club significance of winning the county title. Ned, a much misunderstood man, was emotional at times as he spoke of what it meant as a clubman, parent, uncle and under-age coach to many of the players involved, to manage a county champion team.    

AND then it was the turn of Conor Moore and a special Conor's Sketches video entitled The Shamrocks Mockumentary 2018 telling the story of Mullingar Shamrocks senior title win, as only Conor can, as seen through the eyes of uncle Ned with a bit of Sunday Games style analysis included for good measure. Suffice to say that Conor is one prophet recognised in his own land as the standing ovation he received at the end of the video exemplified.  Then it was dancing time with the superb Hi-Fi band from Sligo providing the music, before  Mugs and his disco closed the night sometime on Sunday morning just eight hours after the night began. Beat that ...

Thanks to the Greville Arms Hotel for the professional service offered and the superb food, Sarah Jane Foster for her photography on the night and the organising committee of Tom Hunt, Róisin Masterson, Geraldine Buckley, Andrina Finch and Bernard Flynn for delivering the goods.

And finally thanks to those who subscribed so generously on the night to the raffle. The  prize winners were: Pro14 Rugby Tickets: Aidan Daly and Gemma Kerrigan and Rebecca Casey; Children's Birthday Party hosted by Andrina Finch: Charlotte Connolly; Bottle of Whiskey: Rachel Hannigan.

Gaeltacht Scholarships:  Application Forms Closing Date Reminder ...

Applications forms for Gaeltacht Scholarships should be returned to Aidan Walsh (address on the form) by Friday next,  8 February or scanned (with signatures) to  [email protected]. Interviews are due to be held in the first week of March  and applicants will be informed of their interview details by email or by text if no valid email address is provided.

County Representatives ...

Killian Daly and Denis Corroon had good outings with Westmeath  in the NFL against Carlow on Saturday whilst on Sunday, Anna Jones and Karen Hegarty contributed to a fine Westmeath victory against Monaghan in the LGF national league. Well done to all.

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