Image: @MayoGAA
You probably know about these two initiatives already but, hey, it’s a quiet time of the year (and, yes, I really am enjoying the peace and tranquility that has enveloped this place in recent weeks, the first time in around three years that this has happened in the off-season) so worthy of a quick post.
The first is the Cairde Mhaigheo/Mayo GAA inaugural Christmas lunch with Mayo players and management that’s been fixed for Friday, 8th December at the Shelbourne Hotel up here in the capital. Funds raised at this event are for the team holiday and, as you can see from the promotional video, it’s set to be a high-profile event:
It’s an event aimed squarely at the corporate sector and I understand that it’s close to a sell-out already. If you’re interested in getting to it, contact details are at the end of the video.
A separate initiative aimed more widely at the core supporter base comes in the form of an official Mayo team calendar for 2018, which is set to go on sale shortly. The image at the top of this post is the front cover of the calendar, which will be on sale in the shops and online in the near future. Further details on this will be available from @MayoGAA on Twitter.
Delighted to see you have done a post on the Lunch Willie Joe as hadnt seen it advertised only once on Twitter. It sounds a brilliant idea and those players deserve a holiday of a lifetime! Honoured to follow them. The enjoyment I and my family get from going to games is something else.
No problem with the fundraising iniative however I think the least that the GAA would do is to provide funds from the proceeds of the finals to all the finalists in hurling and football for a well earned holiday.
The GAA will be making a contribution to the team holiday, from memory I believe they gave €60,000 towards last years trip to South Africa, I would be confident this years holiday to Kuala Lumpur will be even more costly. Therefore, they will need to fundraise to make up whatever funds are needed.
This will leave an opportunity for new players to get a game or two while the lads or on a well earned break
Good idea for clubs too .We do it here in my Midland club .Doing it last 2 years . u 6-8-10-12-13-14-16 minor and girls team pictures … Made over 1k profit .. Look after the future little stars to as they have a lot of other sports available to them .
That calendar will sell by the thousands. Will probably get two, one for home and one for work.
Imagine if these things went on sale over the water.. Trump would have them banned and Lisa too …. for swamping their economic coffers. Or how about a Xmas green and red golf tourney in Doonbeg….where the CB could cash in on the sales of bits of a famous wall.
Mayo Gaa Christmas cards ??
Bit of a shock with Belmullet beating Westport in u21A in Westport 10-9 today.
Claremorris big win over Charlestown.
Ballaghadereen look the form team in the B competition.
Calendar is a great idea. Putting in the nail in the wall as I type. Belmullet strong at underage is not a surprise. It has been coming and well done to them.
Belmullet would have a strong U21 side this year so not that surprising. Eoin O’Donoghue, James Kelly, Ryan O’Donoghue and Scott Kilker were all on the county U21 squad.
Does anyone know if it’s possible to book club final tickets in advance? Thinking of Xmas presents ??
Yes but Westport were at home and would have been favourites. Belmullet beat Breaffy by a few points whereas Westport hammered Breaffy.
Westport can tog:
Patrick OMalley, Brian OMalley, Niall McManamon, Rory Brickendon, Fionn McDonagh, Paul Lambert, Pat Lambert, Killian Kilkelly, Alan Kennedy, Oisin McLoughlin, Colm Moran. Those all were playing county minor or recently senior championship.
Most of those Westport lads will still be U21 for next year’s club championship so they have time on their side. Many will be U21 in 2019 as well.
Bellmullet not to big shock I would have thought Very strong last couple years and strong at minor and U16 again this year.
Any other results in U21 players who played well etc.? Knockmore given walkover by Moy Davitts, Were davitts minor champions in A at this age group?
Moy Davitts beat Claremorris 3 years ago in the minor county final Claremorris are the team to beat they have a very strong panel they won minor A two years ago and had a big win today away to Charlestown that’s 2 wins for them should be through to quarter finals.
That’s what thought reekview hard believe not fielding team now. Claremorris should be strong alright lot seniors U21.
Win should see them knockmore and Castlebar top of their groups.
Was at claremorris game today , James McCormack , Conor Diskin and Colin Gill standout claremorris players .. Jack Reilly of Charlestown couldn’t do much
Moy Davitts had a big dropoff the following two minor teams. Vital a strong minor team is followed by competitive ones.
Does anyone know if it’s possible to book club final tickets for Paddy’s day in advance? Thinking of Xmas presents
Miseinmeath don’t see them online at minute anyway
Congratulations to Carnacon who had a great win over Monaghan Champions St Macantan’s in the AL Club Semi-final today.
The score was 3 goals and 14 points to 8 points.
Lahardane 1-15. Ballymote 3-05.
Connacht champions, hard to believe. Brilliant 2nd half after playing against the wind and went in four down. Made it a bit harder for themselves than should have been. Conceded a couple of sloppy goals, but thoroughly deserving champions. Captain Gary Naughton man of the match and chipped in with 1-1
Proud day for the village.
Gizmobobs, thanks for that.
My good god…I wonder if u exist sometimes and always will but today in the Park you certainly were present to enjoy one of the most exciting and enjoyable games youve seen this year. We were all with U today to acclaim two, not none or wan, cius na broige points from an A Murphy.
What a show …. Not one cynical act, incredible handling. Indeed it would restore ones faith in this game of ours. Ros ref gave a master class in the advantage rule. You would dare to pick a star….a word that should be confined to the heavens. And to finish …I believe there’s a load still left in maughans handsome head.
Tonight …watch out for an all Conn illuminations show.
Congrats you special people of Neifins butt.
Well done McHales. It’ll be tight in Leonard’s this evening.
Not such a big shock in Westport I think. Belmullet were the hungrier stronger team. A good footballing team, they will be hard beaten. Moy Davitts had to play their 1st round match on Bank Holiday Monday after winning the Co. Title on the previous Saturday night with a lot of the same players, and got hockeyed by Balla, really put them out of it.
Quarters,
Westport v Knockmore
Belmullet v Balla
Aghamore v Claremorris
Castlebar v Kiltimach
Great to hear the news over the last 5 or six weeks was off the mark:
https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/1121/921871-keegan-disappointed-by-a-false-rumour/
Fantastic initiatives both and long overdue – much credit to the organisers.
Is Elverys involved in the production of the calendar, I wonder, or is it a separate initiative? The lack of available Mayo GAA merchandise in Elverys Stores within the county, particularly at this time of year never fails to baffle me. Surely basic business sense would dictate that with this county close to the zenith of its popularity, they
as “proud sponsors” would be rolling out mugs, keyrings, calendars, stuffed toys, magnets, the works. Anything painted green and red would sell at this point. I saw Ireland West Airport Knock state on their social media account the other day that they can’t access the official Mayo GAA range to sell in the airport. How utterly baffling – talk about missing a trick.
Anyway, well done to all involved with both initiatives – it’s great to see us getting stuck into corporate events too and the level of demand for events like this should come as no surprise.
Good game of football between Belmullet and westport. Sligo rovers player Gary boylan back playing for them which is a tremendous boost.
Unlucky at u16 and u15 level with some fabulous footballers.
Hopefully they’ll beat balla on sunday but it’s awful late in the year for this championship
Is Gary Boylan going to be fully back for Belmullet then or it was just an available window for him to come back temporarily for u21?
Yknow I was thinking Gary Boylan might be back when I seen that result. A very talented footballer.