Next Wednesday, November 3, Carrick-on-Shannon AC holds its annual general meeting in The Bush Hotel at 8pm. To facilitate the smooth running of the meeting, we are publishing the report of our Secretary John Connolly in advance.
We look forward to seeing you at the AGM.
Secretary’s Report 2021
After a gap of almost two years, I am delighted to
present my report to the 2021 Annual General Meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon
Athletic Club. You will forgive me if the report is a bit longer than usual but
the past two years have been a testing, joyous and sad time for
Carrick-on-Shannon AC so it is only right that we take some time to review it.
COVID
The past two years have been among the most turbulent,
trying and demanding for anyone involved with a sporting club and indeed the
entire country. We’ve experienced joy and sorrow, tears and happiness in equal
measure as our club, our families, our communities and our country have had to
deal with the challenges of life in the time of Covid and many have suffered
loss, to say nothing of the impact this deadly affliction has had on the mental
and physical well-being of the country.
Those challenges are not over and certainly not gone away so it is incumbent on us to remain vigilant and ensure that we keep all our members and their families safe. The restrictions can be tedious and irksome but I rather suffer a little inconvenience than lose someone to Covid.
Yet this disease that so few of us had ever heard about at the start of 2020 may have just reminded us all why we love our sport so much and why we devote so much of our time and energy to Carrick-on-Shannon AC. It is easy to forget that simple joy when we’re under the pressure of everyday lives but when it was taken away from us, it left a huge void and I don’t think I’ve seen a happier bunch of people out killing themselves wearing the Royal Blue vest and meeting up with their friends once more when we got the go-ahead to back training in June 2020.
So even with the challenges that it brought, Covid at least reminded me why I love this sport so much – that at its heart, it is all about the human relationships we have with each other, our friends and members and I have to say I cannot be prouder of how our members, our coaches and officials and all our families rose to meet the challenge of Covid. They all deserved a massive pat on the back - a socially distanced one of course!
SYMPATHY
The past two years have seen some profound losses in our local community and to all our members who have lost loved ones since our last AGM, we offer our deepest condolences. The recent passing of Jim Doran, one of those who helped form the club back in 1973, and that of Mary Mostyn in February 2020 are enormous losses to their families, our club and the community.
The past two years have seen some profound losses in our local community and to all our members who have lost loved ones since our last AGM, we offer our deepest condolences. The recent passing of Jim Doran, one of those who helped form the club back in 1973, and that of Mary Mostyn in February 2020 are enormous losses to their families, our club and the community.
Mary immersed herself in the club when she and Brian moved to Carrick, serving as coach, official and even athlete and generations of children passed through her care and she made an enormous contribution to this club. Linda, Denise and Colin all competed for the club with distinction, no doubt inspired by the example of their mother and father. My thanks to those members who participated in our Guard of Honour at Mary’s funeral, it was a fitting tribute to a woman who did so much for this club and our community.
There is no hierarchy when it comes to loss but we cannot let this occasion go without remembering our great friend, our inspiration and mentor – Michael O’Brien left us on April 14, this year and to say it has left a gaping hole in the club is a vast understatement. With health struggles over the last few years, we didn’t see Michael as much as we all would have wanted but the fact that he was still around to chat to was reassuring not only to his fellow club officials but to generations of children who passed through our club, right up until the present day.
Even now, writing these words is a tremendous struggle and I know many feel the same way. It seems impossible to put into words what Michael meant to so many of us but I’ve decided to borrow a few from the many, many tributes that appeared on our club Facebook page and social media in the days following the sad news that Michael has left us.
First up, PJ Coyle of GCH, a fellow official for many, many years, summed up what made Michael so loved by athletes: “He treated all the athletes he came across with great respect and kindness. He was very knowledgeable and very fair as a starter. He will be sorely missed” wrote PJ – truer words were never written!
Rachel O’Shea, one of the many athletes coached to great
heights - literally - by Michael, wrote from the USA: “The club will never be
the same! The amazing memories I have from having him as my coach and friend
for many wonderful years I will treasure always! He was an incredible person
whose memory will live on forever.”
But Aisling Dolan’s words summed up Michael’s impact on generations of children and even adults from all over the country as she wrote “Was always glad to see Michael's friendly face on the start line.”
My own memories of Michael range from, as a newly displanted Dub in Carrick, being ever so slightly afraid of this man who commanded instant respect and exuded authority wherever he went; to getting to know him as someone I sought advice from, looked to for leadership and eventually realising that there was nothing Michael liked better than having a laugh, growing to become someone who was a fierce friend down through the years.
I can only imagine what those of you who literally grew up with Michael by their side, teaching you, inspiring you, comforting you when it didn’t go well- I’m not sure if Michael truly knew the depth of love and respect he was held in by the people of this community but the sight of so many club members, past and present, and members of other clubs turning out for the Guard of Honour that greeted him on his journey to his final resting place is a sight that will remain with forever.
The outpouring of grief that greeted the news that Michael has left us was matched, however, by the joy Michael brought so many, the reminiscing and memories that flowed in the days after reminding us just how many lives Michael impacted. Our loss, while great, pales into insignificance to loss Rose, herself an integral part of this club, and his family felt and still feel to this day. To Rose, Mary, Fergus, Gerry and Paul and the extended O’Brien family, thank you so much for sharing him with us so generously over the years. We will not see his like again. May he Rest In Peace.
To everyone who supported us, who sent messages and condolences, you have no idea what your words and support meant to Carrick-on-Shannon Athletic Club. Thank you so much.
We say goodbye at our AGM to two women who have given immense service to Carrick-on-Shannon AC for as long as I can remember. Our Chairperson Mary O’Donnell and Treasurer Jenny McCabe step down for their roles and they deserved nothing but our thanks and the highest of praise for the countless hours they have dedicated to the club. To say we’re going to miss them is again an understatement but to be fair, nobody can accuse either Mary or Jenny of not putting in the time – they did that and more.
I think it is only right that I say something more about Mary and the impact she has had on this club. Any success we have had over the years wouldn’t happen without someone like Mary at the heart of the club - offering words of wisdom, guiding us and putting us on the right path – and that is just the club coaches and officials!
I reckon we could drop Mary into the wilderness and she would be able to organise a training session before you know it and there is nobody better to talk to a nervous athlete on a start-line and fill them with confidence or calm them down. She has done this for countless Carrick AC athletes down through the years but also for athletes from many different clubs – I know this because I get told by other club officials how good Mary was to their athletes!
Mary’s greatest gift has always been her ability to relate to people of all ages – you have only to stand at the same table as Mary at the club’s church gate collection to see the reverence she is held in in this community, young and old. It is the same for the club officials – I think if any of us have a problem, Mary is who we chat to, Mary is who puts us straight and Mary is who leads the way.
Thankfully, Mary is not going away – she will still be coaching our athletes so we won’t be losing that priceless knowledge, thank God. Again, thank you Mary for everything you have done for all of us.
PERFORMANCES
When it comes to performances, we move from one O’Donnell to another – Gerard O’Donnell has again represented Carrick AC with incredible dedication and great distinction over the past two years. A National Indoor 60m Hurdles title back in February 2020, just before the curtains came down with Covid, and two National 110m Hurdles titles, to make it five in a row, scarcely do justice to the level of achievement Gerard has produced.
He has done all this while working a full-time job and coaching himself, following in his mother’s footsteps of giving something back to the Sport. With the Carrick AC enclave in the Dublin Sprint Club based in Santry, Gerard has helped coach two members of the Irish team who reached the Mixed 4 x 400m relay final at the Tokyo Olympics while he himself brought great honour to the club and county when he was appointed a Team Ireland Media official for the Games.
It seems that year after year, we congratulate Gerard on superb performances and in the most difficult circumstances over the past two seasons, he has delivered time and time again and always with the Carrick AC vest proudly worn. Unfortunately, he can’t go on forever, although he actually seems to be getting better with age, so I would urge everyone to appreciate and revel in Gerard’s accomplishments in the here and now – they are truly remarkable.
There is some who think that athletics is just for the very young but some of our athletes have proven that very wrong over the last two seasons!
A word too for Ellis Conway who finished fifth in the National U23 800m in 2021 after battling back from a period of injuries. Injury is unfortunately a part and parcel of sport but we only have to look at Ellis, at Gerard and Eanna and Alannah to know that the greatest victories come after the tough times and not all victories are measured in just medal counts.
Congratulations too to Clive Glancy who has been selected to compete in the European Police Cross-country championships again next year – literally the flying policeman! A special word to for Cathal McElgunn who set a new personal best over 400m after quite a long gap – the definition of perseverance and dedication!
We’ve had disappointments, of course we have, nobody taking part in any sport doesn’t experience the proverbial bad day at some point but all I can say is that I’ve been proud of each and every athlete wearing our colours over the last two seasons and the efforts they have put in – thank you all so much.
We wouldn’t be anywhere at all without the coaches and officials who give of their time freely and generously, who bleed royal blue when our athletes are competing. Special thanks to our team of coaches, and I have to say, it is a team, who work so hard for everybody. From Graham Allen with the Adult training group, through Mary O’Donnell, Siobhan Murtagh, Michelle Lever, Aisling O’Hart, Donnacha Holmes, Andrew & Karen Brennan, John Keenehan, Deirdre Martin, Ann Wynne, Catriona O’Shea, Aoife McCormack, Diane Charles, Linda Mollohan, Aideen McGovern, Orla McGuinness. To use a theatrical metaphor, our athletes may be front of house but without those behind the scenes, the show can’t go on – thank you one and all.
Special thanks also to our Dublin Branch, Jeremy Lyons & Aideen Sinnott, for all they have done for Gerard, Eanna, Alannah and Canthal McElgunn, it is so appreciated by us all.
If Covid did have one benefit, it was in our decision to move our membership and registration system online. The Athletics Ireland system has been a wonderful new departure for us, saving us the trouble of holding a registration night, cutting down on paperwork for officials and generally tidying up the whole process. It also gave us an unexpected bonus with the ability to contact our members directly through the Newsletter/Email system that comes with it. This has been a great addition to our ability to contact our members and get important information out to them. So kudos to the Athletics Ireland team who developed this system – a wonderful facility for clubs to use.
I can’t go without thanking Gaelscoil Liatroma for the use of the facilities for our Juvenile training sessions. We had been based in the Sports Complex ever since it opened but with the Community School needing the complex for classrooms during the Covid crisis, we had to find a new base and thankfully, the Gaelscoil were more than accommodating – thank you so much.
NEW FACILITIES
There has always been a dream that someday we might be lucky enough to have a proper running track here in Carrick-on-Shannon. We always had the attitude to make the best of what we have and a willingness to make the journey to proper facilities so that our athletes could perform to their very best. The drive to provide new facilities, for athletics and many other local sporting groups crying out facilities, detailed in the proposed Regional Sports Complex is one that we must all get fully behind – the work that is being done on our behalf by this dedicated group of volunteers is truly inspiring and when the times comes for all of us in the local community to dig deep into our pockets, I hope that we are not found wanting. Thank so much to Brendan Lowe and his team for all their work to this point – it is truly a monumental effort and deserving of our total support.
THANKS
Finally, I’m going to finish up by thanking everyone who has supported and helped me over the past two years, particularly Mary O’Donnell, Siobhan Murtagh, Jenny Rayson, Donnacha Holmes & Gerard O’Donnell. There are challenges in every position in any organisation but I can honestly say I’ve never felt as if this job is a chore when you have the people I have supporting me. Thanks to everyone for their help, a special thanks to our athletes who represent us so well and wishing everyone a successful and athletic 2022!
There has always been a dream that someday we might be lucky enough to have a proper running track here in Carrick-on-Shannon. We always had the attitude to make the best of what we have and a willingness to make the journey to proper facilities so that our athletes could perform to their very best. The drive to provide new facilities, for athletics and many other local sporting groups crying out facilities, detailed in the proposed Regional Sports Complex is one that we must all get fully behind – the work that is being done on our behalf by this dedicated group of volunteers is truly inspiring and when the times comes for all of us in the local community to dig deep into our pockets, I hope that we are not found wanting. Thank so much to Brendan Lowe and his team for all their work to this point – it is truly a monumental effort and deserving of our total support.
Finally, I’m going to finish up by thanking everyone who has supported and helped me over the past two years, particularly Mary O’Donnell, Siobhan Murtagh, Jenny Rayson, Donnacha Holmes & Gerard O’Donnell. There are challenges in every position in any organisation but I can honestly say I’ve never felt as if this job is a chore when you have the people I have supporting me. Thanks to everyone for their help, a special thanks to our athletes who represent us so well and wishing everyone a successful and athletic 2022!
John Connolly
Secretary
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