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.
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.
MICHAEL O’BRIEN
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.
LOSS OF A DIFFERENT KIND
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.
MARY O’DONNELL
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.
Eanna Madden and Alannah McGuinness are two more of the
Carrick AC enclave in Dublin and both Mohill flyers have had their injury
troubles over the past two years. But Eanna has shown this year what you can do
with perseverance, talent and sheer stubbornness. His revival this year and switch
to the 400m will, I believe, see Eanna reach new heights. Alannah joined the
Dublin Sprint crew last year but suffered an unfortunate injury just when she
was about to take off – keep an eye on her for the future and congratulations
on her silver medal in 2020 Athletics Ireland Junior 100m and bronze over 60m.
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!
Ann Wynne is an athlete who is running better than ever,
winning gold medals in 2020 (Over 50 800m & 1,500m indoors) and 800m
outdoors in 2020 & 2021 while Michelle Lannon won a bronze in the indoor
3,000m in 2020. Not to forget Deirdre Martin, who excelled as a sprinter while
a juvenile but who won a national medal over 100Km during the Summer –
illustrating once again that athletics is a sport for all ages and that there
is a wide world of possibilities out there for everyone.
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 had some superb performances at Juvenile level over
the past two years, too numerous to mention but I can’t let the performance of U10
500m Team of Eleanor Reilly and Ornaith Guckian and Poppy Doherty in qualifying
for this year’s National Finals go by without some comment. In a tough year,
all three were incredibly dedicated and it was a joy to see them compete on a
national stage – hopefully, we will have more joining them in the coming years.
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.
COACHES
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.
NEW REGISTRATION SYSTEM
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.
GAELSCOIL LIATROMA
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!
John Connolly
Secretary
