AGM

The election of Marie Lynagh as our new secretary was the highlight of a well-attended AGM in Scoil an Chlochair last Sunday night.

Daughter of club member, former county board secretary and current Westmeath Leinster Council delegate Pat, Marie succeeds another lady, Emma Pidgeon, in the position. Emma returned to the role midway through the year after Kevin Fitzpatrick was forced to step down for personal reasons, and will act as assistant to Marie in the coming 12 months.

There were no other changes to the executive, with the rest of the top table being voted back in for another term.

Emma opened the meeting by thanking her fellow executive members for their support. She also expressed her gratitude to the lotto committee, our main sponsors Dunbia, Ronan McCarthy of the M6 Centra Service Station and Nicky Finn and Ger Carton, who oversee the daily running of the Astroturf. She also gave a complete rundown of the junior team's results during the year.

In his address, chairman Ken Scally thanks all of the Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's underage mentors and congratulated the U14s on winning a league title. He also thanked the ladies football mentors and paid tribute to the U14, U16 and minor teams who won championships this year.

On the junior footballers' season, he commented: "As you all know, our hopes of winning the championship in our first year back junior ended in disappointment when we suffered a semi-final defeat to Multyfarnham. This was a big setback to the players and management after the huge effort they had put in all year. Best wishes to incoming manager James Duignan and his selectors Tom Ward, Donal Fox and Mickey Kelly.

"A big thank you to the outgoing manager Jimmy Stewart and his assistant Robbie Dunne for their efforts over the last two years. It was encouraging to see so many new players emerge this year and also to see us field a second team, which was an ideal place to blood them."

Ken concluded by appealing to every player to pay their membership before the new season gets underway, adding that they will not be covered by insurance in the event of an injury.

Treasurer John O'Brien's report showed the club to be in a healthy state financially with the weekly lotto and Astroturf facility proving to be the main sources of income. A Race Night in August raised €6,612. He too thanked Dunbia for their continued support.

Detailed reports on the year's activities in underage football, ladies senior football and girls' football were also provided by minor club chairman Tom Ward, ladies senior manager Noel Browne and girls' football chairperson Eimear Fox. It was decided that Tom's name would be put forward for ratification once again at the Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's AGM, which is due to take place early in the New Year.

The 2015 executive committee is - chairman: Ken Scally; vice-chairman: Paul Daly; secretary: Marie Lynagh; assistant secretary: Emma Pidgeon; treasurer: John O'Brien; PRO: Randal Scally; registrar: Paul Maloney; county board delegates: Philip Kiernan and Ger Carton; minor board chairman: Tom Ward (subject to ratification at Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's underage AGM); ASAP Officer: Alan McCormack; Other committee members: Dermot Smith, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nicky Finn, Mickey Kelly, Noel Collins, Larry Claffey and Eimear Fox.

Christmas club night

We are holding a Christmas club night next Saturday, December 20, kicking off with a mixed game of Gaelic on the Astroturf pitch for all current and retired players, followed by drinks, nibbles and music in McNamara's.

If you don't fancy taking part in the game, come along anyway and support those braving the elements. Everyone is welcome.

St. Stephen's Day Fun Run / Walk

Club stalwart Dermot Smith is holding his annual Fun Run / Walk on St. Stephen's Day.

It is open to all ages and is a great opportunity to get involved in a community effort to raise much-needed funds for the Children's Medical & Research Foundation at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

Meeting place is The Square, Kilbeggan and the event starts at 12 noon. The course is 6km. Refreshments and prizes will be in the Saddler's Inn afterwards. For more information, contact Dermot on 087 7767887.

The late Jim Mahon

Sympathy is extended to the Mahon family, Mullingar on the sudden death of Jim last week. Jim was a great Ballinagore Gael who played against us in the 1992 JFC final in Tyrrellspass. May he rest in peace.

Season's greetings

On behalf of Kilbeggan Shamrocks, I would like to wish our members and supporters a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. A big thank you also to Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Topic, Westmeath Independent and hoganstand.com for carrying out notes throughout the year.

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