Cuchulainn Gaels may be the youngest GAA club in the county but they can already be very proud of their achievements, both on and off the field, and the 2008 season saw them continue the great progress they have made in their short history. In just their third season in Louth football, Cuchulainn Gaels have not only created a new outlet for football in the Omeath area, but they have also cultivated a sense of community around the club with the emphasis on fun and enjoyment. For club chairman, Roddy McQuaid, and his group of dedicated members it has been a big challenge to get the club to this stage, but he points out that to see Cuchulainn Gaels in such a healthy state makes it all worthwhile. "We have just completed our third season and we are all delighted to see the club going from strength to strength. Things are progressing very nicely both on and off the field of play and it is a credit to everyone involved," said Roddy. "Our biggest achievement on the pitch this year was winning the U-13 Louth B Championship for the second year in a row which really was a great boost to the club. "We have also seen our adult team make great improvements and although we didn't win all that many games, we are becoming more competitive all the time. "It is very encouraging to see a lot of young lads coming through to the adult side and this season a number of players around the 17/18 mark broke into the team. It is great for us and the future of the club because a lot of the players who were there in the early days have retired, so it keeps our numbers up and ensures that we can field all the time. "The players did very well overall and the fact that we were competitive throughout the year means that they will be encouraged to go back. Our aim is to make sure the players enjoy being part of the club and we aim to give them as much playing time as possible and we are not afraid to bring on subs, even in the tight games." Off the field of play, Roddy points out that progress continues to be made and that the future of the club appears bright, with an improvement in changing facilities and a renewal of a sponsorship deal. "This year saw us acquire temporary changing rooms at our field which has been a great development. Before this, players had to change and then drive five minutes to the pitch. "Obviously, our long term aim is to develop our own field and clubrooms. We are currently in talks in relation to the purchase of land but realistically that is five or ten years away, and in the meantime the current facilities will do the job nicely. "Aside from that, we were delighted to have our sponsorship with Morgan's Ocean Fresh renewed, so that will help us buy gear and also gives us a cash injection which helps with the running of the club." Roddy also takes great pride in the strong links between the club and the local community, which he believes is essential for the future of Cuchulainn Gaels. "This year we decided when it came to fundraising that we would concentrate on having a number of small events rather than one big one because it would encourage greater involvement from the local community. "For example, we have organised Bingo nights where we pick people up and bring them to the function which is held in different venues in the area - once again with the emphasis on involving as many people as possible." Another area where Cuchulainn Gaels have been active in the local community is through their underage section with large numbers in attendance every week. "It is great to see so many children coming down to training and a lot of them have shown great potential already. We cater for five year olds and up and the all seem to enjoy it, which is great to see. "Our juvenile activities concluded with a presentation night for the U-7 players where we had Louth players, Brian White and John O'Brien, presenting them with medals and we also provided them with refreshments. It really was a great end to the year and meant so much to the young players. According to the chairman, a reflection of the strength of the club within the community was the success of the end of season presentation dinner dance which attracted a huge crowd. Once again this year's event was a great illustration of the strength of the club in Omeath, and was attended by County Board Chairman, Paddy Oliver, along with Brian Burns, a member of Down's All-Ireland winning team in 1984. However, for Roddy this year's function was tinged slightly with sadness as he has decided to step down as chairman after three years of dedicated service since the foundation of the club. Roddy points out that his plan at the outset was to serve for three years and then step aside to allow new blood into the role. Having seen the club prosper over the past three years he is happy to be able to hand over the reins with Cuchulainn Gaels in such a good state, however, he insists that he will still be actively involved. "When the likes of myself, John Bruen, Damien Lynch and my brother, Ivan, got together to start the club, the idea was to get the club up and running and give it everything for three years. "We felt that would be a sufficient stint before stepping aside and allowing somebody else to come with new ideas and push the club forward. "I have to say that we are very happy with the state the club is in and I definitely won't be walking away, but it is great to be able allow somebody to come in and freshen things up a bit." The work Roddy put in since founding the club was not forgotten by the members at the dinner dance as a special presentation was made to him to mark his contribution to establishing a club in Omeath, a gesture he really appreciated. "That presentation really meant a lot to me and it was quite an emotional night, but I have to point out that during my spell as chairman we had a very good committee with lot of hard work was put in by a few dedicated members. "I suppose the challenge for the club going forward is to get more people involved and we will be making a big push to bring people on to the committee. A very encouraging sign is that we had a development course during the year and 21 people turned up in the Dolmen Centre. "Out of this we formed a committee which will look at ideas for the short, mid and long term future, and will report back to the County Board which will help when it comes to us looking for funding for various projects." Overall, Roddy can look back on his three years as chairman of the club, and is confident that with the continued support of the local community and an expanding committee, the future is bright for Cuchulainn Gaels. Tweet

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