The Newcastle West club in Limerick has made terrific strides in recent years. The nineties were hailed as one of their most successful decades ever and they have carried that form into the new millennium. Outright victory in the 2006 county IFC means a swift return to senior football in '07, much to the obvious joy of one of the club's generous sponsors - Eamon Leahy of Millennium Machinery. Casting their minds back over the events of the year just ended, followers of Newcastle West will be more than a little content. With a superb 2-12 to 2-5 defeat of Galtee Gaels on September 10, the club secured the 2006 Limerick IFC and booked safe passage back to senior football. It was no more than the players, backroom staff and dedicated committee members deserved and hopes are high that another successful year beckons. It was also a timely boost for the club, who had contested the senior championship final in '04 only to be relegated the following year. However, they came through the '06 IFC with an unbeaten record, proving that they were punching well below their weight. The target for this season will be to safeguard top-flight standing in the big ball game and push for intermediate honours in hurling. What a result it would be if the club could make senior grade in both codes! It's an outcome that would certainly bring a smile to the face of Eamon Leahy, proprietor of Millennium Machinery and one of Newcastle West's most dependable patrons. Though he's based in the midlands, Eamon - who hails originally from Abbeyfeale - kindly came on board as a club sponsor during the course of 2006. He sponsored the club's bumper Race Day at Limerick Racecourse over the festive season (Thursday December 28) and always keeps a close eye on their fortunes. Eamon's involvement with Newcastle West has been forged through family ties with the famous club. His nephew Mark Kelly lines out for the U16 hurling team, while Mark's father Seamus is a club stalwart. Of course, the Kelly name is synonymous with Newcastle West GAA - their best-known player at present is county footballer Stephen Kelly, a man who's also been making his mark in the oval ball game of late. Returning to gaelic football, Eamon Leahy played underage fare in his native county but the nature of his work meant that he travelled a lot thereafter and his adult career was played out mostly in Longford, where he has established his own cutting edge business, distributing machine tools and sheet metal equipment through a nationwide network of distributors. Ireland's largest stockist of single phase drills, lathes and band saws for metal work shops, Millennium Machinery's extensive product list includes drilling machines, drilling milling machines, metal lathes, metal band saws, grinding and polishing machines, vices and shears, digital readout systems and linear encoders. Millennium Machinery was set up in 1999, after its founder has completed an eight-year spell as sales manager at Kenequip in Kenagh, County Longford. In the intervening years, the company has grown steadily as an importer, wholesaler and distributor of workshop equipment and machine tools on the back of its sworn policy of looking after customers at all times. Millennium Machinery has three main areas of expertise: precise measuring systems from Newall; high-quality, cost-effective small and medium machine tools from Optimum and Quantum; and retro-fit safety guarding to comply with new EU regulations. In addition to this, Millennium Machinery also operates an excellent partnership approach with Lister Machine Tools (the leading specialist in sheet metal and CNC production equipment) and A G Machine Tools (the leading specialist in ducting, plasma and used machinery). The company's primary Mission Statement is to help all engineering decision makers find more cost-effective solutions that enable them to make maximum use of their budget. Headquartered strategically in the midlands, Millennium Machinery has distributors in counties Mayo, Tyrone, Monaghan, Dublin, Laois, Kilkenny, Wexford, Limerick, Cork and Galway to ensure optimal coverage. Upon settling in the midlands, Eamon became involved with the St Munis club in Forgeny, whom he represented at junior level for 13 years. His son Edward featured on the St Munis side that defeated Moydow Harps by 2-4 to 1-4 at Pearse Park on Sunday October 29 to capture the 2006 Longford junior football championship, completing a nice double for teams that Eamon supports in two different counties. Unfortunately, Eamon Leahy is so busy fronting his award-winning machine tools distribution company that he doesn't get to attend as many GAA matches as he'd ideally like. Very much a hands-on entrepreneur, he finds that Millennium Machinery commands most of his time, though he does his best to keep tabs on St Munis and Newcastle West, both of whom will be playing at a higher level in '07. He was delighted to sponsor the latter club's Race Day between Christmas and the New Year and wishes the Limerick club continued success as they pursue further progress in the coming months. He's also looking forward to seeing the local side competing in the 2007 Longford IFC. Employing a team of seven, Millennium Machinery was presented with a major award for innovation by then Tanaiste Mary Harney in 2004. The company's proprietor has recently secured an auctioneer's licence for industrial auctioneering (trading as Eamon J Leahy) and his in-depth knowledge of industrial machinery, plant and buildings should prove invaluable in this area. The future is looking bright for all parties. A word from the club Newcastle West has a rich history in the GAA in Limerick. The club was formed in 1897, just three years after the formation of the GAA. Since the formation there have been as you would expect many changes. From humble beginnings in what was known as "Brouders Field" now where M.A.G. Motors is located in Churchtown in the town. From there we moved to our current home in the Castle Demesne Our grounds over recent years have undergone much development and are far different looking now then originally and now are one of the finest grounds in the County. On the field in the early 1900's Newcastle West was traditionally a hurling stronghold with 2 County Senior Hurling titles in 1917 and 1925 while we were runners up in 1918, 1920, 1926, 1930 and 1932. Numerous County Minor and Under 21 titles have been won by the club over the years in Hurling. 2001 was a notable year on the Hurling front as after many years of heartache and narrow defeats in County Finals we made the breakthrough and won the County Junior A Hurling Final to secure our way to the Intermediate Hurling Championship. Since 2001 we have been close on many occasions, however owing to the competitive nature of the championship means that all we can do is hope for better things in 2007. Football made the breakthrough in the club in 1966 when we won the County Junior A title which saw us rise to the ranks of Senior grade. There we stayed with much success until 2005. We won the senior title in 1987 as well as the Under 21 Football Championships. We had a run in the Munster Senior Football Championship where we eventually fell to Nemo Rangers. It was to be a further five years until our next trophy when in 1992 we won the county Senior Football title again. 2004 saw us contest the final where we were defeated by Dromcolligher-Broadford after a replay. It was hard to believe that less then 12 months later we were relegated to intermediate grade following a disastrous season. However this year led by a management team of Billy Lee, Donie Enright (Both stars of our 1987 team) and Denny O Grady we went undefeated in the Intermediate Football Championship to be crowned county champions on September 10th after defeating Galtee Geals in the final and thus ensuring our place back in senior grade for the forthcoming season and hopefully seasons to come. Off the field Newcastle West is acknowledged as the fastest growing town in Europe. As a result we have an ever growing membership and in 2005 we had to field two teams at under 14 level in Football and Hurling to cater for the growing population and to accommodate new and existing players within the club. The club is exceptionally lucky to have such good businesses in town and surroundings and with the aid of these businesses and our two main sponsors we have got by. The club could not function without cold hard cash and without all our sponsors we would not survive. From supporting our local lotto draw to our annual race day as well as the Limerick development draw and buying advertising boards around the field we are eternally grateful to all who contribute. Like all clubs Newcastle West has a strong emphasis on underage grades. So much so in-fact that a separate underage club was formed a number of years ago specifically to deal with underage structures. This has proved to be very successful as we have produced many excellent stars. Last year 2005 was perhaps our best ever year at juvenile level. We won the County and West Under 16 Football championships which in itself was good but no one could have pre empted the huge level of success at under 14 grade. We won the County and West in both Hurling and Football doing the "double double". This was an exceptional achievement as not only did we re-write our own club history books but indeed the County history books. The unfortunate thing was that we were unable to field an Under 12 team which emphasises the point that just because a town is big the club is not necessarily as big. We have one main playing field and during the summer months it is exhausted from hosting County championship games as well as hosting training for our own teams. We are planning a development of an all weather training pitch as well as floodlighting and a ball alley which is gone to the planning authorities for approval. We would be hopeful to get the green light to further enhance our grounds. Many great names have played for the club and County in past years. In the past names such as Willie Hough, Peter Walsh, Ned Cregan and Danny Flannigan were regulars with their club and County in the 30's through to 50's on the hurling field. In more recent years we have been known for producing numerous players in all age groups in both Hurling and Football for County teams. The list of players is long and to name them would be wrong but they know who they are and they have brought great pride and honour to the club. Of course the current success didn't happen overnight. It has taken years of forward and careful planning by people who have preceded us in the past. While it would be dangerous to start naming people we will just say a collective thank you to all who have done work and all pre deceased in the club I'm sure will be glad that their work has not been in vain. Currently our main source of income comes from our Weekly lotto, held every Monday night in the various hostelries in Newcastle West. Our promoters, sellers and lotto committee can not be thanked enough for their input into this vital earner for the club. Also the Limerick Development Draw which is a monthly draw run by the Limerick County Board and is a huge earner for the club. 50% of what our members pay to enter the draw comes back to the club and is a huge benefit. Our yearly fundraiser takes place each December as we have our annual day at the races in the Limerick Racecourse. So often clubs organise fundraising days and the subscribers receive nothing in return however with the race day people get a day at the races for their subscription. Without the help of our sponsors as well as the local businesses who contribute each year to all our events as well as our lottery subscribers, promoters, sellers and members the club would not be where it is today. To the countless men and women who contributed so much to our club in the past thank you and to the people of the present and the future the message is we need you more then ever. Here's to a sporting and successful club both on and off the field in 2007! Tweet

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