O’Rourke - Households Plunged Into Debt over Energy Arrears As Government Fails To Act
“Over 20,000 more people in debt to electricity companies compared to the same time last year”
Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson on Energy, Darren O'Rourke, says the Government is failing to support families facing spiralling energycosts.
Figuresreleasedinresponsetoqueries by Sinn Féin reveal that there are over 20,000 more people in debt to electricity companies compared to the same time lastyear.
Teachta O'Rourke said “Across the state,workersandfamiliesarestruggling with a cost-of-energy crisis. Bills are far too high and simply unaffordable.” “FiguresreleasedbytheCommissionforthe Regulation of Utilities (CRU) at my request reveal the shocking extent of the pressurehouseholdsareunder.”
“Around20,420morehouseholdswere in debt to electricity companies at the end of April in 2024 compared to the
same point last year. This is hugely concerning.”
Hecontineud“Thenumberofcustomers in debt to gas companies is also worryingly high. Over 169,640 households were in debt at the end of April which is 5,571 more than a year before. The government has their head in the sand and been silent on the crisis of people falling behind on gas payments. They continue to let energy companies fleece ordinary workersandfamilies.”
Across the state, households are in arrears to energy companies by almost €150million.Thisincludes230,451electricity customers being behind on €454.97 to energy companies on average. Meanwhile, 170,744 domestic gas customers owe €239.84 each on average.”
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Say Hello To Meath’s Very Own ‘Calendar Girls’
Acharitycalendarfeaturinga group of local women will be launched later this year to raise funds for the Irish CancerSociety.
Inspired by the heartwarming 2003 film Calendar Girls, which featured renowned actresses Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, a group of women who attend Body Empowerment Fitness Gym in Athboy have decided to strip down and bare it all to raisemuch-neededfundsfor theworthycause.
The calendar will cost €20 and will be available to purchase from several local businesses,throughtheBody Empowerment Fitness Social Media Channels, and from each of the participants. All profitsfromthecalendarsale and related fundraisers will go directly towards the Irish CancerSociety.
Olivia O’Neill, owner of Body Empowerment Fitness, explained, “We were all
chatting, thinking of ways to raise money, and someone said, “Let’s do a Calendar Girls-stylecalendar”andhere we are. “Each of the women uses the gym for many different reasons; it is not aboutlookinggoodbutabout feeling good. The gym has actedasacrutchastheyeach haveknownsomeoneorlost
someone who has battled cancer. We’ve built quite a little community where peoplefeelsafeanddon’tfeel judged. This is our way of helping support the amazing work of the Irish Cancer Society”.
Thereareanumberofways people can support the women. Twelve local
businesses are invited to sponsor €250 a month; fundraiserswillbeorganised locally in the lead-up to the calendar shoot, and a GoFundMe page will also be published.
For updates and further information please follow Body Empowerment Fitness onsocialmedia.
Cannonball Is Coming Back To Trim
200 supercars, free family festivals, celebrities, over 1000km of Irish open roads, €1.6 million raised for Irish charities and the awesome sight of over 200,000 excited spectators coast to coast waving chequered flags from September 6th-8th
Cannonballiscomingbackto Trim for the big dramatic overall finish line on Sunday September8that6pm.
The action-packed supercar spectacle is set to roll on September 6th-8th from Johnstown Estate in Enfield taking in Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Galway, Leitrim and finishes in TrimCoMeath.
Cannonball, fuelled by milesPLUSfromCircleK,isthe largest organised road trip in Europefeaturingthefinestcars on the planet from the awe-inspiring power of Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren to the grace and elegance of Porsche, Aston Martin, and Maserati.
The brand-new Lamborghini RevoultowillbeunveiledinIreland for the very first time and over 200,000 spectators are expectedwithfreefamilyfestivals organisedfromcoasttocoast.
Cannonball has already raised €1,638,432 for Irish Chil-
dren’s Charities and brings a unique and inimitable electric atmosphere to host towns all over the country making it a widely anticipated free family eventforspectators.
This year the official charity of Cannonball is the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, an Irish children’s charity that funds and delivers in-home nursing care, respite support for children from birth to six years of age with severe learning disability associated with complexmedicalneed.
Typically, these children may betubefed,oxygendependent, may not sleep, take seizures, needalotofmedicationandrequirearound-the-clockcare.
Understandably, their parents can be exhausted and need a break, which is where Jack and Jill comesin. Jack and Jill’s service operates seven days a week, with no means test,noredtapeandnowaiting
list. Another key part of the service is end-of-life-care for all children up to the age six, irrespective of diagnosis, empowering parents to take their child home to die at this most difficulttime.
72childrenandtheirfamilies from Kilkenny have been helped over the years by Jack and Jill and there are currently 416 children and their families under the care of The Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation right across the country. The charity’smissionistoempowerparents to care for their child at home, because there is no care likehomecareforaJackandJill child.
Cannonball offers spectators a unique opportunity to witness the world's most prestigious and sought-after supercars up close and enjoy the unique festival atmosphere that Cannonball is renowned for. The Brazilian Dancers, giant
screens, music and fanfare brings all the glamour of carnivalandliveDJs,bandsandfestivals in host towns around the countrygetthepartystarted.
The Cannonballers and celebrities in colourful costumes add to the melee. From Spiderman to Star Wars, Cat Woman to Wonder Woman, cheerleaders to Charlie’s Angels, Batman, the Joker and more; it is a totally unique free family day out. This year, organisers are also calling on spectators to dress up in fanc dress with prizes for best dressed.
Meath County Council Has Secured €7 Million Under THRIVE
MeathCountyCouncilhassecured €7 million in THRIVE Funding, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme 2024, under Strand 2 for the development of Navan Cultural Quarter: Community Hub & County Archive, formerly known as St Patrick’s ClassicalSchool.
The project consists of the conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of a vacant and derelict building, the former St Finian’s Seminary Study Hall (and former St Patrick’s Classical School), an important Protected Structure in the heart of Navan.
The design for St Finian’s Seminary Study Hall is to convert this building into a new Community Hub and County Archive. The surrounding publicrealmwillberestoredinline with the natural gradient of the space to create a natural amphitheatre and along with the renovated hand ball alley will provide outdoor space for cultural and artistic performances
and events and will provide linkagestootherculturalbuildings in its proximity and the historiccoretown.
The community hub will be used for community meetings, workshops, classes and traininganditwillalsoactasacommunity exhibition space. The
County archive will provide an appropriate space to store historical records, photographic collections and industrial heritage collections which will be available for academics, schools, historians, archaeologistsandcitizensfreeofcharge.
Welcoming the funding,
Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive of Meath County Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome €7 million of funding under THRIVE. Following significant citizen and stakeholder engagement, the exploration, preservation, conservation, and potential end uses were
workshopped. This led to the design for St Finian’s Seminary Study which was co-created by thecitizensandstakeholdersin Navan in line with the Town CentreFirstFramework.”
“This transformative, integrated urban regeneration projectwillgreatlyenhancethe town's social, cultural, economic, heritage, and environmental assets, making it an even better place to live, work, andvisit”.
He contineud “The funding will support our work in adapting and reusing a vacant and derelict heritage building and allow us to create a beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive space to improve the quality of lifeofourcitizens.”
Cathaoirleach Cllr. Sharon Tolan added: “I would like to commend all involved in the fundingapplicationanditssuccess. This funding will make a massive difference”. “This new community hub and County archive will create a permanent, designated, inclusive ar-
chive space, available free of charge, which will create new opportunities for the people of Meath and beyond to connect with their history. It will also provide an exciting new space with huge potential for community, civic, and creative engagement with the citizens of Navan.”
THRIVE, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme is awarded under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes. THRIVE was developed by the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern & Western Regional Assembly,workingcloselywith the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage.
ThefundingaimstoallowLocal Authorities and citizens to reimagine and revitalise town centres through the renovation and adaptive reuse of vacant or derelict heritage buildings in publiccontrolorownership.
Gaeil Colmcille Ladies
The Origins of Gaeil Colmcille Ladies Pages 3 & 4
First Female at the Gaeil Colmcille Helm Page 6
A Long Way from Clare To Here Pages 8, 9 & 10
Pic: Katie Fitzgerald in Control of the Situation
Built On Strong Foundations
Gaeil Colmcille LGFA Division 4 Winners 2024: Back Row: Caroline O’Rorke, Loren Clarke, Áine Smith, Grace Gibney, Éadaoin Morgan, Lauren Murray, Emily McLoughlin, Amy Keating, Leah Donlon. Middle Row: Caoimhe Murphy, Afric Larkin, Issey McKeon, Aoibhe Sheridan Fox, Anna Reddy, Emma Jane McKeown, Orla O’Rorke, Chloe Delany, Avia Savage, Kate McCabe, Niamh Walsh, Emma Harris. Front Row: Zoe Farrelly, Emma Connell, Grace Fitzgerald, Gemma Clarke, Sarah Gillick, Abbie Harte. Sitting Down: Caitlin Galligan, Leanne Connell, Cailín Grace, Emily Sheridan Fox, Tara Fitzgerald
2024 Marks 60th and 50th Respective Anniversaries For Gaeil Colmcille and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association
By CONALL COLLIER
The Gaeil Colmcille club celebrates a 60th anniversary this year while the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) marks a 50th anniversary. Gaeil Colmcille was established in 1964 and it was only a decade later that efforts began to facilitate a ladies team locally as part of a movement that helped establish a fledgling organisation that has transformed into the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) as it is now known.
The Ladies GAA was established on 18th July 1974 at Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles and it didn’t take long for the interest to spread to the Royal County where the first official championship was played in 1976, it was 11-a-side initially.
Cormeen emerged as the inaugural champions with a 2-5 to 0-1 win against Navan O’Mahonys, along the way the Cormeen women also defeated Bellewstown, Fyanstown and Simonstown Gaels.
There was interest from clubs in many parts of Meath and Gaeil Colmcille was also represented by a team in the late 1970s.
“Kells had a few teams, the telephonists from Kells Post Office, there was a team from the shoe factory (Tara Shoes), there
wasn’t much organised sport for women at the time, I think there was a team out in Fyanstown that the late Ultan Fitzpatrick was involved in,” said Ann Smith.
“Gaeil Colmcille came on board after a year or two, but a lot of the women from the Post Office and Tara Shoes got married and had families, that’s just the way it was at the time, the football took second place, but a few of us played with other clubs, Cormeen and Moylagh.
“Later in the mid-1980s there was a Gaeil Colmcille camogie team and that lasted for five or six years and enjoyed a bit of success,” added Ann who is still involved with the club and currently serves as assistant-treasurer.
However, it wasn’t until 2002 that the foundations for the current Gaeil Colmcille Ladies were put in place. Gaeil Colmcille chairperson Olivia Ferguson praised the efforts and the
initiative of Ann Smith in igniting the spark for a ladies section more than 20 years ago.
“Ann was the person who got the ball rolling for what we have now, it’s over 20 years ago, but she was the driving force initially,” commented Olivia.
Page4 SPECIALFOCUS
“It’s the largest and fastest growing section in the club at this stage, apart from Ann, people like Mary Barrett, Heather McElherron, Carol Carry-Lynch and many others all make huge contributions.
“A few of the men are wonderful also, Con Fitzgerald who is the current chairperson of the Ladies section, Brian Galligan, Karl Morgan, Ned Griffin and many more people, but it all started with that success for Scoil Mhuire back in 2001,” she added.
“That success by girls from Scoil Mhuire was winning a Cumann na mBunScol title in 2001. The teacher in charge was Brid Lombard, but Paddy Morgan from Kilmainham and Ann Smith were also involved in training and coaching the team.
"Ann then approached the Gaeil ColmcilleExecutive Committee and received an enthusiastic response with permission to establish a ladies under-age team, initially and it grew from that.
"Meath Ladies Co Board chairperson (at the time) Geraldine Sheridan was also delighted with the addition of another club.
"Initially, it was under-age teams, but a number of players returned from other clubs once there was the possibility of playing at adult level for Gaeil Colmcille," added Olivia..
The club made steady progress at adult level and got to the 2017 Junior D final but lost out on that occasion.
They bounced back 12 months later and won the 2018 Junior C decider against St
The players on the Scoil Mhuire team that won the 2001 Meath Cumann na mBunScol title were: Ciara Reilly (captain), Ashlea Carr, Rebecca Anderson, Eanair Reilly, Ciara Smith, Jeanine Kavanagh, Aoife Murray, Susan Cunningham, Aoife Morris, Shirley Flood, Denise Powell, Lucy Chapman, Coleen Lynch, Katie Murray, Sarah Hanney, Lucy Dillon, Eileen McConnell, Karen O’Connell, Aodhnait Lombard.
Colmcille’s that produced a 6-13 to 0-11 victory on what was a blustery afternoon at Dunshaughlin. The scorers for Gaeil Colmcille on that memorable day were Ciara Brady 1-4, Orla O’Rorke 1-2, Sam Bennett 1-1, Rachel Kumar 0-4, Ella Reilly 1-1, Caoilinn Connell 1-0, Emma Connell 1-0 and Aisling Reilly 0-1. Further progress can be gauged by the fact that Gaeil
Colmcille has two adult teams in 2024 competing in the League (Div 4 and Div 7).
Silverware has already arrived this year with the Meath LGFA Div 4 title secured last May following a 4-9 to 0-6 win over Kilbride as the team delivered for manager Barney O’Rourke and his selectors.
The 2024 Meath Championships will feature two adult teams also, the first team will bid for the Junior B title and is in a group with Clonard, Duleek / Bellewstown and Dunsany. Gaeil Colmcille B will compete in the Junior F and is in a group with neighbours St Ultan’s B, Kilmainhamwood and Donaghmore / Ashbourne C.
A Lifetime Involvement with Gaeil Colmcille
By CONALL COLLIER
Ann Smith has a lifetime involvement with Gaeil Colmcille across many strands of activity and is currently assistant-treasurer of the club.
She played for the first ladies team from the club when games were organised on an ad-hoc basis in the early 1970s and she continued when structured competitions were introduced.
“There was a ladies team in Kells in the ‘70s trained by Vincent Lynch, initially we had girls who worked in the telephone exchange, but they then later played as Kells Post Office,” stated Ann. “Then there was a team from Tara Shoes, a local factory, but there was also a team out the road in Fyanstown and the late Ultan Fitzpatrick was involved there.
“Really, at that time in the 1970s it was all a bit hit and miss in one sense and all we really wanted to do was have a game of football.
“I went to play with Cormeen for a while, but they disbanded and I ended up playing with Moylagh for a few years.
“I suppose with all those teams around the Kells area it sort of worked against the prospects of a team forming in the town,” she added.
Apart from a brief period in the late 1980s when a camogie team was formed, there wasn’t too much activity
for ladies on the pitch with Gaeil Colmcille until about 20 years ago after a local school won a Cumann na mBunScol final in Pairc Tailteann.
“The Scoil Mhuire (primary school) team winning the Cumann na mBunScol title in 2001 was the catalyst for the current Gaeil Colmcille Ladies,” explained Ann.
“I used to help out Brid Lombard, who was a teacher in Scoil Mhuire, there was basketball and a few other sports and it
was decided to enter the Cumann na mBunScol.
“There was Brid, myself and Paddy Morgan from Kilmainham and we had a good team, we got to the final and I think it was St Paul’s from Navan that we defeated in 2001.
“Another parent, Abina O’Connell, was involved, I approached Gaeil Colmcille about starting an under-12 girls team and got permission, it took off after that with assistance from
Care Skills (5N2270)
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Intellectual Disability Studies (5N1652)
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Geraldine Sheridan who was the Meath Ladies Co Board chairperson at the time.
“After a couple of years with the under-age teams a few players from Kells, who had been playing adult with other clubs, decided to come back to Gaeil Colmcille and that helped us to field an adult team around 2006 or 2007.
“It has continued to grow and is now a huge part of the club, my granddaughter (Éire) is playing with the under-11s now and she loves it, I think it’s very important on a number of fronts for girls to have the opportunity to play sport.
“I played for Gaeil Colmcille, football and camogie, we even won a camogie title around 1988 or so, my husband (Gerry) played and is still involved, my children played and now my grandchildren are involved. “It’s wonderful to see people like Con Fitzgerald, the current chairman of the ladies section and Heather McElherron who looks after the camogie, the commitment they have and the efforts they put in for the club, Con is from Dublin and Heather is from Clare, just two of the people who have made their homes in Kells, the future of Gaeil Collmcille is secure with people like that,” she concluded.
Gaeil Colmcille stalwart Ann Smith (right)
First Female at the Gaeil Colmcille Helm
Olivia Ferguson spoke to Conall Collier on being the first female at the helm of Gaeil Colmcille
Gaeil Colmcille chairperson Olivia Ferguson created her own piece of history on 26th February 2021 when she became the first female elected to that role at the annual general meeting.
The meeting itself was a bit removed from the norm as it took place online (restrictions due to the pandemic applied in 2021) but the business of running a busy club had to continue and soon after that historic occasion she outlined an ambitious five-year plan.
“When I was elected to the position of chair at the 2021 AGM I was aware of the challenges facing the club,” she recalled. “I took over from predecessors like Mick Connell and Willie Newman, they had been in the chair before that and both men did sterling work for the club in what was a very difficult set of circumstances.
“Briefly, the 27 acres at Grangegodden was purchased as part of a plan that involved the sale of a portion of the Gaelic Centre in the town.
“The intention was that the sale would finance the Grangegodden project, it was a good plan at the time, but then the downturn that we all know about left the club with a huge debt.“ “It’s only since 2023, some 14 or 15 years later, that the club is debt-free and that has been a tremendous achievement for all the people involved over those years when it was a major struggle to keep the show on the road, it’s also a great relief for everyone in the club.
A SOLID POSITION
“We are in a solid position now, we still have the town pitch, we have three excellent pitches in Grangegodden and we are now in a position to develop in terms of facilities and teams across all the strands, football, hurling, ladies football and camogie at adult and under-age levels.
“For years we were fundraising to service the debt, basically running to stand still, we couldn’t put anything
substantial into Grangegodden, but that’s all changed now, but we won’t be taking on any debt if we can avoid it,” she added.
FOCUS ON THE FEMALE SECTION
Turning the focus to the female section of the club, the more established ladies football and the recently-introduced camogie, Olivia reflected back to a journey that initially started and stalled in the mid1970s. The journey started again in the mid-1980s before it stalled again, this time for almost 20 years until an initiative by Ann Smith in 2002 after the success of the girls from Scoil Mhuire in the 2001 Cumann na mBunScol final.
“Nothing much happened on the ladies football front after that initial effort in the late 1970s when there was a team from Kells for a few years with Vincent Lynch involved,” she explained. “Then there was a Gaeil Colmcille camogie team from around 1985 to 1989 and I played on that, we won a junior championship.”
are smarter than we give them credit for, letting the women do the work, but then I have to acknowledge the work that my husband, Conor, does.
“He has lots of duties, but a very important one is simply cutting the grass on the pitches, that’s a crucial task for every club, not just Gaeil Colmcille, and it’s something that can be taken for granted sometimes.
“My brother, Barry (Dardis), would be called on frequently, as would lads like Brian Clarke, John Thornton, there’s so much involved in the day-to-day running of the club, it doesn’t matter whether it’s for the male teams or the female teams.
“We operate under the GAA’s ONE CLUB policy, all members and all the teams have equal access, we would have about 30 teams and an overall membership of around 700, all have to be catered for,” she added.
Looking to the future, Olivia is optimistic about the role that Gaeil Colmcille can play in promoting the GAA across all the strands of male and female teams and groups within the club.
AMBITIOUS PLANS COULD SEE GRANGEGODDEN TRANSFORMED INTO A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
She also has some ambitious plans that could see the Grangegodden venue transformed into a Centre of Excellence for North Meath. “I went to Mayo, near Knock, to have a look at the Connacht GAA air dome, I’d like to see something similar for Grangegodden to cater for North Meath as a centre of excellence, that’s just one possibility for the future,” she explained.
FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY
“Unfortunately, in the ‘70s and even in the ‘80s women generally didn’t concentrate too much on sporting activities after initial involvement at under-age, but that began to change gradually.”
The OccasionBirthday, Christening,
A DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE NOW
“Thankfully, it’s a completely different landscape now as far as women in sport are concerned and there are lots of opportunities, that’s the way it should be. There are three females in the main positions in the club now, I’m the chair while Carol Thornton is the secretary and Angela Farrell-Dardis is the treasurer, other ladies involved include Ann Smith and Deirdre Williams.” “Maybe the men
“We are very focused on sustainability in the sense that our new modular units at Grangegodden are set up for solar panels and we have planted about 700 trees also, the intention would be that we could be self-sufficient in terms of energy.
“There was a time when the ladies would go to the GAA meetings solely for the purpose of making the tea and sandwiches, but Conor (my husband) says now that it’s not possible to get a good sandwich anymore as all the women running the clubs, maybe he’s right,” she concluded.
Olivia Ferguson
The Late Ultan Fizpatrick
Aformer stalwart of the Gaeil Colmcille club and a respected Meath GAA Co Board official, the late Ultan Fitzpatrick, who sadly passed away in November 2023, was an early convert to the cause of ladies football in the Royal County.
The late Mr Fitzpatrick, who was involved with the Fyanstown club, was innovative in many ways and he officiated at games during that inaugural Meath Ladies Championship in 1976 when a Meath Ladies Gaelic Football County Board was formed.
Kathleen Carroll was the first chairperson, Ann Callaghan (Simonstown Gaels) was elected secretary with Ann Reilly (Cormeen) the treasurer while elected on the Committee were Brigid Branningan (Bellewstown), Mary McKenna (Kells PO), Geraldine Farrelly (Castletown), Mary Fitzpatrick (Fyanstown) and Martin Reilly (Colmicille Gaels).
Eight teams entered for the County Championship – Castletown, Colmicille Gaels, Simonstown Gaels, Kells P.O., Bellewstown, Fyanstown, Navan O’Mahonys and Cormeen and were split into two groups of four.
Writing in the 1977 Meath GAA yearbook, the late Mr Fitzpatrick stated: “Having watched a fair number of ladies football matches and also refereed a few, I would strongly advise
a rule change allowing the ball to be lifted (directly) from the ground with the hands.
“I feel confident for the future if there can be better planning of competitions.
“The game has yet to get the ‘blessing’ from GAA HQ, but I am sure that will come in the near future.”
The late Mr Fitzpatrick had a lifetime involvement with the club and his son, Pat, was the captain of the last Keegan Cup-winning Gaeil Colmcille team in 1991.
Pictured is the Late Ultan Fitzpatrick who was a respected Meath County Board GAA official
Conall Collier spoke to recently-appointed Gaeil Colmcille Camogie secretary Heather McElherron about her journey from the village of Bodyke in East Clare to Kells in the Royal County, her love of the game of Camogie and her aspirations for an emerging wave of new of players with Gaeil Colmcille
Clare woman Heather Hogan was a talented young camogie player with her local club Bodyke where she won a number of honours at both school and club levels.
She arrived in Kells via the relatively small Meath village of Drumree, courtesy of her husband Brendan McElherron. A long journey, not only in terms of miles, the couple are now firmly part of the fabric of the Gaeil Colmcille club. In at the deep end would best describe Heather McElherron, she is now the secretary of the fledgling Gaeil Colmcille Camogie section where the long-term goal is to field an adult team, possibly by the end of this decade.
The mother of four works locally and her husband (Brendan) is also involved at under-age level with Gaeil Colmcille, it’s a busy house seven-days-a-week.
Brendan’s journey to Kells and Gaeil Colmcille wasn’t just a short hop from
Drumree, it involved a diversion via what was the landmark Two Mile Inn on the Ennis Road outside Limerick in the early 1990s.
Heather takes up the story: “I played camogie until I was 18 with my local club, Bodyke, it’s in east Clare between Ennis and Limerick.” “When I finished school I got a job in Limerick as a receptionist at the Two Mile Inn, it’s not there anymore, but it was a well-known establishment on the Ennis Road back in the 1990s and well before that.
“I met my future husband (Brendan) there, he was a chef from Co Meath. Eventually we decided to move closer to his home place (Drumree), so we were briefly in the Batterstown area before moving into Dublin.” “I was working in Dublin, but we wanted to buy a house and we were fortunate enough to find something suitable in Kells,” she added. Working locally, in the Kells area, it wasn’t
Wishing Continued Success from
Heather on duty for Gaeil Colmcille Camogie
too long before the link with the local GAA club, Gaeil Colmcille, was established and at this stage, the couple and the children are all involved.
“We have three boys and one girl, and they are all involved with the club, the eldest (Frankie) is 15 and he plays hurling,” she commented.
GaeilColmcilleLadies SPECIALFOCUS
“I started off coaching the girls football, then I got involved with the new camogie set up and added the nursery section this year, I’m now the camogie secretary, but like most people involved in the GAA, you tend to wear a few hats.”
“Mary Farrell had the ambition of developing a camogie team in Gaeil Colmcille and in the summer of 2021 she succeeded, my daughter was involved and Mary was always on the lookout for volunteers.” “I started to help her and as numbers increased it was decided to team up with Loughcrew Gaels last year out in Kilskyre, mainly for the benefit of the Go Games, initially to make sure we had sufficient numbers.”
“As secretary for the camogie I found it helpful that there was an initiative to link into the local schools as much as possible and more girls joined up.” “At the moment it’s all under-age, u-7, u-9, u-11, that will change to u-8, u-10, u-12 in August.”
“That helps to keep players together as we build up on a gradual basis with the long-term goal of fielding an adult team. “We have no competitive games just yet, that won’t happen until we have a u-13 team and hopefully we will achieve that soon, it’s our initial target,” she added. With some new players coming in at the younger age group every year, the numbers are growing, but camogie demands more determination from the players than football.”
“At the moment we would have about 60 players across the three age groups and that’s a good foundation to build on for the future,” explained Heather.
“However, unlike football, where a child can run out on the pitch with a pair of boots and start playing in some form, almost immediately, it’s a bit more demanding for children to get involved in the camogie.” “The helmet is the first challenge, especially for a seven-year-old, then there is the technical aspect of picking up the sliotar and striking it, all that can be tough for adults, never mind seven and eight-year-olds.”
“What is very noticeable is that once the girls master the basics they really start to enjoy it and want to improve.
“Unfortunately, there is also a more noticeable drop out rate, due I suppose, to the lure of football and the recent success
of the Meath Ladies winning All-Irelands. “It was very evident when I arrived in Meath, the comparison with Clare where I grew up.”
“Hurling and camogie were the main sports when I was growing up, it wasn’t like that in Meath and when I arrived here it was just something that was the norm, football was first and hurling and camogie was well down the list of what children might play. That’s not a criticism, the opposite would be true in Clare, football wouldn’t be the first choice, but you just have to get on with it.”
“I can honestly say that in Gaeil Colmcille there is tremendous support for all the codes, football, hurling, ladies
football and camogie.“ “The hurling was there for my eldest son, but there was no camogie and you know, camogie is a brilliant game and it is starting to get the recognition it deserves,” she added.
Heather was delighted that the club was invited to the CAMOGIE 120 celebrations at Pairc Tailteann in mid-July. That was to mark the occasion of the first official camogie game that was played at the Navan venue in July 1904.
There was a parade and recognition for the camogie clubs in Meath as part of the overall activities and the recently-elected president of the Camogie Association, Brian Molloy, was present for the occasion.
Best Wishes to gaeil colmcille ladies
The 1993 Bodyke Camogie team (from left): Back – M O’Shaughnessy, G Counihan, A O’Connell, S Cassidy, K O’Neill, AM Carey, Heather Hogan, C Kelly. Front – E McNamara, K Walsh, R O’Connell, D Quinn, M McNamara, C Akers, L Quigley.
The team from 1986 Back Row l-r - Margaret Farrell, Sue Farrelly, Teresa Carr, Mary Morris, Aoibheann Morris, Ann Ryan, Mary Tobin, Mairead Wall, Mary Farrell, Larina Quigley. Front Row l-r - Michaell Watters, Jenny O'Rourke nee Woods, Ann Smith, Ann Tully, Grace Reilly, Olivia Ferguson (current club chairperson), Ann Maloney
Page10 SPECIALFOCUS
“The celebrations at Páirc Tailteann in mid-July, that was a brilliant occasion and it was a memorable outing for the children, they enjoyed the day out and that’s very important.
“The young players have to enjoy the sport or they won’t stay at it so that’s part of the ethos within Gaeil Colmcille, to make the weekly sessions fun as part of teaching the skills of the game.” “The longterm goal, as I said earlier, is to build the numbers playing camogie and to get to adult level, we are getting there, we are close to fielding a camogie team at the u13 grade, that’s the first age for competitive action and by 2026 we should achieve that as Loughcrew Gaels / Gaeil Colmcille.”
“The link with Loughcrew Gaels is an excellent partnership, we rotate locations between Kells and Kilskyre, we train on a Tuesday evening, there is never any concern about a lack of numbers and it also eases the pressure on facilities in both Kells and Kilskyre.”
“I really enjoy trying to teach the children the skills of camogie and there’s no better feeling than seeing gradual improvement and the delight for a little girl when she masters a particular skill. “I’m always trying to introduce different ways of doing things in an effort to make the experience more enjoyable for the children, enjoyment is the key to keeping them involved.
“The children can get frustrated sometimes, but I’ll bring it back to when they were smaller, how they had to crawl before they could walk, they take that on board and move on to the next challenge with tremendous satisfaction.”
“It’s very important that everyone gets an equal amount of playing time, the Go Games are great for that and it’s a new experience in the blitzes against clubs like Kilmessan, Killyon, Na Fianna, St Colmcille’s, it's progressing nicely,” she concluded.
CURRENT COACHES
U-11/U-12/U-13: Deirdre Sheridan
U-9/U-10: Heather McElherron
U-7/U-8: Lynda Rodgers
Best Wishes & Continued Success
2024 U7 Team
2024 U11 Team
2024 U9 Team
2021 U7 Team
2021 U9 Team
Players from Loughcrew Gaels / Gaeil Colmcille at the Camogie 120 celebrations at Pairc Tailteann
Trying Conversion for Chairman Con
Gaeil Colmcille Ladies Chairman Con Fitzgerald Spoke to Conall Collier About His Move to Kells, His Role as Chairman and His Conversion from Rugby to GAA
Converted from the oval to the round ball would be a simple description of Dublin native Con Fitzgerald’s journey from Rathgar to the heart of the Royal County and a role as chairperson of Gaeil Colmcille Ladies GAA club.
As a teenager, Con Fitzgerald was a talented rugby player with top Dublin club St Mary’s and he had no involvement with anything GAA-related until he made the move to Kells some 20 years ago with his wife, also a Dublin native, Natalie.
Con, Natalie and four children Tara, Grace, Lucy and Danny, now call Kells home and are all involved with the Gaeil Colmcille club, but it was by chance that the link was established.
“Our eldest daughter Tara, she’s 22 now, came home from school one day with some information about the Gaelc4Girls, she was eight at the time,” explained Con. “It meant a trip to the local club, it was my first introduction to the GAA as I was from
a rugby background, I played from a very young age until I was about 19 with St Mary’s College.”
“I opted out then because I wasn’t getting any bigger, a requirement for the position I played, and there was a guy called Conor McGuinness there also, he went on to play for Ireland.
“I got a part-time job when I stopped playing rugby, but I had actually no involvement with the GAA until I arrived in Kells.”
“Myself and my wife were working in Dublin, I’m from Rathgar and my wife is Donaghmede, we lived in Dublin for a short time after we got married, but we decided to move out and opted for Kells.
“We felt that Navan was too built up and Kells was the next option, we saw the details about the house, we had breakfast one morning in the town and we liked the place straight away.”
“The link with the club was that notice about the Gaelic4Girls, we went down to
the ground (Gaeil Colmcille) and Tara got involved and I learned my first lesson about the GAA.”
“Basically, if you are standing at the side of a pitch and just waiting for your daughter, even if you don’t know anyone, you will end up with a job.” “That’s what
happened to me, but it was a good job, I became the official ‘cone lifter’ and that’s what I did at the beginning. “
“I’d help setting up the cones and then I’d collect them, I’m now a qualified cone lifter,” he added as he recalled his initial introduction to the GAA.”
It didn’t take long for Con to get more involved with all things Gaeil Colmcille and he quickly became immersed in the club. His wife Natalie also got involved with the Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others when that initiative was launched.
“Willie Newman was the chairman at the time and I went along to a meeting one night, I didn’t actually realise it was the AGM, but I got another job, this time as club secretary, I did that for three years,” stated Con.
“I also kept the cones, but I got an interest in the football as well as learning how the club worked.” “I did the foundation level coaching course and followed that with the level one course,
there wasn’t anything similar for the ladies at the time, but the foundation course was good enough for an introduction.”
“Then I did the Ladies GFA level one as I was interested in because of my daughters.” “Guys like Vernon Savage, Enda Farrelly, Ray Murphy, they were all involved and it all started from that.
“I had a stint at county level with the Meath under-14s and then the under-16s, it was a great experience and a great learning process.”
“I stepped down from the secretary’s role and and got involved again in the coaching as it was something that I found very rewarding on many fronts, I was with the Meath teams as I mentioned, but I was
still involved with the club.” “Roy Mitchell was the Ladies chair for about three years and did a lot of good work with his wife Deirdre, then Ellie Galligan took it on before I was nominated about 18 months ago,” he added.
And what about success for the ladies section of Gaeil Colmcille, how are things going on that front?
Con has a flexible perspective on how something like success might be measured.
“If success was measured by the amount of trophies won, then Gaeil Colmcille wouldn’t rate too highly on the roll of honour, but, as in most clubs, there are different barometers used to gauge achievements,” stated Con.
“The club is growing, that’s how I would gauge success initially, it’s a relatively new addition to Gaeil Colmcille and while we have reached semi-finals and finals, it took a while to get a team across the line in first place.
Emma Jane McKeon in action for Gaeil Colmcille Ladies
Rachel Kumar in possession
GaeilColmcilleLadies SPECIALFOCUS
“There was a Junior C title at adult level about six years ago, we won a League title this year, and while that’s important, I would also highlight the fact that we will have two adult teams competing in 2024, that’s a real sign of success in my book”
“You also have to look at the challenges, and this would apply to all clubs, there is a high drop-off rate amongst girls in the 1416 age group and we have to try to address that, player retention is difficult.”
“Distractions, social pressure, team dynamics, it’s all part of the process and it’s something that we are aware of and we deal with it as best we can.” “We have a new manager this year, Barney O’Rourke and his selectors, Carol Morgan and the FLO (Female Liasion Officer), Catriona McKeown.”
“The success of the Meath team winning All-Ireland titles has boosted our numbers also.” “Even before the Meath success, the day out at the Ladies All-Ireland finals has proved a great occasion, it’s a fantastic experience regardless of the teams playing, you get three games and you get to visit Croke Park, a very enjoyable day for the adults and the children.”
“Then, this year we had two players (Gemma Clarke and Emma Jane McKeown) brought in for Meath senior trials, that’s amazing for us as a Junior B club and it's also a fantastic boost for everyone and shows that the club is developing.”
“The Gaelic 4 Mothers is also hugely important, James Flanagan is the manager there, but those women do an enormous amount for the club, apart from playing a bit of football.” “As an overall club, the men and the women, we are working very well together, when I started with the club all those years ago, I was looking at everything from a rugby background.”
“I didn’t know about things like the parish rule, that’s brilliant, you play for your local club, there is a great sense of community within the GAA and that is so important, it’s something that I really like.”
“Despite my lofty position as chairperson of the Ladies, I still retain my original role as ‘official cone lifter’ and long may it continue,” he concluded.
Loren Clarke weighing up her options
Sarah McGillick driving the ball up-field
Caitlin Galligan is a safe pair of hands in goal
Gemma Clarke deep in concentration
Leanne Connell with a well placed hand pass
Gaelic4Mothers and Others
The Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others is an important part of the club and James Flanagan has been involved with this from the beginning.
Chairperson Olivia Ferguson recognised the value and the contribution, on and off the pitch.
“The Mothers & Others was and is a great initiative, James Flanagan played a crucial role and there was Carol CarryLynch and Linda Lee who were also involved,” stated Olivia.
“What it does is provide a fantastic social outlet for the women who were,
sometimes, forgotten about.” “Social outings are organised and the women meet up with other clubs, it’s a break from the routine of where they might be helping out with training and coaching under-age teams during the week.
“There’s also Dads and Lads now, all these groups have to be catered for, but it also helps to keep people involved with the club,” added Olivia.
Gaeil Colmcille was one of seven clubs from Meath that participated in the Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others blitz day at venues in Dublin in 2023.
The concept is now well established across the GAA, but it began as an idea to offer an opportunity to the many mothers who would regularly drop their children at training and then stand on the sidelines and wait until it was over.
Now, it’s where women, mostly mothers, but not exclusively, meet on a regular basis and engage in a bit of football and that leads on to other social activities.
The numbers nationwide continue to grow and at last year’s National Blitz the LGFA president Michael Naughton commented: “The current number of clubs involved in Gaelic4Mothers&Others is 513 and the programme continues to enhance the lives of participants.”
GAEIL COLMCILLE NURSERY
Gaeil Colmcille has a weekly nursery for children in the four years old to six years old age groups. The weekly session takes place on a Monday evening from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
Calling All Ladies and Girls Interested in Taking up Gaelic Games
if you or your child is looking to get involved please contact the following managers of the teams
It’s A Family Affair
Amazingly, there were 6 sets of sisters on the winning panel.
Pictured above are:
Emily Sheridan Fox, Aoibhe Sheridan Fox, Gemma Clarke, Loren Clarke, Issey McKeon, Emma Jane McKeon, Tara Fitzgerald, Grace Fitzgerald, Caroline O’Rorke, Orla O’Rorke.
Pictured left are sisters Leanne & Emma Connell who are missing from the main picture.
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Gaeil Colmcille’s first female Chairperson, Olivia Ferguson, and Ladies Team Captain, Leanne Connell, receiving sponsorship cheque from Gerard O’Rorke.
New Youth Theatre Hits The Town of Trim
In its inaugural show, Trim Youth Theatre hit the Swift Cultural Centre with a bang. Twelve brave students, all aged between 13 to 17, steppedoutunderthelightsto perform for their friends and family.
This is no easy feat, and this new Youth Theatre managed it withfinesse.
Under Trim Youth Theatre director, actor Stephen Cromwell, they had just spent the week previously working on voice, movement, acting and improvising, all with some fun sprinkledin.
Stephen opened the show, congratulating the participants on how far they had travelled, not just in terms of skill, but also in confidence, during a mere week. Some of the teens had never been on a stage before, and yet it was a comedicjoytowatch.
The summer camp itself revolved around a “Murder Mystery” theme, and this was evident in the rehearsed scenes performed by the students. A killer clown, a Dracula support group, and the worst evil of all, a local talker who interruptswork.
The central motif of the show was a TV Talk Show called “Purgatory People”, where each actor was presented a card (written by the audience, as they took their seats) and had ten seconds to become the characterbeinginterviewed.
Each character had suffered an extraordinary death, and wasnowstuckin“purgatory”.
Laughter radiated through thetheatre,astheaudiencewitnessed their answers being acted out, elaborated and, ultimately,executed
Theconfidence,camaraderie, and comedy was the highlight of this performance, and speaks to the atmosphere cre-
ated, and tutelage of their director.
WeeklyYouthTheatreclasses begin mid September, and it is evident that this new venture by the Swift Cultural Centre is onlyjustbeginning. Forenquiresfurtherinformation, please free to email info@swiftculturalcentre.ie
McKee - Work To Start Shortly On Road Safety Measures In Duleek
Local East Meath Fianna Fáil Councillor, Stephen McKee, has welcomed the news that Meath County Council will shortly commence works on the new signalised junction at the bottom of Station Road/ MainStreet,Duleek.
Cllr. McKee stated “I am pleased that Meath County Council have confirmed to me thatworkwillstartontheweek of Monday, August 12th. Works will include a new traffic calming table and new traffic lights at the junction which are badly needed.”
He continued by saying “These works will form part of anoverallDuleekPublicRealm Planwhichwillbedevelopedto improve public infrastructure in the village, improve the environment for local business to flourish and enhance the quality of life for local residents. It willbeimportantthatadequate funding is provided to ensure that any agreed Public Realm Plan can be fully funded and that the work is fully carried
out.” “The new road safety and traffic calming works for the bottom of Station Road onto Main Street are very welcome. Trafficcalmingisbadlyneeded alsoontheStationRoad,onthe Longford Road, the Navan Road and out at Duleek Soccer ClubatCarranstown.”
Cllr McKee concluded by saying “There are just far too many HGV's coming through the village. Long-term, the Bypassiscritical’
atMW.MeathNorth.CE@Garda.ie,NavanGardaStation,AbbeyRoad,Navan,Meath,C15 FW77
TotheHealthServiceExecutiveOfficial,atmeath.peho@hse.ie
TotheDistrictCourtClerk,TrimDistrictCourt
Ballivor Library Opens it’s Doors To The Public
The much anticipated Ballivor Library has nowopeneditsdoorstothepublic.
The fabulous new library in the restored St, Kinneth’s Church offers books for children, teens and adults, free access to WiFi and PCs and a printcopy&scanservice.
There is a dedicated area for young children and some study spaces. The flexible shelving units will allow the library service to deliver a
wide variety of events and activities for children andadults. Theopeninghoursareasfollows: Tuesday-12to4.00pmand4.30pmto7.00pm Wednesday-10.00amto1.00pmand2.00pmto 5.00pm
Thursday - 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00pm Saturday-10.00amto1.30pm
County Meath’s Only Olympic Medallist
Meath has had only one Olympic medallist who competed on behalf of Ireland. LetitiaHamiltonofDunboyne won a bronze medal in art in 1948. However her win is no longer included in the official recordsoftheOlympics.
Art competitions were held as part of the 1948 Olympics in London. Medals were awarded in five categories, architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. Works had to have a sportstheme.Theartexhibition was held at the Victoria and AlbertMuseum.
In 1949 the International Olympic Committee decided to hold art exhibitions in future at the games as it was decided that it was illogical to permit professional artists compete in the art competition but only amateurs in the sporting
events. A previous winner in the art section had been the Irish artist, Jack Butler Yeats who took silver in 1924. A Meath theme, The Tailteann Games, secured a bronze in the same Games for Oliver St. John Gogarty.
Letitia Marion (‘May’) Hamilton was born in Dunboyne in 1878, second daughter and fourth child of Charles Robert and Louisa Hamilton of Hamwood House. Her greatgrandmother, Caroline Hamilton, was a noted artist and she was a distant cousin of the watercolourist, Rose Barton.
Letitia was one of a number of female artists of the early twentieth century who were well-educated, studied art and had a private income which allowed her to choose the subjects for her paintings. Letitia spent her childhood at Hamwood. Her first subject was the gardens of Hamwood and she exhibited her watercolours at the exhibition of the Watercolour Society of Ireland in 1902. She exhibited under the name ‘May’ as this is what the family calledher.
Letitia was educated at AlexandraCollegeandmayhavereceivedlessonsfromJohnButler
Yeats. Her father had said that he could not provide a dowry for all six of his daughters and while Letitia had a romance in hertwentiesnothingcameofit. Letitia only began to study at the Metropolitan School of Art in 1907 at the age of twentynine. Her older sister, Eva, began her studies at the same time. Leititia won a number of prizesforherenamelwork.
At the Metropolitan School Letitia she was greatly influenced by the artist and teacher, Sir William Orpen. She went to study in London and afterwards in Belgium where studied under Frank Branwyn. Togetherwithhersister,Eva,Leititia travelled widely on the continent especially France, Italy, Spain and the Balkans and she painted scenes from these countries, particularly of Venice.
Leititawasgreatlyinfluenced by the contemporary French style. She gained a down to earth approach to everyday items and was influenced by theIrishartists,PaulHenryand RodericO’Conor.Initiallyinfluenced by the Impressionists her enamelwork displayed Art Noveau influences. She developed a very personal technique of using the palette knife.
The subject of her paintings were mainly landscapes, markets and hunting scenes. Her sister Eva was also a talented artist and being particularly knownforherportraitpainting.
Letitia first exhibited at the RHA in 1909 and exhibited more than 200 paintings at the Academy over the years. The first painting she exhibited at the academy was a view of the village of Dunboyne. In 1920 Letitia was a founder member of the Dublin Painters Group, together with Paul Henry, Grace Henry, Mary Swanzy, Jack Butler Yeats and others. In
Kells Based SME Business Partner Receives National Recognition
Run My Business Named as Business All-Star Dynamic Enterprise of the Year
Run My Business, a leading providerofsolution-basedconsultancy and support services helping SMEs scale and grow has been honoured with the All-Ireland Business Foundation's prestigious Business AllStar Dynamic Enterprise of the Year2024accolade.
This honour recognises the company's exceptional adaptability, innovation, and commitment to enhancing operational efficiencies for businessesacrossIreland.
TheawardcelebratesRunMy Business’outstandingperformance under the adept leadership of its founders, highlighting their seamless integration of the latest technology and business practices to support the evolving needs of their clients.
From financial management to marketing and beyond, Run My Business has consistently
exceptional service that optimises client operations and drives substantial
business growth and sustainability. Being acknowledged by the All-Ireland Business
In 1944 she was made a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy. Letitia exhibited widely in Ireland, Britain and France. She won a bronze medal in 1948 in the Olympic Games Sport Art Mixed Paintingssectionattheageof69.The title of her work was ‘Meath Hunt, Point to Point Races’. In the late 1950s Letitia became President of the Dublin PaintersSociety.
1925 Letitia returned to Ireland. She would paint during the summers while visiting her friendsinthesouthandwestof Ireland. During the winter she would complete the works in her studio and then exhibit in thespring.In1926sheheldher firstsoloexhibitioninLondon.
In 1934 Letitia was awarded first prize by the Royal HorticulturalSocietyforherpainting of the garden at Fonthill. In 1939 Letitia’s work was chosen by the noted art dealer, Victor Waddington, to be included in his collection of Irish art which hewasshowinginAmerica.
Foundation not only recognises Run My Business past achievements but also positionsthemforfuturesuccess.
Thishonourreflectsthecompany’s forward-thinking approachanddedicationtoexcellence, setting them apart as a model of business dynamism and success, and paving the way for future innovations in businesssupportservices.
Reacting to the news of his company’s achievement, Run My Business Co-Founder, Daniel McGivern said "We are incredibly honoured to be named the Business All-Star DynamicEnterpriseoftheYear 2024 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedicationofourentireteam”.
Mr McGivern continued by saying “At Run My Business, we strive to continually innovate and adapt to meet the everchanging needs of our clients, providing solution-based consultancy and support services that help SMEs scale and grow. That enhances their operationalefficiencies.”
From 1946 she lived with her sisters at Lucan. Letitia never married, choosing to concentrate on her art. Despite failing sight she continued painting untilaweekbeforeherdeathin 1964. She and her sister, Eva, are interred in Dunboyne churchyard.
Letitia had a love of animals and nature, was charming and had a boundless enthusiasm forallheractivities.
Today her works are to be foundintheNationalGalleryof Ireland, the Hugh Lane Municipal Galley and the Ulster Museum,Belfast.
Brigadier Bryan John Fowler of Rahinstown, Enfield, won a silver medal for polo in 1936 but competed on behalf of Great Britain.Hisson,John,represented Ireland at the Mexico Olympicsin1968
“This award underscores our commitment to excellence and our role as leaders in business support services. We look forward to continuing to drive growth and sustainability for businessesacrossIreland."
Announcing the news of Run My Business’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said “I am thrilled to commend Run My Business for being named Business All-Star Dynamic Enterprise of the Year 2024 by the All-Ireland BusinessFoundation”. He continued “This accolade highlights Run My Business’ ability to anticipate market trendsandadapttheirofferings accordingly, positioning them as leaders in the field and paving the way for future innovations in business support services.”
Noel French Local Historian
Terence and Daniel McGivern of Run My Business with Dr Briga Hynes (Chairperson AIBF Adjudication Board) as Run My Business were honoured as Business All-Star Dynamic Enterprise of the Year 2024 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation at a ceremony in Croke Park.
An Historic Occasion As Global Opel CEO Visits Team In Ireland
Florian Huettl, Opel’s global CEO, enjoyed an historic visit to Dublin on 16th July, to meet with the Opel Ireland team at Gowan Auto, Irish importer of Opel vehiclesandspareparts
The high-octane, one-day itinerary included an Opel dealer visit, an in-depth business review, an insightful town halladdresstoOpelemployees and Dealers, and an interview with national media. The Irish premiersofthenewOpelCorsa Hybrid and the new Movano were held at Gowan Auto’s distribution centre during the townhall.
FlorianHuettlsaidofthevisit:
“Opelhasalongandsuccessful history in Ireland with a loyal customer base. We have seen consistent success, especially in the light commercial vehicle segment, where Opel enjoys a market share of 8 percent, a
growthof48percentinthefirst half of 2024, compared to the same time last year. We have also succeeded in increasing our overall market share in Ireland.”
He continued “I congratulate the employees of Opel and GowanAutoaswellastheOpel Dealer Network of Ireland on these successes, and I thank them for their efforts and achievements. I am sure that this motivated team will continue to drive Opel forward in Ireland with sustainable and continuousgrowth.”
Inspiring his audience throughout the day, Florian’s address further galvanised team spirit at a momentous time for the brand as it celebrates a 125-year milestone in 2024.
First founded by Adam Opel in Russelsheim, Germany, since 1899, the carmaker has
made mobility affordable for millionsofpeopleandhascontinuously enthused the public withinnovativemodels.
Today,thebrandlooksahead toenteringabrightnewelectrifiedchapterinitshistorybythe end of 2024, all passenger car and light commercial vehicle models in the Opel range will offerfullyelectricpowertrains.
In the spirit of Opel’s new motto, Forever Forward Since 1899, Florian’s visit to Dublin was the perfect platform to celebrateseveralmilestones.
Eleven Opel Dealers were presented with trophies, to mark their many decades of partnership and commitment to the brand, whilst a member of Opel Ireland’s staff, Ken McKinley, was also commendedforhis39yearsofservice.
Underlining its commitment to the blitz brand, the Gowan Group, established in 1969 and
now representing 8 Stellantis brands in Ireland, invested in a new Distribution Centre in Citywest, which opened in
2023. Opel’s new home in Ireland boasts expansive office space, an 80,000sq ft parts warehouse, a contemporary training academy, and an extensivemarketingshowroom. Contact Navan Opel on 046 9023456formoreinformation.
Florian Huettl, Opel CEO, pictured with the recently launched new Opel Astra Electric and the new Opel Corsa Hybrid.
The Town Hall Gathering of Opel Staff and Dealers in the Gowan Gallery Marketing Suite
The Pros and Cons of Social Media Marketing for Your Business
My name is Helen Leddy, MD of BackOfficeMarketing.Weprovide marketing services for the hospitality and tourism industry acrosstheIslandofIreland.
Thismonth,wearetalkingaboutthe Pro’sandCon’sofsocialmediaforyour business. As the owner of a marketing services business, I will always advise clients of the Pro’s of social media, but you should always be aware of the Consalso.
Socialmediahasbecomeapowerful tool for businesses of all sizes. It offers various advantages and challenges that need to be carefully considered. Here's a comprehensive look at the
ContinuedfromPage1
He continued “Despite the government energy credits, there are even more people in debt now than last year. It’s clear that the government aren’t doing enough to support people struggling to pay their energybills.Meanwhile,energy companies rake in record profits while charging exorbitantfees.”
“Small and medium businesses are also badly affected. The figures show a record number of businesses behind on their payments. At the end of April, 50,828 nondomestic accounts were behind on their bills, 20% more than the same point last year. That’s alarming for SMEs in towns and villages up and down the country, who form the backbone of local economies and who employ locally.”
“I’m glad to see the utility regulator has fulfilled my request for this information. Now, not only can we see how many households are in debt but the average amount that they are in debt. It is essential that they continue to publish
prosandconsofusingsocialmediafor yourbusiness:
Pros
1. IncreasedBrandAwareness
Social media platforms provide businesses with a global reach. Consistent and strategic posting helps increase visibility and awareness of yourbrand.
2. Cost-EffectiveMarketing
Compared to traditional advertising methods, social media marketing can be significantly more cost-effective. Many platforms are free to use. Paid advertisingisalsoafractionofthecost ofmoretraditionalmethods.
3. CustomerEngagement
Social media facilitates direct interaction with customers, enabling real-time feedback, customer service, and engagement. This can lead to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.
4. TargetedAdvertising
Social Media platforms offer sophisticated targeting options based on demographics, interests, and behaviours. This helps businesses reach their ideal audience more effectively.
data so it can be monitored.
The situation is stark and government can no longer burytheirheadinthesand.”
“Sinn Féin has proposed a range of measures to bring down Ireland’s excessively high energy prices for good. We would legislate to ensure the CRU has real teeth to protect consumers. We would make electricity more affordable by breaking the link between wholesale gas and electricity prices. We would increase public, domestic and community ownership of renewable energy. We would increasefundingforretrofitting to ensure that households with lowincomescangetfairaccess tofunds.”
Teachta O’Rourke concluded “Wewouldestablishataskforce toinvestigateandputanendto the scandal of Ireland having exorbitant energy prices comparedtotherestofEurope. We would ensure no further increasestothecarbontax.”
“A Sinn Féin government would stand up for ordinary workers and families to ensure they get a break from unaffordableenergycosts.”
5. AnalyticsandInsights
Most social media platforms provide detailed analytics and insights, allowing businesses to track the performance of their posts, understand audience behaviour, and adjuststrategiesaccordingly.
6. BrandAuthorityandLoyalty
Regularly posting valuable content can help establish your business as an authority in your industry. This can build trust and loyalty among your audience.
7. IncreasedTrafficandSEO
Sharing content on social media can drive traffic to your website. Increased traffic can also positively impact your website'ssearchengineranking.
8. NetworkingOpportunities
Social media platforms provide opportunities to connect with other businesses, influencers, and industry leaders, which can lead to collaborationsandpartnerships.
Cons
1. Time-Consuming
Maintaining an active and engaging social media presence requires a
significant amount of time and effort. Creating content, responding to comments, and monitoring performance can be demanding. Back Office Marketing can help you with that!
2. Negative Feedback and Public Criticism
Social media is a public forum where customers can express their dissatisfaction. Negative feedback and criticism can harm your brand's reputationifnotmanagedproperly.
3. AlgorithmChanges
Social media platforms frequently change their algorithms, which can impact the visibility of your posts and the effectiveness of your strategies. Keeping up with these changes requiresconstantadaptation.
4. Limited Control Over Content Distribution
Thereachofyourpostsisoftensubject to the algorithms of the platform. Organic reach can be limited, requiring businesses to invest in paid advertisingtomaintainvisibility.
5. SecurityandPrivacyConcerns
Social Media accounts are susceptible
to hacking and data breaches. Ensuring the security of your business accountsandcustomerdataiscrucial.
6. BrandImageRisks
Missteps on Social Media, such as inappropriate posts or responses, can quickly damage your brand’s image. It’sessentialtohaveawell-thought-out strategy and guidelines for social mediainteractions.
7. OverwhelmingCompetition
The sheer volume of content on social media can make it difficult for your business to stand out. Competing for attention requires creativity and constantinnovation.
Social Media can be a powerful tool for business growth and customer engagementwhenusedstrategically. However, it also comes with challenges that require careful planning and management. Balancing the pros and cons is essential to making social media work effectively foryourbusiness.
If you need help with your social media or online presence, feel free to reach out to Helen on info@backofficems.ie
A BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS
Every Back to School time is busy busy busy for parents and invariably there is always something youmayhaveforgotten.
So to help you along the way, wehavepreparedbelowaBack to School Checklist, hopefully making your families Back to School time a little less stressful, well for the mammies anddaddiesanyway.
PARENTS BACK TO SCHOOLCHECKLIST
• Namelabelsandtagsfor uniforms
• SchoolbagorRucksack
• LunchboxorBag
• WaterBottleorBeaker
• Schoolslistofcopies, hardbacks&essentials
• CopyCovers
• PencilCase
• Erasers,Pencils,Pens, PencilSharpeners,Markers, Crayons,Highlighters
• ArtMaterialsthatmaybe needed
• Calculator, Maths or Science Sets
• PrittStick/Sellotape
• SafetyScissors
• Paper Clips, Elastic bands, FolderClips
• Foldersfororganisingwork
• SchoolUniformsintotaldon'tforgetschoolcrestsif required,belts,socks,coats, shoes,gloves,hats&scarves
• PE Kit and/or swimming gear
HandSanitiser/Facemasks ifrequired
It's always best to try and prepare as early as possible, so it takes the last-minute panic buyingoutofBacktoSchool. Good luck getting back into the Back to School routine thisSeptember.
CHOICE STORES LOCATIONS
NAVAN: Navan Town Centre & Blackwater Retail Park
KELLS: Bective Street
TRIM: Market Street
ASHBOURNE: Unit 8/9 Ashbourne Retail Park, Ballybin Road.
St Colmcilles (Kells) Credit Union, Here to Help and Support our Young Members
St Colmcilles (Kells) Credit Union has a history of helping its younger members especially at this particular time of year when it is all about College and Back to School.
This Credit Union has been helpingitsmemberswiththese expenses for over sixty years and this year will be no different.
Kells Credit Union has just launched its Student Bursary whichisthisyearincreasedtoa €750 prize and extended to 3 lucky winners, this is a prize of €750 for any student member who is currently completing a full time degree or diploma with a third level institution. This draw has helped numerousstudentsinthepast.
Kells Credit Union also offer a special Student Loan Rate and have expert Loan Officers availabletohelpsupportyoung membersintheirstudies.
Kells Credit Union also understandsthatbacktoschoolis an expensive and worrying time for parents which is why weofferloanstohelpmembers throughthistime.
Everythingfromshoestouniforms to equipment and fees have to be paid around this time every year and often the best way to manage it is by spreading the cost over twelve months with a Credit Union Loan.
If you are a member of Kells Credit Union and need help with this then again you can relyonus.
If you are not a member but liveorworkintheareasofKells, Moynalty, Mullagh, Carlanstown and Kilbeg then why not join. We have many great services and activities that you can be a part of and the August holidays are often a perfect time to come in and open an account. You can even open a
membershiponlinebygoingto join on the ‘Kells Credit Union’ website.
A Credit Union is the ideal placeforanyyoungmemberto startsaving.
As well as helping young members with their financial needs a Credit Union offers more than that. Kells Credit Union’s not for profit ethos allows it to invest in youth in the community. It does this through School Quizes, Art Competitions, Primary School workshop, donations to local clubs,Schoolshirtsponsorship, slogan competitions etc. There are also a number of activities foryoungpeoplesuchasEaster Egg competitions, Fantasy Football League, Santa Claus, St Patricks Day sweets, Photography Competitions and a Young Savers week giveaway everySeptember.
St Colmcilles (Kells) Credit Union encourages its young
members to save for the future andcometouswhenyouneed us,beitforCollege,afirstcaror ahardearnedsummerholiday. Remember to enjoy using your community credit union as it will offer superior customer
service and support and take part in the competitions and activitiesweprovide.
Kells Credit Union is here to support you throughout your journe. Best of luck to all those whoarestartingschool,college and apprenticeships this Autumn.
For more information call 046-9240299 or log onto our website www.kellscu.ie and you can also follow us on Facebook,InstagramandTwitter.
School Shirt Sponsorship
Our Photography competition winning picture which was taken by Shannen Elliott Thompson
Valentines Treats in the Office
Below: Our Back To School Competition Prize
Our Student Bursary Winner
Our Carnaross Schools Quiz Winners
