At the Club AGM on the 10th of December the members present ratified a proposal to amalgamate the Men’s and Ladies Clubs into ‘’One Club’’. On Monday 17th January the motion to embrace the ‘’One Club’’ was unanimously approved by Simonstown LGFA thus clearing the way for this to progress.

This is a momentous event in the history of Simonstown Gaels. It is the culmination of a lot of work done by the One Club sub-committee over the last couple of years and I would like to thank them for their recommendations.

The One Club approach is already working successfully on the ground in many clubs throughout the country and our Club is committed to encouraging and supporting the model where all family members, both male and female can participate and enjoy the fantastic resources in an equitable way.

There are many other benefits to this change, one being a single set of membership rates and one family rate covering all members of each family. To see our new rates please visit: https://simonstowngfc.clubifyapp.com/membership_products

The two new Juvenile Pitches will open in March and this should relieve pressure off the existing pitches. The refit of the new gym should be complete by the end of February also.

Running a new, bigger club will involve additional work and organisation to ensure all aspects of club life operate in a seamless way. It is also important that each of the playing codes are adequately represented on the Club Executive.

In order to meet the needs of the new club structure and to ensure we meet the needs of our growing club where there is a clear succession plan, I am looking for expressions of interest from club members to volunteer in either administrative or on-field coaching/selector roles.

Examples of administrative roles include club communications, children’s officer roles, County Board delegates, commercial/fundraising, Irish language, Football Chairperson. Some of these roles also involve membership of the club Executive Committee.

If you are interested in becoming involved and would like some additional information on any of the roles available, please get in touch with myself or other members of the Executive who were also ratified at the AGM in December;

Mel O’Rourke: Chairperson (087-2555547)

Alan Kavanagh: Vice-Chairperson (087-2187516)

Mags Hain: Club Secretary (087-6784592/ 087-9718594)

David Brady: Treasurer (087-3016109)

Ned Kearney: Juvenile Chairperson (086-3340746)

Neil McGuinness: Children’s Officer (087-7616312)

Declan Tolster: Ladies Chairperson (087-2134405)

Michael Cassidy: Ladies Vice- Chairperson (087-6692030)

Other members of the executive: Sara Shiels, Ivor Burlingham, Tom Lorton, Niamh Lister, Derek Melia, Dan Keane, Brian McEnery, and Collette Traynor

Mel O’Rourke - Chairperson