Newsletter – September 2017 www.gardawestmanstowngaels.com

Girls John West Football Féile June2017

Garda Team v St Judes Dublin Intermediate Football

Quarter Final 2017

O’Toole Park

14.30 Sunday 1st Oct. 2017

All at Garda Westmanstown Gaels wish them the very best. Please go

along and support our club.

“YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU”

GET

INVOLVED

What the Drone saw… For a chance to see our club from a different

perspective, look out for our drone footage of the pitches and facilities on the website. Filmed on a

beautiful evening in May, you’ll get to see Westmanstown as you’ve never seen it before from a

bird’s eye view!

Touring Mammies!!

Many thanks to the hosts, Tyholland,

pictured above with our girls

Family Fun Day & Ladies Fund Raising Sportif 100K and 50K Cycle

30th September from 2.30 p.m.

Garda GAA Club was founded in 1923

Westmanstown Gaels was founded in 2004

IT’S YOUR CLUB….. BE PART OF IT

Are you a player, parent, grandparent, supporter? Whatever your connection with the Club, whoever you are, now is the

time to get involved.

Do you have the time and would you have skills that could be used for the good of the club? There are many areas

within the club that need your help and the commitment can be short or long term. We know your time is precious; even

half an hour can make a difference. Tell us what you can help with, how much time you

have and we will match you with a job!

Can you help? Update the Website

Manage the Facebook Account Assist with Club Shop / Merchandise

Organising once off events such as the Gala Dinner or Family Fun Day

Pitch Coordinator Player Injury Liaison

Coaching and Mentoring Facilities Support Fundraising

The club has grown and developed through the efforts, dedication and innovation of our club members at all levels. The

more people that GET INVOLVED the greater the club will be. If you would like to get involved, there will be a stand at

the Family Fun Day or alternatively please contact any member of the Executive or the Club Secretary, Sean Burke at

secretary.garda.dublin@gaa.ie.

Club Survey Many thanks to all members who completed the survey at the start of the summer.

The Communication committee has reviewed the responses received via the online questionnaire and we are using this in-

formation to shape future communication strategies and to ensure that the matters raised are escalated where necessary.

Some of the key points raised included;

• 40% of respondents rely on WhatsApp as their primary means for keeping up to date on club matters with email and

Facebook second and third.

• Facilities, pitches were of the most concern followed by toilets and changing rooms.

• Members clearly identified the need for an online means of paying for membership subscriptions and camps.

• More notice of major events was requested to give members a better chance to attend them.

In response to the feedback from members some steps have already been taken:

The Executive Committee approved a proposal to implement online payment for membership and this is planned to be in

place for 2018. At the same meeting it was agreed that the facilities at the Westmanstown pitches are to be reviewed. The

website is to be reviewed and updated for January 2018 with more of the information sought by members. We also want to

ensure that club news and events are better communicated to members so we will look to make use of the WhatsApp groups

to do this. A key point, acknowledged by many responders, is the great work already being done within the club.

Sponsorship Announcement

We are delighted to announce continued sponsorship with Aramark, who will take on

the role as main sponsor to the juvenile section of the club for the next three years.

Aramark is delighted to help support the health and well-being of our kids and support our local community.

We are keen to work with new partners to build our club and their involvement in our community. We can tailor a partner-

ship package to suit the needs of potential partners, ranging from a one year advertising commitment to a Club Sponsor

Role. If you are interested in partnership opportunities please contact any member of the executive committee or email

sponsorwmtgaelsgaa@gmail.com

Cumann na mBunscoil 2017 Congratulations to St Mary’s Boys National School, Lucan, Hurling Team, winners of the Herald Cup Div 1 in Croke Park on June 13

th. St Mary’s faced

Bishop Galvin in the final of the Cumann na mBunscoil and came out the winners in a thrilling match which saw the whole school coming to support the team. The win, following 5 months of games to reach the final and under the stewardship of Fintan Clandillon produced some stunning hurling.

A big shout out to our club members in the team Cathal Geraghty, Conor Dillion, Senan Bolger, Luke Mooney, Liam Garrigan and Shane Wallace.

Fundraising 2017

May 26th we held our annual golf classic in West

manstown Golf Club, the weather was kind to us

this year with 21 teams of 4 battling it out on the

beautifully presented course. A big thank you to

all who played and to those who contributed in

the form of sponsorship. Our main sponsor on

the day was our very own club member & mentor

of the under 14 boys Ken Murray, Finance

Solu tions, based in Lucan Village.

Total raised after costs was approx. €8,000.

May 26th the Ladies teams had their table quiz in

the clubhouse, with over 20 teams competing for the honour of being brain boxes of 2017. A great night was had with some questionable answers been submitted! Again a big thank you to all who attended and to the sponsors.

7th July saw the race night organised by the Men’s section in the clubhouse. With all the horses sold prior to the night,

the attendees still had a chance of owning a winner in the final race by bidding at auction. This is where the fun began,

outrageous bids from telephone bidders helped bring the funds raised to €3,500 for the night. A big thank you to

Eugene O’ Sullivan and the men’s teams for organising.

The Juvenile Fundraising event is the draw which will be held on the Fun Day. Your support is appreciated.

As the club expands and the number of members increase we are constantly trying to balance the books. Without the support of our members and sponsors the club would not exist. If you have any ideas for fundraising or know of any company looking to help out in any way please contact any member of the committee. We would also like to remind everybody, where possible, io support our sponsors or recommend them to your friends.

Online Membership

As mentioned previously, one of the points raised in the survey was the need for online payment in respect of

annual membership fees and other events such as camps.

Work has been carried out to identify a technology provider to provide the necessary infrastructure for online

payments. At the Executive Committee meeting in August the proposal to implement online payments was

approved. Work is now underway with the Club Registrar to implement online registration and payment for

the 2018 membership year.

Members will be encouraged to pay using the online functionality, however payment by cash or cheque will

still be available. It is hoped that online payment will greatly speed up the process of collecting and recording

all membership and fee details. Membership fees are a key source of funding for the club.

This years Summer Camps in July and August were again a great success. Catering for more than 200 children,

great fun was had by all.

Hoarding and Sponsor Opportunities Available: Please contact sponsorwmtgaelsgaa@gmail.com

Upc Nursery

Geraldine Culloty, Nursery Co-ordinator

Training every Saturday morning 10-11.30am for

children aged 5 to 8 years. Geraldine runs a well

organized and safe nursery where the emphasis is

fun, fitness and friendships.

All are welcome.

Declan Jennings, GPO

CONTACT :

085 800 6101

Facilities Club Shop: Generally open Saturday mornings for

all Club Gear 10 to 11.30am. The club makes no

profit on Club Gear, so there is real value when

buying from the Club.

Club Tuck Shop: Open every Saturday morning.

Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Bottled Water and

Snacks Available.

Astro Pitches available to hire: contact details:

Finula at 087-9657620.

Regular Pitches: As a small club we are very lucky

to have 3 full size pitches to use, 2 at

Westmanstown and one in Beechpark.

30th Sept 2017 Family Fun Day including Ticket

Draw and Ladies Fund Raiser

Cycle Criterion

30th Sept. 2017 Juvenile Fundraiser Draw

1st Oct 2017 Garda Intermediate Team in

Dublin Quarter Final

20th Nov 2017 AGM

1st Dec 2017 Gala Night

3rd Dec 2017 Kiddies Christmas Party

Calendar of Events 2017

Pitch Development Plans All fundraising to date will go towards installation

of lights on the second pitch. We have also applied

for a Sports Capital Funding grant to help us com-

plete the project. The project will cost us in the

region of €100,000 with work hopefully beginning

in early autumn. We will look

at developing dressing rooms

and the option of a hurling wall

in the future. Games Promotion Officer

Child Protection Officer Shauna Murphy

Contact: 01 4404 200

The Juvenile section of Garda Westmanstown Gaels Club strives to uphold

the best standards of Child Protection. This includes the Garda Vetting Pro-

cess which must be completed by all mentors and coaches of underage

teams based on agreed guidelines.

This year we will issue a Code of Behavior that all members will be asked to

agree to as part of their membership application. The safeguarding of our

members will always be a key priority.

Please take note of “free flow” car park signage and drive with care.