Vice Chair hosts reception for Erne Gaels GFC
15th April 2022
The Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Chris McCaffrey, recently hosted a reception in honour of Erne Gaels Gaelic Football Club to mark their success in the Fermanagh Intermediate Club Football Championship. Below is the text of the address delivered by Councillor McCaffrey at the event.
“Distinguished guests, Fellow Councillors, ladies and gentlemen
As Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all to the Townhall this evening to this reception in honour of the players, management and Committee of Erne Gaels GFC to celebrate their Fermanagh County Intermediate Championship win in 2021.
The 2020 season ended with disappointment for the Club as you were relegated from senior football in Fermanagh. It is often said that a week is a long time in politics, just as a season can be a long time in sport. Bringing to an end a distinguished playing career at the club, Seamus Ryder took over as manager and set about rejuvenating the club bringing in a fresh voice and new ideas to training. The return of some key players also helped reinvigorate the squad.
While league football is the constant in a season, every club wants to win a championship and Erne Gaels are no different. The 2021 Intermediate championship season kicked off with a straightforward victory quarter final victory over Maguiresbridge St Mary’s GFC in Ederney. A return to the same venue saw a tightly contested 2 point win over Erne North rivals, Irvinestown St Molaise in the semi final setting up a final clash with the next door neighbours, Garrison.
A brisk start to the final in Brewster Park saw you go five points up before Devenish fought back with a three goal burst. However your determination to land the intermediate championship title shone through and you got over the line with 2 points to spare to bring the Kevin McCaffrey Intermediate Championship trophy back to Pairc na hEirne for the first time since 2008.
The GAA is about family, community and parish pride and there is no doubt that those ideals are central to all that goes on at Pairc na hEirne. As a Club, Erne Gaels has certainly demonstrated these aims in the 2021 season and the results bear that out.
You have done the parish of Belleek proud and I would like, on behalf of the Council, to congratulate you, as a club, on your success and wish you well for the current season and into the future.”