1975

Officers for 1975

President- Bro. Donard

Vice President- Fr. Richard Phelan C.C.

Chairperson- Denis Wall

Vice Chairperson- John Cuddy, John Costigan

Secretary- Christy Phelan

Treasurer- Oliver Dunne

Committee - James Bergin, Tom Finlay, Pat Mullaney, Christy Kavanagh, Joe Dunne, Donie Dunphy, Denis Walsh

Delegates to County Board- Denis Wall, John Cuddy, John Costigan, Christy Phelan

Intermediate Captain- Jimmy Hanlon

Vice Captain- Fint Palmer

Selection Committee- Joe Wall, John Cuddy, Jim Hooban, Jas Bergin, Pat Killeen, Kieran Dunphy, Percy Phelan

Secretary's Report 1975

Mr. Chairman,

It is my pleasure to present to you the second Annual Report of your GAA Club. Another successful year when on Sunday September 24th our captain Jimmy Hanlon stepped up to receive the Hetherington Cup from the County Chairman. Our ambition for 1975 was achieved after winning the Junior title in 1974. Some of our critics who remarked "only a flash in the pan" will not be heard of again. Not alone did we win the Intermediate title but we also captured a trophy and set of plaques by winning the Slieve Bloom Tournament.

To all players that played in the championship and tournament games I offer my congratulations and to our selection committee that selected the victorious team we say well done men! We competed in the Senior League for the first time and with a little luck we could have been runners up in our group. We also affiliated a Junior Football team for the first time and were defeated by St Fintans who won the competition. Who knows but 1976 might be our year in this competition.

I will give you a brief run down on matches played during the year;

March 16th- Senior Hurling League: Castletown 5-7 Portlaoise 1-8

March 23rd- Junior B Hurling Championship: Ballinakill 6-3 Castletown 3-1

March 30th- Senior Hurling League: Castletown 3-9 Ratheniska 1-7

April 20th- Ossory Hurling Tournament: Mooncoin 4-6 Castletown 1-9

May 11th- Senior Hurling League: Camross 6-17 Castletown 1-1

May 15th- Junior B Football Championship: St Fintan's Hospital 4-5 Castletown 1-6

May 18th- Under 21 Hurling Championship: Castletown 3-8 Clonaslee 3-6

June 1st- Kilcotton Tournament: Cannonswood 2-6 Castletown 0-8

June 8th- Senior Hurling League: Clonaslee 5-8 Castletown 4-7

June 11th- Hurling Challenge: Newpark (Kilkenny) 0-14 Castletown 0-10

June 14th- Under 21 Hurling Championship: Abbeyleix 5-8 Castletown 1-5

June 18th- Hurling Challenge: Castletown 4-4 Newpark 0-3

June 25th- Senior Hurling League: Ballyfin 4-10 Castletown 2-10

July 20th- Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi Final: Castletown 2-11 Ratheniska 4-5

July 28th- Slieve Bloom Tournament: Castletown 9-4 Errill 1-0

August 2nd- Slieve Bloom Tournament: Castletown 5-4 Abbeyleix 1-2

August 10th- Slieve Bloom Tournament (Final): Castletown 6-10 Mountmellick 2-9

August 23rd- Hurling Challenge V Toomevara 

September 14th- Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Castletown 1-10 Durrow 0-11

October 26th- Hurling Challenge V Erin's Isle at Finglas

(Total number of games during year was 20)

As we were unable to field a minor team, the players that were available played with Mountrath. 

Our juveniles had a good year although no trophies cane their way. They reached the U14 final and were beaten by Rathdowney and also lost to Rathdowney in an U13 football competition. The U17 hurling team are in the County Final. 

I would like, at this stage of my report, to pay tribute to our President Bro. Donard who as transferred from us last September, for all his work for juveniles during his stay in Castletown Parish. Himself and Denis Wall can take a big share of the credit for the re-organisation of the Castletown Club. 

We are fortunate that his replacement Bro. Mark, whom we wish a belated cead mile failte, is carrying on his good work. I appeal to you all to give every help to Bro. Mark to ensure that his work will be rewarded. 

Our juvenile teams are parish teams and would I be asking too much of older brothers of some of these players to come back from foreign clubs and play with their parish team?

I would like to congratulate Con Wall, Jimmy Hanlon and Tom Breen on being selected for Laois County teams.

I regret to report that the proposed dressing rooms in the Sports Field which are a necessity were not built. Perhaps some proposals on suitable type of building may come from this meeting. 

Our thanks to members who kept the Sports Field in such fine trim during the year. Also to the De la Salle Brothers and ICA for use of halls and to our ladies committee for catering for teams when requested. To our members that collected cash at matches and social functions we also offer our thanks. 

To our members that suffered bereavements since our last AGM we tender our sympathy. 

I will conclude by again congratulating our players on their victories and what you can do in 1974-75 can be repeated in 1976. 

I will conclude this report on a personal note. Firstly I want to thank those of you who were responsible for presenting me with a plaque at the Presentation Dinner last February. Secondly I want to thank my fellow officers, committee and all the players for your co-operation. Thirdly I have informed the committee that I was not seeking re-election for 1976. 

Again thanking you and wishing you all a happy prosperous 1976 both on the playing fields and in your work. 

    Christy Phelan

    Secretary

Other Events during 1975

A committee comprising of Frank Doheny, Joe Dunne, William Ryan and Jimmy Hanlon were appointed to assist Bro. Donard with juvenile teams. 

The club held it's first Dinner Dance at the Leix County Hotel on Friday February 24th. Almost 800 people attended! The Junior A Hurling medals were presented by Mr. Seán Ramsbottom, Chairman of Laois County Board. Other speakers were Denis Phelan Chairman of Laois Hurling Board, Bro. Donard, Bro. Coleman, Thomas Cushen, President of Laois GAA, Fr. Phelan C.C. Canon O' Rourke was absent due to illness.

Presentations were made to Denis Wall, Christy Phelan, Bro. Donard and Bro. Cornelius (Trainer). 

Plans for a club house/dressing room were submitted by Mr. Tom Coughlan to a committee meeting on April 7th.

A draw was held on April 20th that raised a profit of £54. 25. The prize winners were as follows;

£20- Bro. Leamden Castletown

£10- Bridie Dunne, Ballyfin

£5- Kathleen O' Connor, Aughafan

£5- Seán Byrne, Knockanina

£1- Meena Quinn, Castletown

£1- James Bernie, Crannagh

£1- Paddy Phelan, c/o Kirwan's Bar

£1- Mrs. Bergin, St. Patrick's Terrace

£1- Ann Doheny, Borris in Ossory

During the year a presentation was made to Bro. Donard in recognition of his work. He was being transferred to Ballyfermot in Dublin. 

On the eve of the Intermediate Final the players, some committee and Bro. Mark (Trainer) met in the Monastery Hall. A lively discussion ensued on tactics etc for the following day and all went home happy!

A Winter training programme was begun by Bro. Mark in the ICA Hall on Thursday November 13th. 

Castletown GAA approached Canon O' Rourke P.P. about holding a joint fundraiser between the Parish and the GAA Club in the form of a 300 Club draw but the idea did not find favour with the Parish Committee. Instead the Club decided to proceed with their own draw with £100 in prizes. Tickets were 10p or 12 for £1. This draw was held on December 21st, presided over by Bro. Mark and Garda Thomas Browne. 

The following were the winners;

£50- Richard Justin, Abbeyleix Rd, Portlaoise

£25- Denis O' Gorman, Castletown Post Office

£10- D. Drennan, Bride Street, Ballinakill

£5- Denis Delaney, Coole, Kilbricken

Whiskey- Mary Ferns, Kilkenny

Vodka-  Mrs. Mortimer, Forest, Mountrath

Sherry- Ed Williams, Erins Isle, Dublin

Port- Owen Brady, Portmarnock, Dublin

Sweets- Andy Keyes, Clonard, Kilbricken

Biscuits- Liam Drennan, Green Roads

£1- Andy Byrne, Knockanina

£1- William Delaney, Coole, Kilbricken

£1- W. Devine, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

£1- Ger Scully, Portlaoise

£1- Jim Hooban, St. Patrick's Terrace

A Juvenile League was organised by Bro. Mark. Trophies were awarded to the winners. This took place in October/November. 

The draw above raised a profit of £200 and a buffet dance held in the Leix County Hotel on December 28th raised £168. 

For Match Reports from 1975 please click here.

1974                                                                                                                         1976

INDEX