Donal Kerins - A Tribute

As read by chairman Martin Silke at the funeral service on Easter Saturday.

"On behalf of Strokestown GAA Club I would like to pay tribute to the life of Donal Kerins and to express our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Teresa, daughters Helen, Rosita, Ann & Shiela, brother Mattie, sisters Ann & Shiela, sons-in-law, grandchildren, relatives & friends.

Coming from a GAA background in Grange Co. Sligo, it was through the GAA that he gave expression to his community spirit. Donal's uncle Monsignor John Hynes who ministered in Grange in the early 1900's was a stalwart in the early days of the local club and no doubt was an influence on Donal. Donal won a county minor medal with Grange in the 1940's and was a referee before he moved to London and then Strokestown.

Donal Kerins came to Strokestown in 1965. Immediately he immersed himself in the locality and became very much part of the community. Grange's loss was very much Strokestown's gain. He quickly became part of the local club, his membership fee was always the first to be paid up and whenever & no matter where Strokestown was playing Donal was there.

But Donal travelled further, all around Ireland supporting Roscommon and his beloved Sligo and if they weren't playing just to enjoy a game of gaelic football. He led a devoted band of supporters including among others his good friend Tommy Flanagan, Tommy Gilleran, Johnny Murphy, John Martin Connor, Dick Togher, Gerry O'Connor, David McHugh and Davy Arthur. I was honoured to be a fellow traveller at times.

A Munster Final during the '79 oil crisis with a 5 gallon can of petrol on the roof of the car & a long trip to Ballybofey which included a tour of Grange are two of the hundreds of great stories which emerged from these journeys.

It is said that sometimes it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive and certainly Donal travelled hopefully. Supporting Roscommon & Sligo brought its fair share of dissapointment & defeat yet Donal travelled on, for he was not a fair day follower. Donal was in it for the long haul because his heart was in it.

Donal stood by and up for his club, his adopted county and his native county through thick and thin. Every game was a new beginning carrying with it renewed hope that this game would bring triumph, that the underdog would defeat the favourite and justice would be done. And sometimes his hopes were realised. He was there to cheer Strokestown's championship wins in '92 and 2002. He celebrated Roscommons victories and of course '75 & 2007 were special when Sligo won the connacht championship. On the occasion of Sligo victories people came to congratulate Donal for no-one begrudged him and the county he loved so well their day in the sun.

Last year his home club competed in the under 14 Féile competition and stayed in Strokestown for the weekend. Donal was delighted with the visit andmade sure they all were treated well and of course the state of Sligo football was debated with Mattie Hoey & Cormac Feeney long into the night when all the young players were safe in bed.

A great conversationalist he liked nothing more than yarns being spun at the bar with himself acting as chairman. And in debate he gave as good as he got. On one occasion at a Strokestown GAA AGM the issue of a players holiday was raised. Donal enquired what this was about and as an explanation wa being offered Donal interjected to say ' I know where they should go - to Culliagh Bog'.

Donal Kerins lived by his principles. He was a good, kind, faithful & loyal man who loved his family and his community. As a greta gael, friend, supporter and in latter years President of our club he was our ambassador wherever he went and wherever that was he carried himself with dignity and pride which reflected great credit on Strokestown.

Alexander Pope wrote that 'an honest man is the noblest work of God'. Such was Donal Kerins.

May his great heart and noble soul rest in peace.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis."

Minor Board Player of the Year 2007

The Senior club would like to congratulate Seamus Collins on being awarded the minor board player of the year for 2007.
Seamus scooped the 'Brendan Shiel' award for his fantastic attitude and application to training and for constantly encouraging the younger players on the minor team. Seamus' improvement throughout his minor years, from U12 to U18, was also a factor in the decision. Seamus' dedication to improving as a footballer culminated in an outstanding performance in his last game eligible to play minor football, the 2007 Minor Championship Final against Western Gaels where the 'Town' emerged triumphant.
Seamus has now progressed onto the Senior panel where he made his first competitive start in the first league game of the year against Castlerea.
So once again congratulations Seamus and best of luck with the rest of your footballing career with the 'Black and Amber'.

Club Captain 2008

John Rogers has been announced as the Club captain for the year. Morgan 'Shaggy' Beirne has been named vice-captain. Congratulations to ye both and we wish ye well.

Senior & Junior Championship Draws 2008

The draws for the senior & junior championship's took place last wednesday night the 20th february.

In the senior championship 'the town' were drawn in group D along with reigning champions St. Brigid's and Castlerea St. Kevin's.
Rightfully titled the group of 'Death' with each of the teams having lifted the Fahy Cup in the last 6 years with Brigids having done the 3 in a row last year, there will be no room for complacency from 'the town'.

In the the junior championship 'the town' have been drawn alongside Ballinameen, Kilbride & Kilmore in group C.
This year herald's the start of a new format for the junior championship with it being an all county championship instead of the old A & B championships. This is a very competitive group for 'the town' with the stand out fixtures being the clashes with near neighbours Kilbride & Kilmore.

We wish both teams the best of luck in their quest for county titles this year.

'2000' Club Draw

The Club held the '2000' club draw on sunday 27th January in the Percy. The top prize of €2000 was won by Gerard Evans from Clondra. Our own John Rogers scooped the second prize of €500. The €100 winners were John Quinn, Patricia Donlon, Anthony Flaherty (Pops), P.J. Dockery & Kathy Moins. Congratulations to all winners & a big thank you to everyone who supported the draw. Proceeds are being used to purchase a defribrillator for the club.

300 Club Development Draw 14/01/08

A large crowd attended the Development 300 Club Draw on Friday Night last in the Percy French Hotel. The draw was performed by Mr James Glover who had proudly represented Ireland at the Special Olympics in China last September and was supervised by Garda Donal Power. The following were the list of winners in this years draw;

1st Prize - € 10,000 - Martin “Shiner” Mc Dermott, Doon, Strokestown
2nd Prize - € 4,000 – Clodagh Hanly, Curry, Strokestown
3rd Prize - € 2,000 – Keith Swanick, Belmullet, Co. Mayo
4th Prize - € 1000 – Joe Cox, co/ Percy French Hotel
5th Prize - € 500 – Frank Dennehy, Kileen, Elphin
6th Prize - € 500 – John O Beirne, Lisroyne Oaks, Strokestown

7th, 8th, 9th, & 10th Prizes - € 250 each –
Joanne Beirne, Cloonakilla, Strokestown.
Vincent Caulfield, Kildallogue Hts, Strokestown.
Enda Molloy, Newtown, Strokestown.
Mattie Collum, Cloonrabracken, Strokestown.

11th – 20th Prizes - € 100 each
Anthony Gibbons, Clooncagh - Eugene Donlon, Doon – Declan Hoare, Roscommon – Joe & Kitty Dolan, Strokestown – Adrian Donlon, Doon – Mary Cauldwell, Curry – Fr Leonard Taylor, Boyle – Charlie O Neill, Dublin – Liam & Mary Collins, Lisonuffy – Michael Gibbons, Cloonslanor.

CONGRATULATIONS to all our winners and a massive thank you to all our members for their support.

We would like to thank all those who attended on the night. Special thanks to James and Donal for their help, to the Percy French Hotel and to Frank Nelson and his band who kept the crowd entertained all night.

Membership tickets are now available for the 2008 300 Club draw due to take place in December 2008. This is KEY fundraiser for our new grounds development. With your support we will be able to continue with the project and make the clubs dreams of new top class facilities a reality. If you would like to join the 300 club development draw please contact any member of the development committee or any club member for details. If any supporters of the club who are living overseas would like to join the 300 club you can contact us through the guestbook on this site, we would love to hear from you.

New Grounds Development 14/01/08

Plans for our new club house have been submitted to Roscommon Co Council and we are awaiting their decision. Over the Christmas holiday period work commenced on widening the access road to the new grounds. Thanks to Lomac Fencing and John Joe Dolan for giving up their time over the holiday period. Special thanks to Scoil Mhuire for their co-operation with this phase of the project.