THE DOWNS GAA NOTES Dec 10th 2024
Annual Christmas Draw
The second of our Christmas draws takes place on December 23rd – get your tickets on the link below!!
We have developed fantastic facilities here at Na Dúnta and we need your help to maintain our club and continue to grow. We have fantastic prizes on offer this year so don’t miss out. Check out the details below and get your ticket in the bag. Huge thanks to all of our generous sponsors in particular QTP and Mills CNC for sponsoring our top prizes.
LGFA Sponsorship
As the 2024 season comes to a close, The Downs Ladies wish to thank our generous sponsors without whom we could not run our club. We ask our members to consider those local businesses who sponsor our club when shopping and doing business.
Our main sponsor is BUCKLEY’S SUPERVALU MULLINGAR.
Our Senior Team Sponsors
Caper Trading Limited,OMEXON, HOME INSTEAD
O Keeffe Veterinary Surgeons Kinnegad
Martin Murtagh
Trevor Fitzpatrick
Mary Goldsbury
J. Hogan
Matt Shaw, Kelly Caulfield Shaw Solicitors
Michael Nolan & Patricia Gardiner
Westmeath County Council
North Westmeath Credit Union
Community Fun Day
Stephen Lynn Accounts Mullingar
Kilmurray’s Hardware
5/10 K Sponsors – KCS Sports, Kinnegad Plaza, CK Recovery, Hamills Circle K, Supermacs Kinnegad, Supervalu Portlaoise ,Muriel & Paddy Flynn
U12 Eoin Kennedy, Buckleys Supervalu, Easter Eggs & Jerseys. JP O’Brien, Rock & Bowl who sponsored our end of season bowling. Mark Monaghan, Fagan Office Supplies, Back to School packs.
G4M&O -Thanks all our sponsors for the blitz Steps Ahead Preschool, Marketing Space, Bloomfield House Hote , Kiernan Flooring ,Murtagh Paving ,Hamills , Curraghmore Kitchen, Kids Cove ,Flynns ,Murtagh Haulage ,Mary G Hair Saloon, Divine Fitness ,Borris Murray Plastering ,ABC Bouncing Castles , Cathy Sheerin , Smyths Hardware Mullingar, Smyths Killucan , TEG ,Kincaid Plumbing, Cathy's Kitchen, Buckley SuperValu, The Downs Farm, McCreals Pharmacy & Valu Centre all donated food and beverages for the blitz.
Sympathy
Sympathy
We offer our condolences to minor player Darragh Kenny and family on the passing of his grandfather Tossie Murray late of Ballinvalley, Delvin, Co. Westmeath.
Sincere sympathy is extended to Denise Doherty and extended family on the sad passing of her mother Patricia (Pat) Gowran, late of Knockaville, Mullingar.
We extend our sincere sympathy to the Stones family Kilbeggan on the sad passing of Kathleen Stones.
Finally, we extend sincere our sympathy to the family relatives and friends of Bernadette Whelehan late of Quinera and The Downs.
An Appreciation
I first met Bernadette Whelehan and her husband Christy in the summer of 1968 when we first arrived in The Downs. Bernadette and Christy arrived at our house to welcome us to the locality, this was to be the start of a friendship between our families which continues to this very day. Through the years many people would have known Christy her late husband, through his involvement in the GAA, at Club, County and national level. However if one was looking for an example of the old saying ‘behind every great man there is great woman’ Bernadette was a shining example of that! She entertained countless scores of people who knocked on her door seeking counsel on all matters GAA. People were welcomed in and tea was made and her home baking was presented with minimal fuss and always with good humour and on the odd occasion gave some wise counsel of her own.It’s amazes me how this great woman tolerated such intrusions to her home and family life over the years. Over her lifetime Bernadette was a member of the Legion of Mary and other groups and was very dedicated to her faith. Both she and Christy were dedicated to giving religious instruction to members of the Travelling Community back in the day when there was little opportunity to provide such instruction in a formal setting. Bernadette was a woman of great faith, a faith which was severely tested over the years with the loss of here three children Teresa, Enda, Eithne and her husband Christy. She came through those dark days with the support of her family, community, friends and her faith. Bernadette was a woman of great determination and strength and this was clearly demonstrated when she and Christy took part in a number of Mara Cycle events (Dublin to Belfast) on their trusted Raleigh bikes. They also completed cycle trips to Knock. Bernadette was a dedicated and loving family woman and liked nothing better than to be surrounded by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and really enjoyed their visits to Newdown and they truly adored her and no doubt she spoiled them on occasions!!
Bernadette was staunch supporter of The Downs GAA and was very much involved in our weekly Lotto and looked forward to the weekly draw and chinwag with her neighbours and friends. Sadly, all that came to an end with the advent is Covid! However, Bernadette continued to be involved, remotely and looked forward to the weekly visits when people called to collect her lotto books. In recent years Bernadette’s health deteriorated and she was confined to nursing home care.
Bernadette will be sadly missed by her family neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
May her gentle soul rest in peace
Mass for the Deceased
A mass for the deceased members of the club and community will take place on December 11th in the clubhouse at 8.30 p.m.
Ribbons of Remembrance
The annual Ribbons of Remembrance will take place on December 15th at The Downs GAA grounds from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Please come along and place a ribbon on the tree in memory of loved ones lost.
Club Shop
The club shop will be open on December 13th and December 20th for all your Christmas purchases. For urgent orders please contact Carmel on 0879496347.
Bingo
Bingo continues every Friday night at 8.30 p.m. All new members welcome.
Club Lotto
We will continue to live stream our Lotto draw via our Facebook page for the foreseeable future. Tune in at 9-30 on each Monday night to catch the draw.
1.Add a discounted bundle to your Downs GAA club membership by clicking here.
2.Play online at our website www.thedownsgaa.com
3. Play online at Clubzapp http://bit.ly/3ItlksQ
4. Contact your regular draw collector for your area or any Committee member who will enter
your numbers on to our Perma Book which is retained at the club.
5. Send a cheque for €100 to club secretary Tommy Kelly, Coralstown, Mullingar (one year’s
subscription).
6. Or scan here:
Thanks to our supporters for their loyal commitment to our Fundraising Draw and to those new players who have signed up online and in hard copy.
1.Add a discounted bundle to your Downs GAA club membership by clicking here.
2.Play online at our website www.thedownsgaa.com
3. Play online at Clubzapp http://bit.ly/3ItlksQ
4. Contact your regular draw collector for your area or any Committee member who will enter
your numbers on to our Perma Book which is retained at the club.
5. Send a cheque for €100 to club secretary Tommy Kelly, Coralstown, Mullingar (one year’s
subscription).
6. Or scan here:
Thanks to our supporters for their loyal commitment to our Fundraising Draw and to those new players who have signed up online and in hard copy.
Keep up to date with club activities
There are lots of ways to keep up to date with our activities. Our award-winning website can be viewed at www.thedownsgaa.com where you can sign up to receive our weekly newsletter by email. Also check us out on Twitter, Facebook YouTube and Instagram.
There are lots of ways to keep up to date with our activities. Our award-winning website can be viewed at www.thedownsgaa.com where you can sign up to receive our weekly newsletter by email. Also check us out on Twitter, Facebook YouTube and Instagram.