The Avondhu

Irish Life – Every Step Counts Challenge

The Irish Life Every Step Counts Challenge is back this year and is starting on January 12th until February 23rd. In Killavullen, we aim to enter all three distinct groups within the GAA club, Killavullen GAA, Killavullen juvenile GAA and Killavullen Ladies Football Club. There are vouchers for O’Neills to be won, but we all need to clock up 4,000km for each group to enter this draw.

For people new to this, all you have to do is download the app, My Life by Irish Life ….. then find Every Step Counts and follow Munster and then find Killavullen, and select which of the 3 groups that you wish to be associated with, or whichever of the 3 groups need you most. Please spread the word on this great initiative that will improve our mental health and physical health. Further details of required are available from our healthy club officer – Helen Cagney.

NOTICE OF REVISED AGM

The AGM of Killavullen GAA Club will be held online using Microsoft Teams this year at 9pm on Friday, January 28. All members wishing to attend will need to submit an email address to secretary. killavullen.cork@gaa.ie. The move online is due to the ongoing restrictions. If anyone needs any help getting set up, let us know and we will do our best to get you set up. Nominations are invited and members may also suggest motions / topics for discussion at the meeting. Nominations / suggested motions need to be received by club secretary (Joe Howard) by Sunday, January 16 to secretary.kilavullen.cork@gaa.ie. Please note that voting or speaking on motions at the AGM is restricted to paid-up members only.

SCRAP SATURDAY CLUB FUNDRAISER

Put the date in your diary January 22nd to clear out the shed, the garden, or the attic or yard and get rid of unwanted scrap. Drop off point is the GAA grounds for all your domestic, farmyard and machinery scrap. No item too big or too small. For further information please contact any committee member. Collection of items can also be arranged, prior to the day. The club contacts will be chairman Finian Magner, 086-8135799 or club PRO, John O’Donovan 086-3934232. The general rule is that we accept any item which is predominantly steel or metal. The environment will also be a benefactor of the event, as all of the material will subsequently recycled. Fridges, freezers, timber or plastic will not be accepted. Further information available from club committee members.

NEW YEAR’S FIRST LOTTO SURVIVES

There was no winner of the lotto jackpot on Tuesday, January 4, the first lotto of 2022, when the numbers drawn, were 5, 32 and 34 and the jackpot on the night was at €4,000. The winners of the lucky dips were as follows; €50 John Beechinor, seller E Sales, €30 Michael Barry, seller John Beechinor, €20 Olive Feore, seller Billy Feore. The next jackpot draw on 11th January was for €4,100. Results next week. Purchase your ticket from any committee member or from our website - Killavullengaa.com.

MEMBERSHIP 2022

Membership for all aspects of the club is now due for 2022, and the club would be grateful if members will pay the appropriate fee on the new Central GAA App – Foireann and select Cill An Mhuilinn as your club.

Any person experiencing difficulties on the platform can play their subscription to any committee member, or make arrangement to pay directly, to the club treasurer Sean Turner at 086-6015779 or membership officer John O’Donovan, on 086-3934232. It is also possible to pay via the club website now. Juvenile membership is collected through the Foireann App as well.

THE CONNAUGHT DOME

It was fantastic to see the very impressive Connaught dome host two high profile games last week, initially between Sligo and Leitrim, and then between Galway and Mayo last Friday night.

The dome is situated in the Connaught centre of excellence, at Bekan, in County Mayo, centrally located in the province. That centre of excellence is quite something, with six outdoor pitches, five of which are floodlit, and one is a 3G pitch. The walkway around the facility is 2.2Kms. What has been gathering all of the attention though is the Air Dome.

The construction of the 150 m (L) by 100 m (W) by 26m (H) Air Dome began in October 2019. Nine months later, despite the lockdown, the largest sports air dome in the world was inflated. The pitch is by Prunty / SIS Pitches, and the Air Dome is by Slovenian-based DBS Engineering, and site preparation and detailed engineering was by Tobin Engineering. Housing a full-size indoor GAA playing field, a running track and gym to accommodate 30 people at one time, the Dome enables Connacht GAA to become an all-weather, fully adaptable facility suitable for year-round club, school, county and community sports and events. In addition, the completed Dome, within 72 hours, can be transformed into fully functional, adaptable conference arena unique on the island of Ireland. Notwithstanding Covid issues at the moment, the Air Dome could accommodate 2000 spectators for a game, and up to 10 thousand for a conference or concert.

This high specification facility accommodates a full size 4G synthetic GAA pitch, 130m indoor running track, extensive gym facilities which can accommodate up to 30 people at one time, internal performance testing facilities, 2G synthetic surface concourse areas and seating for over 600 spectators for competitive fixtures. The double-skinned energy-efficient Smart Air Dome features specialist LED lighting, high-tech inflation, air exchange, ventilation and heating adaptations that are controlled by multiple systems which use automated fault detection, as well as monitoring and maintenance technology to control heat, pressure, humidity and lighting.

The challenge for the Air Dome was the physical size, and finding a willing dome specialist company that would undertake the challenge. GAA pitches are well bigger than soccer pitches and have the issue of height as well. What was delivered, with a roof height of 26 metres (twice the height of the goalposts) it will allow a sliotar or ball to soar over the bar.

The Slovenian company, DBS Engineering are to the forefront of dome technology. They are known for their innovative membrane systems and technological solutions, which ensure lower operational costs than competitors’ products on the market. They have supplied well over a thousand of these air domes of different geometries and sizes, and these domes would traditionally have been used for tennis courts and soccer pitches, in the Baltic Area, which can have very harsh winters. They have supplied Air Domes from Finland to Abu Dhabi and are not one bit concerned by the wind and rain of the exposed site between Ballyhaunis and Knock.

The key in dome construction is the membrane, which must be resistant to UV rays, moisture and mould, have a high natural light transmission, be fireproof (complies with EN 13501-1) and be energy efficient. The second major component is the heating and ventilation system which keeps the dome inflated, and can quickly adjust to changing situations, such as air extract when the spectators come into the venue. Add in a sophisticated lighting controls system, and camera, and then, away you go. The cost - €3.1 million according to John Prenty, the Connaught GAA long serving and excellent secretary.

No wind, no rain, no excuses – they could be quite a few of these air domes popping up around Ireland in the future. Now, Santa where is that list of mine again…

REBELS’ BOUNTY DRAW

Tickets are now on sale for the Rebels’ Bounty Draw. The 1st draw is on 24th February and on that night, the draw for January and February will be made. Killavullen GAA have until that date to sell tickets. Tickets are available on the website gaacork.ie/rebels bounty. Tickets cost €100 each, and tickets will be sold directly by clubs or on line at corkgaa.ie/rebelsbounty. It is now possible to buy the tickets, via the club website where a tab has been placed on the extreme top of the page, right hand side. The draw coordinators in Killavullen are John Magner, Carrigacunna; John Magner, Bridgetown; John Beechinor; Brian Mellerick; John O’Donovan; Sean Turner; Finny Magner. Juvenile committee of Liam Vaughan, Gillian Forde and Tommy Cremin. For 2022, Killavullen GAA Club has earmarked the development of a strength and conditioning gym, as the project that will benefit from the profits of the sales.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING GYM UPDATE

Work continues in the gym area to improve the cosmetic aspects of the existing gym area, prior to the fit out. Niall Hanrahan and Liam Dorgan are spearheading the painting of the gym, prior to laying the heavy rubber mats on the floor. The lock mechanism on the door will change from a key to a fob, and Tommy Cremin is engaging with a suitable vendor to do that work. The provider of the gym equipment is on track to deliver and fit out the gym in mid-January.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MICKEY LOONEY

Congratulations to Mickey Looney from this parish, and former underage player with Killavullen GAA Club who rode his first winner in a Point to Point in Dromahane recently. The horse was called O Mio Babbino and was trained by Paddy Cronin from Doneraile. Mickey was a teak tough halfback underage, who loved the physical side of the game, and had a great engine to motor forward and track back. We wish Mikey further success, with the horses, and we will follow his career intently.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BALLYGIBLIN

Congratulations to Ballygiblin who have now reached the giddy heights of Munster junior hurling champions, after their win over the Tipperary champions, and their very near neighbours (8 miles between the two pitches) Skeheenarinky on Sunday last, in Mallow. That the game had to be delayed by 15 minutes by the referee due to crowd congestion tells every one of the huge level of interest in the game. Kildorrery were the last Avondhu team to achieve similar honours in 2012. Again, as they have been doing right through the year, Ballygiblin finished very strongly to win the title on a final score of 2-14 to 1-09.

MOTTO FOR THE WEEK

“Winning is being better today than you were yesterday” - accredited to Dick Frank – Scottish Athletics coach.

Club sponsor - Howard Farm Feeds.

SPORT

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2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

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The Avondhu (Ireland)