The AIB Club of the Year awards for 2003 have been announced. Winners will receive €2,000, and will also go forward to represent their county at provincial and All-Ireland level, with those winners being announced at an awards ceremony in Croke Park on February 2nd.
In addition to the prize fund, every club which entered the competition was entered into a draw. In the small club category, the winners of the draw were Cumann Peile na bPiarsaigh, from Galway, while the winner of the large club category was Tipperary's Holy Cross Ballycahill GAA Club. Both received vouchers towards club gear worth €3,000.
Meanwhile, the Mayo GAA Supporter's Club have announced that they will be organising flights and accommodation for anyone wishing to travel to New York on the May bank holiday weekend for the Connacht championship match with New York. Mayo County Board vice-chairman James Waldron will head the organising committee.
There will be flights available from Shannon and Dublin on April 28th, 29th and 30th, and return flights one week later. Those wishing to travel should contact one of the following for more information: James Waldron, Neale - 094 9546248 and 087 2855744; Paddy Naughton, Tullysleva, Ballina - 096 21696; Sheila O'Toole, Tourmakeady - 094 9544005 and 094 9544229; Aidan Brennan, Claremorris - 094 9371315 and Peter Carney, Carraholly, Westport - 098 28903.
The European GAA a.g.m. will be held this Saturday in the Ibis Hotel, Luxembourg.
And, before that, tomorrow evening, the Irish Club in the Netherlands is staging a 2003 quiz night in The Haag rugby club.
Further details are available at irishclubnl@yahoo.co.uk.
CLUB OF THE YEAR COUNTY WINNERS
CONNACHT - Galway: Portumna. Leitrim: St Mary's. Mayo: Crossmolina Deel Rovers. Roscommon: Ail Finn. Sligo: Eastern Harps.
LEINSTER - Carlow: Tinryland. Dublin: St Jude's. Kildare: Confey. Kilkenny: Piltown. Laois: An Fraoch. Longford: Clonguish. Louth: Mattock Rangers. Meath: Simonstown Gaels. Offaly: Shamrocks. Westmeath: Tyrrellspass. Wexford: St Martin's. Wicklow: Rathnew.
MUNSTER - Clare: Wolfe Tones na Sionna. Cork: Baile Nua Seandroma. Kerry: An Ghaeltacht. Limerick: Cumann Tobar Phadraig. Tipperary: Fanaithe na Maoilig. Waterford Ballygunner.
ULSTER - Antrim: St Mary's Ahoghill. Armagh: Crossmaglen Rangers. Cavan: Butlersbridge Emmets. Derry: Watty Grahams. Donegal: Malin. Down: Caislean a Mhuilinn. Fermanagh: Lisnaskea Emmetts. Monaghan: Latton O'Rahilly's. Tyrone: An Srath Ban.