* A big congratulations to the St Columbans Gaelic Football team and manager Steven Poacher on an incredible win in the Ulster Q/F. The team showed character, belief, passion, skill, heart and an amazing work ethic for 60 minutes with one of the best defensive displays in a long, long time, some fantastic tackles and great pressure in their own backline. Well done to all involved, with a special mention to the An Riocht contingent: Steven Doran, Stephen Mc Dowell, Nathan Mc Comiskey, John Paul Farrell, Darragh Campbell, Mark Higgins, Ronan White & Deaglan Morgan, best of luck in the semi - final lads.
* An Riocht Senior Football Training resumed Monday past in the Sports hall, and continue at 8.30pm indoors on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the next few weeks. All players are asked to bring £1 and their own water bottle, everyone welcome.
* The GAA Social Initiative group met on Saturday morning to plan their activities for 2012 with a big breakfast & a visit from the Southern Trust 'Man Alive' project giving information on health and lifestyle, cancer prevention, blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol. Thanks to all who attended and to all who helped out in anyway (photo attached).
* The Football Committee meeting to select juvenile coaches for 2012 was held last Tuesday at the club. There was a great turn out and the following appointments were ratified: U6 & U8 Seamus Curran, U10 Leo Sloan, U12 Patrick Carvill, U14 Peter Morgan, U16 Edmond Kali and U18 Declan Campbell. There will be others added to those management teams when the committee meets again on Tuesday 14th February.
* The Camogie committee had their first meeting of the year last week at Dunavil. U8 & U10 practice is at 6.30pm on Wednesdays followed at 7.30pm by U14 practice; U12 camogie is on Saturdays at 1.30pm and the Seniors begin training on Sunday morning at 10am and continue on Tuesdays at 7pm. .
* U6 & U8 Football is on Saturday at 10am and 11am respectively and will continue this week with Jack Rafferty, Sarah Rodgers, Ronan White and Kory Colgan on the rota.
* U10 & U12 Football resumed on Thursday and will continue every Thursday from 7.30pm-8.30pm
* U14 Football is on Mondays at 7.30pm.
*Every Tuesday An Riocht presents 'Ceol, Caint Agus Craic' for musicians, singers and artists of all ages and levels of ability.
* The Pitch will take to the stage this Wednesday 25th January at An Riocht Anyone who has ever had the pride of playing for the jersey should make a point of seeing academy award winning Shane Connaughton's play
*An Riocht's second Annual Fight Night will take place on Saturday 18th February. Details of bouts will be released next week.
* Pitch Maintenance seminar in Drumnaquoile on Tuesday 24 January, see Pat Rodgers to book your spot.
* Indoor Hurling continued on Sunday with week three of the Down competition
*An Riocht’s Annual Awards & Special Awards night entertainment is in your hands, who would you like to see perform this year, the Kilkenny’s will be a hard act to follow, but if you have a suggestion, please post in on our Official Facebook, just search AnRiochtGaa. Suggestions have to be in by 7th February.
* An Riocht administrators are reminded of the training for Chairman, Secretarys, Treasurers and PROs on Tuesday 31st January in Castlewellan.
* An Riocht Development sub-committee meets at 7pm on Thursday 2nd February.
Ulster GAA has advised that Club Development committees should (a) get more people involved in the club (b) review how the club is run (c) participate in Club Maith (d) encourage full integration within clubs (e) promote a healthy lifestyle (f) pursue all available funding and grant-aid. In addition An Riocht has to meet monitoring requirements from SportNI in respect of the new pitch development at Dunavil.
Anyone who feels they may have something to offer in respect of any of the above is encouraged to attend without obligation.