East Down’s night takes centre stage

East Down’s night takes centre stage

25 November 2015

THE East Down Board held their annual awards dinner in the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle, on Saturday night with 170 people in attendance.

East Down chairman Sean Mac Caisin acted as Fear an Ti for the evening and after the customary welcome and minute’s silence for deceased members, he introduced the special guests — county chairman Sean Rooney, county secretary Sean Og McAteer, county treasurer Brendan Fitzpatrick, central council delegate Seamus Rooney, South Down chairman Donal McNally, Down development officer Maureen O’Higgins, Down Supporters Club chairman Patsy Russell and all previous Hall of Fame recipients from past years.

There was a presentation of cheques totalling £600 to Collie and Ethna Bell, of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

Mr Mac Caisin thanked all the clubs in East Down for their cooperation over the past 12 and also thanked the Burrendale Hotel who prepared and served a lovely meal for all to enjoy.

He also thanked sponsors Tel’s Confectionery, Gerry Hynds, Bargainland, Plus 2 Print and Sentel, for their ongoing support of GAA games and culture in East Down

He also paid tribute to fixtures secretary Ger Connery, Columban Fitzsimons from the finance committee, the Scor committee under the chairmanship of James Magennis for the promotion of Irish culture and all the other board members who helped in any way.

Sean Rooney presented the senior player award to Dan Gordon of Loughinisland GAC and the junior player to Stephen Rooney from Ardglass GAC. Sean Og McAteer presented the reserve player to Brian Malone on behalf of Declan Burns from Liatriom GAC.

Seamus presented the juvenile referee award to St John’s Chris McKay with the senior award going to Bryansford’s Peter Brannigan. The club award of the year went to Roger Morgan from Kilcoo GAC and the Scor achievement award went to Dundrum.

Mr Mac Caisin made a special presentation to Maureen O’Higgins for her services to Down GAA as she is finishing her five-year term as county development officer next month and to Seamus Walsh who finished his five year term as county chairman last December.

The last award of the night and by no means least was the Matt Fitzpatrick Hall of Fame which went to Dr Maurice Hayes, the inspirational former Down county secretary and one of the key back room figures behind the all-conquering Down team of the 1960s.