Our Development Manager Ciaran Murtagh attended his last Ulster Council meeting on Tuesday last before he heads of to pastures new. The Ballyholland clubman has been appointed Head of Volunteer Development at the LGFA in Croke Park and will take up his new post next month.

Heading to his new job, Ciaran will bring a wealth of experience. He began his career with Ulster Council in October 2007 and worked as a DENI KS1 Schools coach until August 2015. In September 2015 he was appointed Ulster Ladies Development Officer and more recently was appointed Ulster Development Manager. Throughout his time with ULGFA Ciaran has been the most diligent, conscientious and hard-working member of staff.

Our loss is LGFA’s gain and we all wish him the very best of luck in his new post. Ciaran is pictured receiving a token of appreciation from Ulster Ladies President Eileen Jones-Hardy.

ULGFA have presented the GATHER4MCGAHON initiative with a cheque for their campaign. Nicola, Sheen and Eilish called into the Ulster Council meeting on Tuesday night to receive a donation from Eileen Jones on behalf of  the ladies gaels in the province.

GATHER4MCGAHON are hosting a wheelchair football tournament in Gallbally on 18th April and everyone is welcome to attend for a day of football, music and craic. Catriona will be in attendance and is eager to play in one of the games.

Saturday 14th March Under 14 Festival of Football

Donegal Host (Convoy)

Donegal v Antrim (11.30am)

Armagh v Antrim (12.30pm)

Donegal v Armagh (1.30pm)

Monaghan Host (Scotstown, Kilmore Training Ground)

Monaghan v Derry (11.30am)

Fermanagh v Derry (12.30pm)

Monaghan v Fermanagh (1.30pm)

Cavan Host (Breffni 3G)

Cavan v Tyrone (1.30pm)

Down v Tyrone (2.30pm)

Cavan v Down (3.30pm)

Sunday 15th March Under 16 Championship (2.00pm)

Monaghan v Tyrone (Cloghan)

Antrim v Down (Coláiste Feirste)

Fermanagh v Armagh (Roslea)

Derry v Cavan (Owenbeg grass)

Over one hundred gaels gathered in Canavan’s on Friday night for the Annual Ulster Ladies Awards night and what a night it turned out to be. MC Grainne McElwaine kept the show on the road in what turned out to be an action-packed evening. On arrival guests were treated to a drinks reception and some wonderful music performed by three young ladies from the Fintona CCE group.

Gerry Doherty welcomed the guests and before dinner 18 different cups were paraded into the hall in a most colourful walk of champions.  These cups included both Ulster and All Ireland winning silverware.

The first awards of the evening recognised our club championship and golden boot winners. Vice President Hugh Devenney presented awards to Carryduff, Cavan Gaels, Knockbride, Moneyglass, Katie O Meara, Abi Connors, Aoife Horisk and Clara Lynch. Grainne Mc Elwaine then conducted a number of live interviews on stage with the club representatives.

After dinner former Tyrone legend Eilish Gormley was given the opportunity to tell the audience about the GatherforMcGahan charity. This charity was set up to raise funds for Cathriona Mc Gahan who has been left paralysed after an accident in France. Eilish chatted with Grainne about the amazing character Cathriona is, her football career and her love of farming. The charity has organised a wheelchair tournament to raise money for Cathriona’s future but also to raise awareness of what it is like to be in a wheelchair. Guests were very generous on the night and a fantastic amount of money was raised through an envelope collection.

The second set of presentations then honoured the intercounty champions at Ulster and All Ireland. These were made by the current President Eileen Jones Hardy and afterwards Grainne chatted with players from Cavan, Tyrone, Armagh and Antrim.

No awards evening would be complete without a game of Heads and Tails. Congratulations to the winner, Neal Hardy who won a stay in the Clanree Hotel. Thanks to Michael Naughton for his kind sponsorship of the prize. Two other prizes sponsored by Canavan’s and Medicare were won by Fiona Mc Nally and Ciara Mc Gillon.

The final part of the evening was the presentation of the annual volunteer awards which were presented by Gerry Doherty. The winners on the night were:

Young Player of the Year – Gia McCabe (Knockbride)

Young ambassador of the Year – Cassie Henderson  (Clann Eireann)

National Volunteer of the Year – Elaine Kelly (Moneyglass)

Social Media Award – Mullahoran

Coach of the Year – Ronan Barry (Tullylish)

President Award – Donal Clarke (Cavan)

Club of the Year – Moneyglass

County Volunteer of the Year – Marie Brady (Monaghan)

Volunteer of the Year – Marie Baxter (Ballymahugh)

Ulster President Eileen Jones-Hardy then concluded the evening by thanking everyone, wishing all a safe journey home and reminding all that Ulster Ladies will continue to be Bigger, Busier and Better.