Twenty of Mickey Harte’s Tyrone football panel and eight of his backroom team have signed up for the GAA’s new health challenge ‘Off the Booze and On the Ball’.The health initiative with a twist challenges members of the Association to abstain from alcohol for the month of January to give their New Year a healthy kick-start. Those who take up the ‘Pint Sized Challenge’ can seek sponsorship on behalf of their GAA club or team and are also encouraged to engage in some activities during the month that helps them reach their recommended weekly activity levels.

‘Off the Booze and On the Ball’ is being driven by the GAA’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Programme – a joint initiative with the HSE that aims to reduce the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol and other substances. The initiative had its local launch at the Tyrone County Convention on Sunday where club delegates were encouraged to promote the initiative amongst all their members – from players and supporters to mentors and administrators – by the National Coordinator of the ASAP programme Colin Regan and the Tyrone County ASAP Officer Cuthbert Donnelly.

Tyrone County Chairman Ciarán Mac Lochlainn also gave the board’s full backing to the initiative and encouraged clubs to take advantage of the fundraising and health promotion elements of the ‘Pint Sized Challenge’.

Individuals and full club panels can sign up for the ‘Pint Sized Challenge’ at www.gaa.ie/asap where they will receive a sponsorship card and an information pack containing details on health, exercise and diet. All participating clubs will be in with a chance of winning a training session with one of Ireland’s leading high performance coaches or one of the country’s leading sports nutritionists in 2012.

Clubs are also encouraged to run a health-related event on the last weekend of January to celebrate and promote the club in their local community.

“If a panel of 30 players takes on the challenge and raises £100 each that’s £3,000 for the team at the end of January, not to mention the health benefits they will have accrued,” Colin Regan said at the launch. “The information pack you receive is a great source of material regardless of your current activity level and will help us get the ASAP message out to our members,” he concluded.

Off the Booze & On the Ball, which is endorsed and supported by the GPA, fully supports the Ulster Council’s ‘Live to Play’ programme and participants are encouraged to make themselves available as a designated driver for friends or family during their month of abstinence.

Ciaran McLaughlin (Cathaoirleach), Roisin Jordan (Leas Cathaoirleach), Dominic McCaughey (Rúnaí), Donal Magee (Rúnaí Cúnta), Damian Quinn (Cisteoir), Michael Harvey (Cisteoir Cúnta), Liam Nelis (Ball Árd Chomhairle), Gerard Bradley and Pat Darcy (Baill Chomhairle Uladh), Damian Harvey (Oifigeach Caidreamh Poibli), Brendan Harpur (Oifigeach Oiliúna), Cliodhna Kerr (Oifigeach Cultúr & Teanga), Cathal Daly (Oifigeach  Forbartha), Brendan Harkin (Oifigeach Iomána), Kathryn Anderson (Leanaí Oifigeach)

Images courtesy of Michael Cullen (Website)

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Cathaoirleach: Ciaran McLaughlin (An Srath Ban) (outgoing).

Cisteoir: Eileen Connolly, Cathal Daly (Eaglais), Gerard Donaghy (Cill Íseal), Michael Harvey (outgoing), Hugh McAleer (An Bearach), Michael McCaughey (Trí Leac), Seamus McDonald (Coill an Chlochair), Ciaran McKenna (An Clochar), Damian Quinn (Eiscreach).

Leas-Cathaoirleach: Michael Harvey (Cabhán a’Chaortainn), Roisin Jordan (Eaglais) (outgoing), Eugene McConnell (An Clochar), Michael McGoldrick (Eiscreach), Stephen McHugh (Breac an Bhile).

Rúnaí Cúnta: Frank Campbell (Cabhán a’Chaortainn), Eileen Connolly (An Baile Nua), Roisin Falconer (An Baile Nua), Donal Magee (Coill an Chlochair), Dermot McCaughey (Trí Leac), Eugene McConnell.

Cisteoir Cúnta: Gerard Bradley (An Goirtín), Eileen Connolly, Cathal Daly, Gerard Donaghy (Cill Íseal), Michael Harvey, Sarahjane Kelly (E. R. Uí Néill), Niall McKenna (Coill an Chlochair).

Ball Árd Chomhairle: Pat Darcy (An Taite Riabhach), Liam Nelis (Éadán na dTorc) (outgoing).

Baill Chomhairle Uladh: Gerard Bradley (outgoing), Pat Darcy (outgoing), Michael Harvey, Michael McCaughey.

Oifigeach Caidreamh Poiblí: Damian Harvey (An Chorra Chríochach) (outgoing).

Oifigeach Oiliúna: Ciaran Gourley (An Charraig), Brendan Harpur, Enda Kilpatrick (Cabhán a’Chaortainn), Terry McCann (Coill an Chlochair), Dermot McCaughey, Eugene McConnell, Stephen McCullagh (Loch Mhic Ruairí), Matthew McGleenan (Eaglais), Michael McGoldrick, Paddy Park (An Chraobh), Sean Teague (An Caisleán Glas) (outgoing).

Oifigeach Cultúr & Teanga: Kevin Goodwin (An Droim Mór), Cliodhna Kerr (An Charraig Mhór), Seamus Kilpatrick (Cabhán a’Chaortainn), Michael McCaughey, Eugene McConnell

Oifigeach Forbartha: Cathal Daly (outgoing), Eugene McConnell, Michael McGoldrick, Stephen McHugh.

Oifigeach Iomána: Brendan Harkin (Coill an Chlochair) (outgoing).

Baill an Choiste: Joe McCaughey (Achadh Lú), Neil Coney (Ard Bó), Patrick Donnelly (Eochar), Gerard Treacy (An Bearach), Andrew Gillen (Breac an Bhile), Gary McKiver (Brocach), Mick Daly (An Charraig Mhór), Aidan Rushe (Caisleán na Deirge), James O’Neill (Clann na nGael), Sean McElroy (An Clochar), Shane Dorrity (Oileán a’Ghuail), Gerard Murphy (An Chorra Chriochach), Aidan Currie (Éadán na dTorc), Sean Donaghy (Eaglais), Sean McKenna (Aireagal Chiaráin), Seamus Marlow (Eiscreach), Alan Richardson (An Fionntamhnach), Joseph Donnelly (An Gallbhaile), Eunan Lindsay (Gleann Eallaigh), Barbara Ward (An Goirtín), Mickey McGurk (Cill Dhreasa), Niall McKenna (Coill an Chlochair), Stephen McCullagh (Loch Mhic Ruairí), Aidan Maguire (An Baile Nua), Gerry McKenna (Cabhán a’Chaortainn), Dominic Murphy (An Charraig), Declan Laverty (An Chraobh), Gerry McGinn (An Taite Riabhach), Dermot McCaughey (Trí Leac).

Ulster Gaa Writers Association banquet award winners at theGreat Northern hotel, Bundoran, Male Footballer, Karl Lacey (Donegal), FemaleFootballer, Therese McNally (Monaghan) Hurler, Neil McManus(Antrim), Camogie,Jane Adams (Antrim), Male handball, Michael Finnegan (Cavan), Female Handball,Fiona Shannon,(Antrim), Young Achiever, Patrick McBrearty (Donegal), Referee,Joe McQuillan, (Cavan), Communications, Damian Harvey (Tyrone), Personality,JimMcGuinness (Donegal). Services to the Gaa, Joe Canning (Armagh),and the Chairman’s award went to Lily Spense, (Antrim).

Pictures Michael Cullen (Website)

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Photos courtesy of Damien McAnespie

It is difficult to comprehend how a young man with the best interests of our community at heart and who contributed so positively to our community could be attacked in this way. His death demeans humanity and is detrimental to the development of a shared future based on mutual respect.  In a rights conscious society there is no greater right than the right to life and the need to protect it.

The GAA has a long standing and publicly stated policy of opposition to violence.

This statement issued by:

Aogan O Fearghail (Ulster GAA President) on behalf of the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Ciaran Mac Lochlainn (Tyrone GAA Chairman) on behalf of the Tyrone County Committee of the Gaelic Athletic Association

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