16 December 2010
I’m sorry I didn’t get the opportunity to address Convention last night, but I feel I would like to say a few words on my installment as Antrim Cathaoirleach
Last night was a memorable day in my life, in the life of my family and my club. It is a wonderful privilege for me to have been installed last night as Cathaoirleach of our County.
I am honored and proud to be the next Cathaoirleach of our County and will work tirelessly with all to ensure that all the fantastic work that has been delivered in the past years continues, and we go from strength to strength in Antrim.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank John McSparran for his dedicated and hard work in the past five years that I have worked with him, first at County Secretary and for the past two years as county vice chairman, It has been a pleasure working with John and I’m sure we will go on working together on some capacity in the future.
But what does the future hold …I believe we are approaching very exciting times in Antrim, We are ahead of schedule with our Centre of Participation at Dunsilly….Three pitches sown, Floodlighting started
Our next goal is the provision of changing facilities that will allow us to provide for our teams and development squads….facilities that will allow them to be the best that can be, we need to ensure that we have in place modern plans and thinking to ensure that we progress and continue to grow to meet all our members needs, hopes and aspirations.
We currently have in place strong management teams in both our codes at senior and at minor who I feel can and will bring us forward to the next dimension.
We will compete against some of the top football teams in the country next year and we will be ready, and I have no doubt able to succeed at this level.
The Senior hurling team reached the quarter final of the McCarthy Cup, having beat Dublin on the way, We will come stronger this year as our teams develop and continue to play against the top teams in competitive games,
The games in the Walsh cup, McKenna cup, Ulster Championship, Leinster, Qualifiers and the McCarthy has only wetted out appetites for success. Congratulations and my thanks to all our teams for a fantastic year.
Our development squads are well organized from Casement, and a special word of appreciation has to go to Ciara Ferry and County Secretary Frankie Quinn and also the rest of the staff at the office. Our Development squads are now beginning to come good, and do what they are meant to do.
I look forward to working closely with Frankie and all the staff at Casement to further develop and promote all aspects of Antrim development and promotion.
Hopefully some conclusion will happen really soon on the redevelopment of Casement Park. I will work with all to ensure that we in Antrim get a facility that we have earned, and richly deserve a facility that will we will all be immensely proud of, and a facility for all our futures.
I feel that we have in place in Antrim some of the hardest working committees in our country…our CCC committee fixed 1026 fixture for your clubs, ran 31 competition, An absolutely fantastic achievement, and also our Coiste Bainistiochta who worked tirelessly on your behalf on committees in Ulster and Croke park. All our members represented Antrim to the highest standard.
I would like to welcome the new members of Coiste Bainistiochta, and also congratulate those members of Coiste Bainistiochta who are taking on new roles and new challenges on our behalf. I wish them well, and I also would like to thank those members who have stepped down in the past year.
I am also looking forward to working with the new members of County Committee who have been elected at their club AGM’s, and I would like to offer my help and assistance to them at any time
As County Chairman I will continue on where John left off, I will continue to strive for improvement in all spheres, No stone will be left unturned. Our interests and well being at Ulster Council and Central council will be guarded, protected and promoted.
I will work will all who have Antrim and Antrim Clubs at heart. I will support each and every club in Antrim proudly, and with sincerity. I will promote Antrim and all Antrim clubs to anyone who will listen and be proud to do so, But I want you to remember it’s your county as much as mine…. as much as members of Coiste Bainistiochta and as much as county committee. If we work together we will succeed together.
I need your support to progress our center of participation, your support to get our teams and development squads to the highest possible level, I need your support for our committees, to our referees and development squads, because if we work together we can chase that dream and goal, We can challenge and succeed for the top honors in our games. We can do it, but we need that unity, because in unity we have that strength to be the best, we have to really believe it can be done, aim high and challenge ourselves.
I know the high caliber of the people that will form Coiste Contae, Coiste Bainistiochta, the staff at Casement and our County Secretary Frankie Quinn, I have worked with all of them in the past many years and I know we will continue to deliver for all the clubs in Antrim and our County teams, We will look for improvement , look for best practice, look for success, but Coiste Bainistiochta can’t do it alone, We need your support, we need to get all our clubs working together with Coiste Bainistiochta to really drive us all on. I know it is difficult times, but together we can make our county the best. Make the difference
I would like to show my appreciation to the members of Club Aontroma, and I am looking forward to working closely with them in the next year. I have represented Antrim Coiste Bainistiochta on the Club Aontroma Committee, and see first hand the work that Club Aontroma do, the fundraising aspect of Club Aontroma is well known and appreciated, and an immense help in assisting the county with the development of Dunsilly and other projects within Antrim.
I would also like to thank the officers and members for the professional help and advice they have provided for Antrim over the years. I know that Club Aontroma have ambitious plans for fundraising in the next year, and I would ask for your support for the initiatives wherever and whenever possible.
The GAA in Antrim is strong, and ready to meet those challenges of today.
But in this time of a recession and austerity the greed of a few has caused pain to many. However, it gives us in Antrim the opportunity to appreciate and understand what really matters, not only to us as members of the GAA. but what matters to our clubs and the communities and parishes we live in. We need to go beyond the sporting dimension of our Association. In this time of fear and uncertainty we must give leadership by revisiting and promoting the values which have made Cumann Lúthchleas Gael the strong association we know and love today.
I am really looking forward to this challenge….I will represent Antrim and our clubs with enthusiasm, honesty and integrity.
Thank you to all the clubs who have supported me in the past, I look forward to your continuing support in the future…I would be delighted to attend any clubs meeting, AGM, or just for a chat at any time, just call me.
There is one special person I would like to thank for helping me so much in the past in all my roles in Cumann Luthchleas Gael, and also for helping me reach this very significant milestone in my life. He has been my mentor, my advisor and my confidant. Charlie Martin, He has been there for me for as long as I can remember.
Thanks for this opportunity.
Thanks for your support
Go raibh maith Agat.
Jim Murray
