This week has seen the club almost back to full swing. Its fantastic to see all our members young and old enjoying their training sessions. Numbers have been outstanding and everyone abiding by the Covid guidelines. Well done all!
U/14 Girls Training in Newbridge House
The Joe Duffy Group Nursery/Academy returned last Saturday with a great number of children all delighted to be back again. If your child is aged 4-6 and interested in joining please contact Brian Jordan 0873372495 or brian.jordan.gpo.dublin@gaa.ie.
The Fins All Stars
Fins All Stars on Friday at 6pm on the All Weather pitch. This is a team for children with additional needs aged 6 to 12 and new members are always welcome. For more details contact Niamh (0857332970)
Camogie
Well done to our Adult Camogie players and coaches who held their first training session last night. This is the first Adult Camogie team that we have fielded in 30 years.
This is the dawn of a new era for Camogie at Fingallians. If you are interested in playing Camogie please make contact with:
fingallians@gmail.com
secretary.fingallians.dublin@camogie.ie
Summer Clubs
There are still spaces available in the Fingallians Summer Clubs. They are open to Fingallians members only, ages 4-12, one per child. The advanced camp is for children aged 13 -16. We ask people not to double book camps and only book into one camp.
July 19th to 23rd --- Summer Club --- 1pm - 3.30pm
https://fingallians.clubzap.com/products/3729/purchases/new
July 19th to 23rd --- Advanced Camp (age 13-16)
9am -12 (Balheary)
https://fingallians.clubzap.com/products/3456/purchases/new
August 9th to 13th -- Fine Ghallainn Club Samhraidh
https://fingallians.clubzap.com/prodcts/3459/purchases/new
Online Bingo
Saturday May 15th at 8.00
Congratulations to all our winners in last Saturday nights Bingo. We are looking forward to another fun filled evening next Saturday.
As before when you purchase your books online you'll receive an email confirming your purchase, you'll receive your book(s) and link to the zoom call through email on Thursday the 1th of May. You should then print your book. If you have issues with printing books let us know and we will do our best to sort it.
Membership
Thanks to all who have paid their membership to date. As Adult training has now resumed we urge that all players and mentors have their membership paid before taking part in any training or games.
Holywell Parking
We would ask that when parking in Holywell be mindful of other users and that the residents have proper access to their homes.
The Clubs History
Dave McKittrick writes about Danny Kelly a lifelong devotee to 'the Fins'
A Young Danny Kelly
This week we detail the journey of our stalwart club member Mr Danny Kelly who spent over 55 years in different roles throughout the club.
Danny's first involvement with Fingallians or "the Fins in his words" was as a juvenile in the 1940s where he lined out with fellow club man , Jim Howard at u12 level.
During his playing career Danny played alongside the likes of Kit Kenny, J Dignam, B Gallagher and B Mongey , M Scahill and the great Paddy Rodgers who captained the Fins team that won the intermediate championship of '57. Danny played with adult teams of the 50/60s( if anybody has a picture of him playing with adult teams we would love to have a copy for our archives). When he hung up the boots Danny got involved with the management of many teams including the senior team of the 70s and early 80s. Danny's son Daniel was part of the Fins Juvenile team who captured the u15 championship and followed that with our first minor title in 1988.
Danny will be long remembered by Fins older members in his role as Chairman and was part of the committee that changed the face of Lawless Park with the construction of our first Clubhouse which he officially opened in 1984 . Danny held the post of Chairperson for 10 years and together with the committees at that time helped create many of the club structures on and off the field. He became club president in the late nineties and saw one of the darkest days of his tenure when the clubhouse was gutted by a fire in 1998 which required the club to rebuild from the ground again, to produce the new development which we are proud of today. Attached pictures are a collection of medals from Danny's playing years in the red jersey, his role as an u16 player in 1950 and as a mentor of the 1973 and 1980 seniors team. The last picture is of Danny, Tom Markey snr and C Smith in the ruins of the fire that gutted the clubhouse in 1998. One of Danny's many sayings" the secret of a club is in the youth that you develop" can clearly be seen today with the growth across the entire juvenile section.
Medals won by Danny Kelly from 1940 - 1954
The opening of the original Clubhouse in 1984. Standing outside the remains of the Clubhouse after the fire in early 90's
Keep Fins Tidy
If you have any photos that you think might be of interest to Fingallians please get in touch
pro.fingallians.dublin@gaa.ie
Dave: dmacsitric@gmail.com
