Lámh Dhearg Golf-Classic committee member Sean McElhatton has paid tribute to the many sponsors of the clubs upcoming Golf-Classic- which will take place at Balmoral Golf Club on Friday 22nd August.
The club were able to secure Hannahstown Credit Union as the main sponsor of the increasingly popular event, which continues to grow year-on-year and Tyrone native McElhatton is pleased with the support they have received in order to continue to develop the club facilities in Hannahstown.
“It is a hugely important fundraising source. The Lámh Dhearg annual golf classic has now almost become a feature in the calendar. This year, we have been very blessed and very grateful to so many sponsors- we are now somewhere in the region of 50-sponsors for our tee’s and greens as well as somewhere in the region of about 29-30 four-balls.
“All of these are people from our community who understand the importance of Lámh Dhearg in the Hannahstown community and what we contribute to the social, physical and GAA development of all our community. They are very, very faithful in supporting us over the years.
“This year we have managed to secure the main sponsor of Hannahstown Credit Union and and we are looking forward to having the Credit Union with us this year and hopefully the years to come because as we try to develop of our club as a community base and community strength- the Hannahstown Credit Union is a big part of the funding of our community as well.
“It is a great voluntary organisation, which lends so much to the development of community capital and we are delighted and very grateful to them for their funding. It is the number of four-balls and teams that we have every year; faithfully coming back to play in our tournament. Clearly, they understand the benefit that the Golf-Classic brings to our club.
“The development of our second pitch is a huge, huge asset to our club and an absolutely essential one that was necessary for us to develop. As a committee of the club and the golf organising committee, we have been working hand-in-hand to raise the funds to pay off the money that we have outlayed on the club and we have done this entirely through the generosity and the great spirit of our Hannahstown Community and the families and patrons who support us.
“We got absolutely zero from government funding of any description towards our second pitch. When you look at that and think of what it means to the footballers, camogs, hurlers and the community – with the festival days for instance, its just a huge asset to the vision and strength of GAA in Hannahstown”.
Commenting in the recent arson incident which saw a fire started that destroyed facilities at the club, Sean believes it has galvanised members of the club and revealed there were many messages of support locally, nationally and world-wide. The support shows the strength of feeling of GAA people that understand the importance of Hannahstown Lámh Dhearg in our local community
“It was heart-breaking to see the vandalism destroying what is a club and community asset. We know how hard working every one in the club works to make sure the amenities are up to scratch. That hut was a coffee shop and tea-room for matches, but it has actually galvanised the club much stronger together and I think it is one of the factors as to why so many sponsors have come back readily to support us this year.
“It’s been hard going at times and a lot of hard work on the committee members who have got to deal with the after effects of the fire and insurance and all of that. We will come back and we will build, bigger and better. It has taught us a lesson about improved security about our club premises- which we are actively working upon at the moment”.
This year, the winner of the Golf-Classic will take home the Ryan Straney memorial trophy in honour of deceased member and keen Golf enthusiast Ryan- who tragically passed away last year. Sean spoke warmly of Ryan and his uncle Daryl Fegan- who also tragically passed away at the end of January this year.
“Ryan and Daryl epitomise the very best of what GAA players and GAA people are about. They understood the importance of our national games, they practiced from when they were kids in football and hurling and they were two young men that have tragically lost their lives so early and so unfairly.
“As they say, God always takes the good first and you couldn’t have got two better role models for our players and for our community than Ryan and Daryl. It’s great to see their friends and team members that have played with them over the years come out and support the Golf-Classic in the way that they do.
“Many of those friends are playing on the 22nd of August and no doubt the Ryan Straney trophy will be treasured by someone who will win it on the day, and we are looking to do something for Daryl in association with the family. I can’t think of two finer young men who sadly have gone, they are an inspiration even now in their absence to the players and supporters of our club today and we will never forget them”.
