Despite Chilly Toronto Weather GAA Gathering Was Warm
By JOHN O'FLYNN
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TORONTO GAA BANQUET - Seated (L-R) John O'Flynn (WDB Chair); Cormac Monaghan (Toronto Chair); Karen Monaghan; Chris Farmer. Standing (L-R) Gene Duffy (International Games Chair); Pat Daly (GAA Head of Games); Brian Farmer (CCB Chair).
PHOTO CREDIT: Smitty and The Toronto Irish News
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VANCOUVER - In my role as Chairman of the Western Canadian Divisional Board (WDB) of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), I met with members of the Canadian County Board (CCB), the Toronto GAA and invited guests from Ireland recently in snowbound Toronto. Although temperatures hovered around -30 C the conversation with friends of the Gaelic Games was warm.
In eight cities across Canada are found 12 clubs: Vancouver Harps; Calgary Chieftains; Edmonton Wolfetones; Toronto’s St. Pat’s; St. Vincent’s; Toronto Gaels; St. Michaels; Durham - Robert Emmett’s; Brampton - Roger Casements; Michael Cusack’s Ladies; Ottawa Gaels; and Montreal Shamrocks. The majority of clubs have both men’s and women’s teams.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways of developing Gaelic games in Canada through networking with the GAA Head of Games Pat Daly (Tallow, County Waterford) and the Chair of the International Games Committee Gene Duffy (Crossmaglen, County Armagh).
Brian Farmer (CCB President) coordinated meetings for Toronto, Ottawa and the West, where ideas were shared for potential agreements in coaching, refereeing and youth development. Youth Development Funds are available for local GAA communities to apply for through the CCB and the Divisional Boards.
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2005 TORONTO GAA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: President (back row centre) Paul Loughnane - St. Mike’s; Vice President (back row second from left) Greg Callan - Toronto Gaels; Corresponding Secretary (front row second from right) Lorraine Morley - Michael Cusacks; Recording Secretary (front row left) Katie Higgins - Brampton Roger Casements; Treasurer (back row second from right) Cormac Monaghan - Toronto Gaels Games; Administration Coordinator (front row second from left) Erin Horgan - Michael Cusacks; Coaching and Games Development Officer GTA (back row left) Elaine Mealiffe - Durham Robert Emmetts; Coaching and Games Development Officer Eastern Canada (back row right Jarlath Connaughton - Ottawa Gaels; Public Relations Officer (front row right) Sinead Canavan - Toronto Gaels.
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I am pleased to report that a grant was extended for the purchase of juvenile Gaelic footballs to assist with the 2005 Ceili Camp that will be held in Harrison Hot Springs, August 14 to 19. With the assistance of former Vancouver Harps player and County Clare Hurling All-Star Sean Stack of Sixmilebridge, the balls were purchased in Ennis, County Clare and shipped to Vancouver.
In the fall of 2005, an international women’s Gaelic football tournament will occur in the week of the All-Ireland football finals. Canada will participate in the tournament with players from the Toronto and Western Boards. Canada’s head coach Jarlath Connaughton from Ottawa will travel to Vancouver for the July 2 and 3 Gaelic football tournament in White Rock to assess players from the Western teams who have an interest in participating on the National team.
It will certainly be a highlight to have Jarlath in attendance as he is also Vice-President of the Canadian County Board. For further information on the Gaelic games, e-mail: oflynn@oflynn.ca, or call (604) 929-0683.
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