Clann na nGael
Club Person of the Year - 1999
The unselfish dedication of a number of individuals to the club down through the years has seen Clann na nGael go from strength to strength and as we entered our most successful era ever in the 1980's, with a wealth of talented players, the club responded well with dedicated club officials and background workers to pave the way into the unknown.
This year's "Club Person of the Year" emerged to the forefront during that period, putting his shoulder to the wheel and becoming one of the hardest working and valuable club members ever.
Having served as the club's Minor Board Secretary for a number of years as well as being heavily involved with underage hurling and ladies football, he joined the Club Executive for the first time in 1984 while maintaining his interest as a hurling and football referee.
After a number of years working in the background, in 1991 he emerged to take hold of one of the key positions within the club as he took on the demanding role of club secretary. All through the 1990's he was to the forefront spending 7 of the last 9 years as secretary, making him one of the most valuable and experienced officials the club has ever had, and in recent years has also become very involved with the schools in the area, as he nurtures the Clann footballers of the future.
Both on and off the field the dedication shown to the GAA by this year's winner is second to none. Having previously received this award seven years ago, he is also the holder of 2 All-Ireland Junior Hurling Medals with Roscommon (1965,1974), 1 Connacht Club Hurling Championship Medal (1977) and a total of 9 Senior Hurling County Championship Medals.
A century ago this club of ours did not exist, and but for the hard and diligent work of a large number of people the Clann na nGael club would not be what it is today. Indeed the success of the GAA as a whole over the past 100 years is without doubt due to the altruistic endeavours of a huge number of individuals and it is fitting that in this small club of ours, as the century ends, we are honouring a man that symbolises that unselfish commitment to the GAA and the community as a whole. As we embark on the new millennium all we can wish for is that the Clann na nGael Club can continue to produce players and workers of the quality of this year's "Club Person of the Year",
Ray Fallon