The annual dinner dance took place in the Ferrycarrig Hotel on Saturday February 19. It was attended by a good crowd of 320. After the meal chairman Denis Nolan introduced county chairman Paddy Wickham. He complimented the club on its development work and on the good crown in attendance. He thanked Denis for his work at county level and congratulated Michael Stafford on his election as chairman of the county Bord na nÓg. He explained the new GAA players injury fund and recommended that all players participate at a cost of £20. Up to £400 per week will be available to compensate for loss of earnings. He also promised that the county finals this year will be in Wexford Park.

Medals were then presented to the minor footballers for winning the New Ross district last years. Pat Quill, county chairman of Ladies Football presented medals to the Under 16 lady footballers who won the B championship and to the Under 16 camogie players who were runners up in the county final. The player of the year award for lady footballers were presented to Áine Breen (U-16), Selina Nolan (U-18), Noelle Goff and Jetta Laffan (Junior). After the presentation Pat thanked the club for the invitation and complimented it for providing 2 players to the county panel and complimented Ann Hannon, Clodagh McGrath and Paddy Green for their effort with the ladies football club.

Denis Nolan then praised the efforts of Derek Kent and Tom O'Gorman in coaching the U-11 Ground hurlers to win Division 2. He thanked chairman and secretary, John Waters and Aindreas Ryan for efforts with the under age. Player of the year awards were presented to Eoin Leacy (minor hurling), Eoin Morrissey (minor football), Joe Doyle (U-21 hurling), David Banville (U-21 football), Darragh Kelly (junior hurling), Martin Hogan (junior football), Noel Doyle (intermediate hurling), Tom O'Gorman (senior football).

Michael Stafford, the newly elected chairman of Bord na nÓg thanked the club for inviting him. He said it is his ambition as chairman to present many trophies to captains from the club. He encouraged the club to work on the underage and stressed that the future of the club is with the current group of players U-12 and U-14.

Special awards were presented to two young athletes from Taghmon who have excelled in non-GAA codes, winning all-Ireland titles and representing the country. The awards were presented to Sinéad Swan (Athletics) and Edward Cousins (Badminton). At the end of the speeches Fr Brennan congratulated the club for the development work and Michael Stafford for his election. Everyone then danced into the wee hours to the music of Buckshot. A good night was had by all.

The club website is up and running at http://homepage.eircom.net/~taghmon. The club email address is taghmon@eircom.net. The website has the club notes for last year and other information. It also hosts the Taghmon Historical Society. Basketball continues in the Community Centre on Friday evenings at 8:30 p.m. It has been heard that Derek is faster than the dog.

Ulick Stafford PRO

5 The Laurels, Clonard Road

Phone: (w) (051) 859631 (h) (053) 47957

Fax: (w) (051) 859115 (h) (053) 47957

email: ulick.stafford@bausch.com