TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB AGM REPORT
The 29th AGM of the Tipperary Supporters Club was held in a good atmosphere in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin on Tuesday 8th December.
The written reports and audited accounts for period to 31 October 2015 were presented to the meeting and explained in detail by Eamonn Buckley, Treasurer, and by Bryan Maher, Assistant Treasurer. Over 2,000 members had joined the Club in 2015 (see www.tippsupportersclub.com for details of membership). Two Golf Classics in Ireland and one organised in San Francisco were again a major success as both attractive events for supporters and substantial fundraisers. Sponsorship and donations were also successful in raising funds. Grants of over €100,000 were made to cover expenses incurred in the preparation of the Tipperary SH Panel including catering and accommodation, travel expenses, training gear and hurling boots, physical training and medical expenses. Other donations made were mainly for the benefit of underage hurling in Tipperary with sponsorship of the All-Ireland Under 16 Hurling Tournament, which is organised by Tipperary Bord na nÓg each year.
In his report Secretary Joe Tuohy, Secretary, summarised the highlights of the Club’s activities for the year. He also expressed condolences to all those who suffered bereavements since the previous AGM. John Coman, PRO, on behalf of John Malone, Membership Officer, who was unavoidably absent, reported on another good year for numbers joining as adult members and as junior members, and asked all members to make a special effort to encourage extra members to join up and to ask existing members to join using the direct debit facility. John thanked Joe Tuohy, who was retiring as Secretary of the Club, for his great work.
In his address as Chair John Tierney thanked all the Tipperary Supporters for their generosity in supporting the fund-raising efforts of the Club. John thanked everyone who had helped him in his role as Chair of the Club including Club members, sponsors, funders, committee members, County Board and Bord na nÓg officials, team manager, selectors and backroom team and of course the players who wore the Blue and Gold with great commitment and skill. In particular he wished every good luck and success to the management team and players and especially thanked Eamon O’Shea and Paudie O’Neill (who was present at the meeting) for their wonderful service to Tipperary hurling. John paid particular tribute to Joe Tuohy on his retirement as Secretary of the Club and thanked Joe and his wife Eleanor for their tireless contribution to the cause of Tipperary hurling. He looked forward to Joe continuing as an active Committee member. John Costigan, former County Board Chair, joined in those tributes.
It was noted that the GAA bye-laws governing Supporters Clubs in all counties provided that all officers would be appointed by the County Board and noted by, rather than elected by, the Annual General Meeting. John Tierney was re-appointed as Chair. As Joe Tuohy was retiring as Club Secretary, Eamonn Buckley was being appointed as the new Secretary and John Tierney said that he looked forward to continuing to work with Eamonn in that new role. As the Treasurer of the County Board is appointed automatically as Treasurer of the Club, that appointment would be finalised when the new County Board Treasurer was elected at the forthcoming County Board Convention. Also re-appointed were Bryan Maher, Assistant Treasurer, John Coman, PRO, and John Malone, Membership Officer.
The meeting was also addressed by Michael Bourke, County Board Chair, who thanked the Supporters Club for helping to maintain support for the SH panel and he commented on the great co-operation between the County Board and the Tipperary Supporters Club in their work. Michael joined in the appreciation of the work which Joe Tuohy had done as Secretary of the Club. Also present at the meeting were John Devane, County Board Vice-Chair, and Tim Floyd, County Board Secretary.
Michael Fenton addressed the meeting on behalf of Liam Myles, President, Tipperary Association, Dublin (who could not be present) and he thanked the Tipperary Supporters Club for its co-operation in organising and publicising events such as the All-Ireland Team Banquet for the All-Ireland Minor Finals.
Michael Ryan, Senior Team Bainisteoir addressed the meeting and he expressed his great appreciation and that of the players for the huge support provided to the panel by the Tipperary Supporters Club. Michael gave the meeting some very interesting insights in to the approach of the new management team and panel. Brian Hogan from the panel was also present at the meeting.
After the meeting, there was a good social gathering with light refreshment provided where the members present from Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Cork, Dublin and surrounding counties enjoyed the company.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB 2016 MEMBERSHIP
Membership of Tipperary Supporters Club for 2016 is now available and at €30 per person it is unchanged again this year. The Tipperary Supporters Club are delighted to announce that the member’s gift in 2016 will be a trolley coin keyring, 43 mm x 33 mm, featuring The Tipperary Supporters Club Official Logo.
Supporters can join on line on www.tippsupportersclub.com by credit card or debit/laser card. Also on the website details are available of the direct debit facility; as the Club is run on a completely voluntary basis it would be a great help if members could join by direct debit. If joining by post please send a cheque or postal order payable to Tipperary Supporters Club to Jim Reidy, 13 Castleknock Close, Dublin 15 086-3580718, email: info@tippsupportersclub.com
Membership is also an ideal Christmas/New Year gift for someone at home or abroad. The Tipperary Supporters Club can send the pack to you to pass on or they can post it on directly for you if you prefer! Packs are generally put in the post in a matter of a day or two so it should be there well in time for Christmas. Keep up with all the news on www.tippsupportersclub.com Find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TippSupportersClub) and follow us on Twitter @TippSupporters
All proceeds from membership go towards the preparation and training of the Tipperary Senior Hurling team.
