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Annual Dinner Dance - 2012
20th January 2012
St. Mary's Rasharkin held their Annual Dinner Dance at the Elk Toome on Friday 20th January 2011. Over 120 guests, members, players and friends of St.Mary's attended and enjoyed an evenings' entertainment.
A power point presentation showing an assortment of photographs taken throughout the past momentous year was shown on three screens throughout the function room.
After a delicious four course meal served to everyone's satisfaction, Dick McKeague thanked St.Mary's club again for choosing the Elk for their Annual Dinner dance.
Club Chairman Anthony McMullan opened the speeches; he spoke of the achievements and the hardships of the club in the past year. He encouraged all players, mentors and members to get behind the club after what has been a difficult number of months. Anthony congratulated the senior footballers capturing the O'Cahan Cup for the first time in twenty nine years under the stewardship of Paddy McNeill and the Under 14 Camogiers for their successes in the League and Feile.
Antrim Chairman Jim Murray was introduced next, he thanked the club for the invitation adding that he has always good memories of Rasharkin during his playing and refereeing days. In reference to the infamous Under 21 Championship game in October he encouraged St.Mary's to adapt the excellent disciplinary report produced recently by Michael Hardy. He praised the document saying he would think strongly about incorporating much of the content into a county release.
Loughgiel Shamrocks Hurling star Barney McAuley made his way to the podium; he praised St.Mary's saying that he is aware of the work and effort in running Hurling and Camogie with his own club and for being able to run Hurling, Football and Camogie is remarkable. He reflected on turning disappointment into positivity, he said Loughgiel lost six consecutive county finals from 2004 to 2009, he said the players all stuck at it and two years later they've lifted two county and provincial titles and now playing an All Ireland semi Final in three weeks time.
BBC Sports commentator and Ballinderry Shamrocks legend Adrian McGuckin concluded the speeches. He was warmly received by the crowd as he told stories of his experiences in the GAA. He acknowledged the work being done at grass roots level by clubs such as Rasharkin; indeed he said Ballinderry is a rural club like St.Mary's and a central part of the local community. In life, he said he could do without a lot of things but he couldn't imagine his life without Ballinderry Shamrocks.
Compere for the evening Terry Hasson was brilliant, as usual he entertained the crowd with his unique wit and charm throughout the evening
