In a detailed and thought provoking address at the Cumann Pheadair Naofa AGM on Tuesday 25 October 2016, Club Chairman Eugene Gallagher highlighted the many positive achievements across all playing codes, culture, drama, music, social, community outreach, and health and well being, over the previous 12 months, but the emphasis in his address was to concentrate on the future. In his first year as Chairman, Eugene said it was a pleasure to lead the club within the growing and diverse community of Warrenpoint and he said that having a ‘birdseye’ view of the club was something which he had never experienced before.
In addressing people at AGM Eugene made it clear that the club is somewhere for everyone to get involved, ‘a growing, emerging and all encompassing club’ which has at it core the care, commitment and dedication of every single person who gives of their time. Eugene remembered those who have gone before us and those taken far too soon and he proudly thanked the community of Cumann Pheadair Naofa for coming together in times of tragedy and need.
Eugene, referring to the club success read out a long and inspiring list of achievements over the past year and it was clear from the audience reaction that not everyone was aware of just how far the club had some and more importantly as Eugene noted, the vast range of activities offered to everyone, ‘not many clubs in Ireland offer as uc as we do.’
Looking to the future, the Chairman had cautious words for the large number of members who were present at the AGM, “we have come a long long way, we have achieved a lot, but there is no room for complacency, much work remains to be done.” We are working towards getting to where we want to be, but we are not quite there yet. We must keep moving forward with hope, but retain a constant state of urgency to ensure we get to where we want to be. Eugene did speak about how far we have come and thanked his predecessor Feargal McComack for leading the ship, he reminded the audience that the future belongs to our young people and those who plan for it.
In his concluding remarks, Eugene expressed appreciation to the 100 plus club volunteers who work tirelessly across the club to provide the many and varied activities for all club members.
