Bruree GAA Awards Night 2024

Last Friday night over 200 people descended on Bulgaden Castle for the re-commencement of our Club awards. After a gap due to Covid, it was great to see so many make the effort to attend. It really emphasised how important it is for people to meet up and how much people enjoy it. Our Chairman John O’Halloran welcomed everyone and gave a special thanks to Catriona and all the staff of Bulgaden Castle for the lovely food and brilliant support they gave on the night. John started with the presentation of medals to our 2023 Junior A and B Hurling squads and to our Junior B Footballers. John then went on to the individual awards (photos below):

Hurler of the Year

Our hurler of the year is a young man that has made a seamless transition from underage ranks to adult hurling. He goes about his business with zero fuss, a fantastic stickman, athlete and team player. I have no doubt this young man will go from strength to strength. He was to the forefront in Scoil Pol’s success in the All-Ireland series, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to announce the Bruree GAA hurler of the year for 2023 is Kevin Hayden.

Young hurler of the Year.

As a club this is our first time awarding in this category. This young man has gone from strength to strength this year, getting back to full fitness, his work rate and ball play were outstanding, helping to guide the junior team to south league and championship. We have high hopes for this young man’s future in a Bruree jersey. I am honoured to announce the Bruree GAA 2023 Young hurler of the Year, Darragh McDonagh.

Footballer of the Year.

Our footballer of the year showed a dash and a daring that was a joy to watch. Never afraid to have a go, his free-flowing style was a joy. His efforts helped guide our footballers to a county final in which we narrowly lost out. I’m honoured to announce the Bruree GAA 2023 Footballer of the Year is Paddy Lynch.

Donncha O’hArgain Sports Personality of the Year

Our Sports Personality of the Year has traditionally not been confined to GAA and this year we are recognising an athlete from our parish. A young woman who is taking Athletics Ireland by storm, an athlete of renown, with Munster and national titles to her name at schools, junior and senior level. These awards and titles do not come easily, hours of training and dedication must come first but when combined with a natural talent, the rewards can be huge. The commitment, talent and achievements have not gone unnoticed in our parish and I’ve no doubt that with the work ethic of our personality of the year the world can be her oyster. Ladies and gentlemen, the 2023 Sports Personality of the year is Laura Frawley.

Hall Of Fame

The highlight of any awards night that we have had down through the years, the Hall of Fame. This award is recognition for long standing commitment to our club both on and off the field and tonight we celebrate two men who have seen and done it all, from playing, coaching, fund raising and administering. Both men have always wanted what is best for Bruree GAA, they have been in the thick of the action in good times and bad and were never found wanting. Before I speak of these men individually, I feel it’s very important to highlight what they have done for the club by way of our weekly lotto. They were both on the founding committee back in 1993 and as you all know the lotto is the backbone of our fundraising efforts since then and the foresight shown at the time was second to none. For that we owe both men a debt of gratitude. It gives me great honour and pleasure to speak of these men tonight on behalf of all in Bruree GAA.

The first of these two men is a man who has seen and done it all, both on and off the playing field, in the name of Bruree GAA. From the early 80’s he became one of the first names on a Bruree team sheet, his style on the ball was second to none, fleet of foot, a fantastic striker of the ball and a sidestep that took him past the best of hurlers in the county. He split the posts or set up a player in a better position on many an occasion. He played both hurling and football and was a member of Bruree teams that were successful in both codes through the 80’s and 90’s, especially the hurling teams of the mid 90’s and football of ’92, ’94 and ’96. He was also recipient of the club hurler of the month award in July of 1989. A founding member of Bruree lotto, it is said that he has brought in over 100,000 euro to the club in lotto sales alone, I would argue that figure is closer to 200,000. In 1984 he was secretary and registrar of the club and in 1986 assistant secretary. His management years took the club agonisingly close in 1996 and I think we can all say a very debatable period of injury time came against us that year. His talents did not stop at GAA, a prominent golfer, badminton player and soccer player also. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my true honour to say Hall of Fame inductee for 2023, please be upstanding for Danny Deady.

The second recipient of the Hall of Fame award has seen and done it all within the club, again both on and off the playing field. In his playing days he was to the forefront in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s when Bruree GAA was arguably in its pomp. A member of the senior hurling team that did a famous three in a row of south senior hurling titles in ’76 and ’77 and ’78 when south senior titles meant something big. The same team contested two county senior finals in ’78 and ’82 and also threw in a junior football championship in ’77 for good measure. His no nonsense style and honesty combined with the famous headband made this man stand out. As manager he guided Bruree to the senior final of 1994 and came agonisingly close and indeed the same year he took up position of chairman of the club and guided the club for the next eleven years. A member of the fundraising committee, of our now weekly lotto, in 1993, which is the backbone of the funding of our club. Following on from the great, late, Mick Hogan, who was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1995, ladies and gentlemen, it is my true honour and please be upstanding for the 2023 Hall of fame inductee, Mr. Hugh Hogan