Club Report 2026
Annual Report of the Club for 2026
Introduction
This report aims to provide an overview of our Club’s activities and changes throughout the last year, while looking forward to the next year 2027.
We once again must start with acknowledging the great effort expended by all our Coaches, Team Admins and all other volunteers while not forgetting the great enjoyment we all receive from participating and spectating at all matches and watching all age groups. The Club exists for all our members and attempts to provide a Gaelic games outlet for all.
This report aims to provide an overview of our Club’s activities and changes throughout the last year, while looking forward to the next year 2027.
We once again must start with acknowledging the great effort expended by all our Coaches, Team Admins and all other volunteers while not forgetting the great enjoyment we all receive from participating and spectating at all matches and watching all age groups. The Club exists for all our members and attempts to provide a Gaelic games outlet for all.
While this report highlights the achievements and improvements throughout the year, we don’t – and in some cases, can’t – get everything right. We are fully aware of the many challenges and hurdles ahead of us, but by increasing the number of volunteers, we can definitely improve! We view these challenges, both on and off the pitch, as opportunities!
Update on Purchase of the grounds in Cornelscourt.
The Club signed a contract with the Parish in June 2024 to enter into a 999-year lease whilst committing to allow current users continue to use the grounds. The Sale has been subject to a legal challenge by St Brigid's Rugby club. The High Court dismissed this challenge earlier this year and this ruling is the subject of an appeal which is scheduled to be heard in late February 2027. Hopefully 2027 will see the matter resolved. The working relationship between both clubs is very good and it’s great to see that we have so many players and coaches who represent both clubs with pride.
The Club would again like to acknowledge the support of the Foxrock parish, who are our landlords, and its volunteers with whom we continue to have an excellent working relationship.
One Club Model
This has been a hot topic in the association and the country in 2026. We operate very successfully a one club model and are delighted that we have approximately equal numbers of female and male members. We also have many females in key leadership and coaching roles who make a major contribution to the club. However, on the pitch 2026 has been the year of the female teams.
This has been a hot topic in the association and the country in 2026. We operate very successfully a one club model and are delighted that we have approximately equal numbers of female and male members. We also have many females in key leadership and coaching roles who make a major contribution to the club. However, on the pitch 2026 has been the year of the female teams.
Review on the field!
Our Adult ladies team won an exciting and dramatic county final in front a large Gers following in St Margaret's. They did give us a few scares in the second half but finished strongly from a mid-game wobble to earn the win. It is always good to see younger players coming through to the adult teams.
Our Adult ladies team won an exciting and dramatic county final in front a large Gers following in St Margaret's. They did give us a few scares in the second half but finished strongly from a mid-game wobble to earn the win. It is always good to see younger players coming through to the adult teams.
It was also great to see such a large support that night from our members young and old, male and female, and we certainly supported the team with great gusto.
The U13 and U15 girls made fantastic memories when they followed this by winning their own Championships. as they both won their County finals in football, which marked the end of a great season for the U13 team in particular, as they also won their football league. Our Minor team narrowly lost their own Final, after playing great football all year. It was great to see one of the largest ever attendances in Cornelscourt for the Minor final.
The U13 and U15 girls made fantastic memories when they followed this by winning their own Championships. as they both won their County finals in football, which marked the end of a great season for the U13 team in particular, as they also won their football league. Our Minor team narrowly lost their own Final, after playing great football all year. It was great to see one of the largest ever attendances in Cornelscourt for the Minor final.
All the girls’ teams displayed great teamwork with players supporting the team ahead from U12 playing for U13, some of the U13 girls playing the day before their own Championship match for the U15 girls. Then some of the U15 girls supported the Minor Girls, which is no easy task. Well done to them all.
The increasing number of young girls playing camogie is great to see across the club and many thanks to the coaches, team administrators and parents who are encouraging and developing the girls love of the games.
The increasing number of young girls playing camogie is great to see across the club and many thanks to the coaches, team administrators and parents who are encouraging and developing the girls love of the games.
Our Adult men’s football season ended with a County final loss. This should not take away from what has been a very successful year, the team consolidated its position in Division 4 and next year we will compete in the Intermediate championship. This will be only the 3rd year that we will compete at that level in the last 120 Years. Our Division 10 Footballers benefited from support from our Year 2 Minors and have high expectations for next year.
Our Mens Hurling team also won their league and had a long unbeaten run with many impressive high scoring performances. Unfortunately, we narrowly lost in the championship quarter final to the eventual winner. The year though has seen the squad increase in size and great to see our minor players joining the senior ranks. We have a bright future and look forward to an exciting 2027 for the team.
Our Mens Hurling team also won their league and had a long unbeaten run with many impressive high scoring performances. Unfortunately, we narrowly lost in the championship quarter final to the eventual winner. The year though has seen the squad increase in size and great to see our minor players joining the senior ranks. We have a bright future and look forward to an exciting 2027 for the team.
Seeing the number of both Minor boys & girls coming through to the Adult teams gives huge confidence and belief to the senior ranks. The Club commends all the coaches and parents who worked so hard to get them there!
Our U16 Boys Footballers will play their County Final on Sunday 21 November 2026 (v Ballinteer St John’s) at Ballyogan. While the throw in time has to be confirmed, we hope to see a big home crowd.
Our U16 Boys Footballers will play their County Final on Sunday 21 November 2026 (v Ballinteer St John’s) at Ballyogan. While the throw in time has to be confirmed, we hope to see a big home crowd.
Southern Gaels.
The Southern Gaels model has operated very successfully for boys hurling. Our boys from aged 12 to 18 play in an amalgamated team with boys from Stars of Erin and Shankill. It has been great to watch the boy’s development over the 5 years and a proud moment this year has been seeing the Minor boys playing up to our Adult teams. The Southern Gaels Minors will be playing Kilmacud in their county Final (Glencullen, Sunday 15 Nov 2026) and we hope to see supporters from all 3 clubs cheering them on.
This is the first year that The Gers have entered an U21 Mens team in that championship. They will plat St Margaret's out at the airport on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Best of luck to them and thanks to David Lavelle and members of the Senior men’s who are assisting with this.
The Southern Gaels model has operated very successfully for boys hurling. Our boys from aged 12 to 18 play in an amalgamated team with boys from Stars of Erin and Shankill. It has been great to watch the boy’s development over the 5 years and a proud moment this year has been seeing the Minor boys playing up to our Adult teams. The Southern Gaels Minors will be playing Kilmacud in their county Final (Glencullen, Sunday 15 Nov 2026) and we hope to see supporters from all 3 clubs cheering them on.
This is the first year that The Gers have entered an U21 Mens team in that championship. They will plat St Margaret's out at the airport on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Best of luck to them and thanks to David Lavelle and members of the Senior men’s who are assisting with this.
The Southern Gaels model is being replicated in 2027 for all boys U12- Minor for both Football and Hurling. This will ensure certainty and stability for both players and coaches with regard to fielding teams and ensuring a high standard of training. This provides a pathway for all players in both codes right through the age groups. The Secret ingredient in the success of the Southern Gaels model has been the coaches and how well they have worked as a team and this is very much appreciated.
We will close monitor the feedback from the players, coaches and parents over the coming year and hope that the successful experience our hurlers had can be replicated for the footballers. We envisage this amalgamation operating for five years and after that we will review
In terms of teams, we had 29 teams lining out in competitions from go-games to adult men and women.
Table 1 Teams in the club
| Group | No of teams
| Adult Teams | 3 Football Teams (2 Male, 1 Female)
1 Hurling Team
| Juvenile Boys & Girls | 16 Football teams from Under 8 to Minor 9 Hurling & Camogie teams from Under 8 to Under 16
| Academy | Catering for 120 kids (4- to 7-year-olds).
| Adult Teams | 3 Football Teams (2 Male, 1 Female)
1 Hurling Team
| Juvenile Boys & Girls | 16 Football teams from Under 8 to Minor 9 Hurling & Camogie teams from Under 8 to Under 16
| Academy | Catering for 120 kids (4- to 7-year-olds).
In addition to this, we also have the G4MOs and the Dads & Lads, so in total there were 31 active teams in the club in 2026.
Coaching
Games Promotion Officer.
In late 2026 we said a fond farewell to Johnny Magee who has been our GPO for 8 years. Johnny has left a great legacy behind with his work in the schools, the academy, the camps and the coaching arena. We will always be indebted to him and his family for their hard work, their encouragement, their time and their friendship. We wish Johnny and his family well in their endeavours both on and off the sporting pitches. The Games Promotion Officer position is a key role for the club and we will have a new appointee joining us shortly. We have agreed key goals with the new GPO and we look forward to welcoming them to the club and we will benefit from their insights and experience.
In late 2026 we said a fond farewell to Johnny Magee who has been our GPO for 8 years. Johnny has left a great legacy behind with his work in the schools, the academy, the camps and the coaching arena. We will always be indebted to him and his family for their hard work, their encouragement, their time and their friendship. We wish Johnny and his family well in their endeavours both on and off the sporting pitches. The Games Promotion Officer position is a key role for the club and we will have a new appointee joining us shortly. We have agreed key goals with the new GPO and we look forward to welcoming them to the club and we will benefit from their insights and experience.
The Summer Skills program has continued and grown – each week more coaches are requested to assist. It is a very popular event in the summer months, especially when we get good weather like this year. Our thanks to all the coaches – led by Dec Byrne – who made it possible.
Another area to mention is the on-going support offered by our adult players to our younger members by attending and supporting their sessions as guest coaches. Not only are the younger kids experiencing fresh ideas but this involvement closes the gap between our teams – with Adults and Juveniles generally training and playing matches in different venues, it is sometimes forgotten that the Club has players at all ages. It was noticeable at both the Adult Ladies and Mens Championship finals that the players were all known to the spectators – great to see!
A special mention to our ‘Academy’ Volunteer coaches – most of whom are TY students or younger. Without them, the Academy would not be possible!
Finally, our Referees, especially the newly qualified Level 3 LGFA and GAA Referees. Our games cannot run effectively without referees. The County Board are appealing to all members, especially Adults, who may have finished playing or coaching to ‘take up the whistle’. If interested, please contact Mary Browne.
A special mention to our ‘Academy’ Volunteer coaches – most of whom are TY students or younger. Without them, the Academy would not be possible!
Finally, our Referees, especially the newly qualified Level 3 LGFA and GAA Referees. Our games cannot run effectively without referees. The County Board are appealing to all members, especially Adults, who may have finished playing or coaching to ‘take up the whistle’. If interested, please contact Mary Browne.
Structure and Volunteers
Our club has undergone significant change in the last five to ten years and has weathered significant challenges. In that time. our Structure has not changed sufficiently to meet these changes and challenges. In 2026 Eoin and Ciara with the input from a number of sources and other clubs completed a very significant study and offered recommendations on how the club should move forward. We will be putting a major focus in 2027 in getting the right structure in place and in prioritising the actions required to deliver on this blueprint.
Our club has undergone significant change in the last five to ten years and has weathered significant challenges. In that time. our Structure has not changed sufficiently to meet these changes and challenges. In 2026 Eoin and Ciara with the input from a number of sources and other clubs completed a very significant study and offered recommendations on how the club should move forward. We will be putting a major focus in 2027 in getting the right structure in place and in prioritising the actions required to deliver on this blueprint.
However, a club cannot run itself and whilst the work done by those involved to date is appreciated, a key requirement will be identifying new volunteers who have the time, skills and interest in help us move the club forward. ‘Many hands make light work’ and ‘the more hands on board, the more the load is shared’. A few of our volunteers, especially committee members, are straddling a number of roles, which is not sustainable, especially with so many good plans and projects in the pipeline for 2027.
We will be asking the incoming committee to address the structure of the Club with regard to increasing active sub committees to manage each important area, and will be in touch with members to seek your support.
Club Finances
. The Club has generally operated on a breakeven basis with a relatively small level of savings set aside. In 2026 we saw our costs increasing in all areas very significantly. Player registration fees, affiliation fees to GAA/LGFA/Camogie, insurance and pitch rentals for training were among the main areas to increase. Our objective is to avoid increases in membership fees to cover these rising costs so it is clear that we need to grow revenues from other sources. Our focus will be on fund-raising, sponsorship and seeking Grants from various bodies.
We will be asking the incoming committee to address the structure of the Club with regard to increasing active sub committees to manage each important area, and will be in touch with members to seek your support.
Club Finances
. The Club has generally operated on a breakeven basis with a relatively small level of savings set aside. In 2026 we saw our costs increasing in all areas very significantly. Player registration fees, affiliation fees to GAA/LGFA/Camogie, insurance and pitch rentals for training were among the main areas to increase. Our objective is to avoid increases in membership fees to cover these rising costs so it is clear that we need to grow revenues from other sources. Our focus will be on fund-raising, sponsorship and seeking Grants from various bodies.
A major event for the club was the Abseiling in Croke Park (raising over €36,000) and we thank all the participants, organisers and supporters who made it such a successful day and such a key source of funds for 2026. These funds went a long way to addressing some of the costs associated with running the club, and ensured the Club ended the year in a better position.
As we progress with the development of the grounds in Cornelscourt we envisage similar club wide activities will become regular events and we look forward to the support of the members and the wider community.
Charity
In 2026 we supported the ARC Cancer support team and make a donation to them of €3,500.
In 2026 we supported the ARC Cancer support team and make a donation to them of €3,500.
We are asking members at our AGM to vote on our selected charity for 2027. We are surrounded by many great charities and we look forward to hearing the voice of our members on who we should support in 2027.
Community engagement
The club has a long history of involvement and helping others in our community. At our AGM we will be introducing our Gers Lights up programme which is aimed at helping our members and those in the wider community. It should make for an exciting start to 2027 so please attend the AGM to hear about it. The club has also worked with others in our community on a successful community development in 2026 and it will be formally launched to members and the wider community in early 2027. With the help of volunteers, we would like to undertake more activities in 2027 which benefit both our members and the wider community.
The club has a long history of involvement and helping others in our community. At our AGM we will be introducing our Gers Lights up programme which is aimed at helping our members and those in the wider community. It should make for an exciting start to 2027 so please attend the AGM to hear about it. The club has also worked with others in our community on a successful community development in 2026 and it will be formally launched to members and the wider community in early 2027. With the help of volunteers, we would like to undertake more activities in 2027 which benefit both our members and the wider community.
Club Facilities
In 2025the Club had access to pitches in Cornelscourt, Ballyogan and Meadowvale to play home matches. In addition, we had winter (floodlit) training facilities in Loreto, Ballyogan, Stepaside, Beckett Park and St Laurence’s. As always, the club would like to express our thanks to all the above Facility providers but especially Loreto College, Foxrock – without the use of Loreto facilities, the majority of juvenile teams would be lacking winter facilities.
In 2025the Club had access to pitches in Cornelscourt, Ballyogan and Meadowvale to play home matches. In addition, we had winter (floodlit) training facilities in Loreto, Ballyogan, Stepaside, Beckett Park and St Laurence’s. As always, the club would like to express our thanks to all the above Facility providers but especially Loreto College, Foxrock – without the use of Loreto facilities, the majority of juvenile teams would be lacking winter facilities.
Our neighbours Dunnes Stores are continuing to support us with the maintenance of the border between the pitch and their property, which is much appreciated.
In Ballyogan, the request to DLR to install dressing rooms/toilets in Ballyogan has made little progress but we continue to be hopefully.
Social Events
The Christmas Party this year is on Saturday 28 November 2026. We always have a great night and encourage all our adult members and players to attend – a great night with your fellow members! As mentioned last year, it’s not all about what happens on the pitch!
As we don’t have a Clubhouse to call our own, we are indebted to our friends in KERB, Foxrock and Shanai, Cornelscourt for either hosting or allowing us the use of their premises. They are very happy to support our Club so if you have any ideas for social events etc or need a venue, please do contact them. Our Club is an integral part of the community but we do feel that we are missing out on more social activities/events for our members and a greater effort must be made in 2027. We have a volunteer committed to preparing and maintaining an Annual Events Calendar - these events help to generate the Club atmosphere required to sustain our Club - so you will definitely be hearing from them.
Volunteers to help run social events are very welcome to assist.
The Christmas Party this year is on Saturday 28 November 2026. We always have a great night and encourage all our adult members and players to attend – a great night with your fellow members! As mentioned last year, it’s not all about what happens on the pitch!
As we don’t have a Clubhouse to call our own, we are indebted to our friends in KERB, Foxrock and Shanai, Cornelscourt for either hosting or allowing us the use of their premises. They are very happy to support our Club so if you have any ideas for social events etc or need a venue, please do contact them. Our Club is an integral part of the community but we do feel that we are missing out on more social activities/events for our members and a greater effort must be made in 2027. We have a volunteer committed to preparing and maintaining an Annual Events Calendar - these events help to generate the Club atmosphere required to sustain our Club - so you will definitely be hearing from them.
Volunteers to help run social events are very welcome to assist.
Remembering our Past members and friends.
The Club expresses their condolences to all our members who have lost loved ones during the year. It is always difficult and especially as we approach the Christmas period, so our thoughts are with them all.
The Club expresses their condolences to all our members who have lost loved ones during the year. It is always difficult and especially as we approach the Christmas period, so our thoughts are with them all.
Committee
As our AGM approaches, 3 members of your Executive Committee are stepping back. . The club would like to thank Ciara McGuinness, Mary McNamara and David Lavelle for their great work in the club and on our committee over the last number of years. David and Mary will continue to work as coaches and David will still be turning out for the club. While Ciara is heading to Kildare we very much appreciate her offer to help us in any way she can and this is an offer which we will most definitely avail of.
New members coming forward will help spread the admin duties, in particular, to achieve a better outcome for all – so put your hand up!
As our AGM approaches, 3 members of your Executive Committee are stepping back. . The club would like to thank Ciara McGuinness, Mary McNamara and David Lavelle for their great work in the club and on our committee over the last number of years. David and Mary will continue to work as coaches and David will still be turning out for the club. While Ciara is heading to Kildare we very much appreciate her offer to help us in any way she can and this is an offer which we will most definitely avail of.
New members coming forward will help spread the admin duties, in particular, to achieve a better outcome for all – so put your hand up!
Thanks.
So where do we start? We would not have a Club and not be offering Gaelic Games as a great outlet for our members, both sports wise and socially, without all the people who help us run our great club -our players, referees, parents, coaches, administrators and supporters. Without your support we would not function.
We would also like to acknowledge the support we receive from Parnell Park (Dublin Co. Board), Leinster Council and the central team in Croke Park for the GAA side of our club and from the staff and administrators in both LGFA and Camogie for the Ladies side of our Club.
As we wrote last year, we dislike saying ‘that side of our club’ and we look forward to supporting, in full, the planned merger of the 3 organisations, hopefully in 2028.
So where do we start? We would not have a Club and not be offering Gaelic Games as a great outlet for our members, both sports wise and socially, without all the people who help us run our great club -our players, referees, parents, coaches, administrators and supporters. Without your support we would not function.
We would also like to acknowledge the support we receive from Parnell Park (Dublin Co. Board), Leinster Council and the central team in Croke Park for the GAA side of our club and from the staff and administrators in both LGFA and Camogie for the Ladies side of our Club.
As we wrote last year, we dislike saying ‘that side of our club’ and we look forward to supporting, in full, the planned merger of the 3 organisations, hopefully in 2028.
Thank you also to St Brigid’s Boys School for the use of their School Hall when required.
It is normal in GAA circles for there to be both a secretary’s report and a chairperson’s report. However, we very much operate as a team and as there was so much crossover that we took the decision to write a joint report.
Thank you for reading it
Up The GERS!
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John McCabe Ger Moffatt
Secretary Chairperson
Geraldines P. Moran CLG Geraldines P. Moran CLG
John McCabe Ger Moffatt
Secretary Chairperson
Geraldines P. Moran CLG Geraldines P. Moran CLG
Geraldines P. Moran
Founded 1886