Happy Christmas to all..

On behalf of everyone involved with the Bride Rovers GAA Club may I wish one and all a very happy and Safe Christmas. It's been the strangest of years in our country, not just for GAA Clubs but for the entire population. We have buried loved ones in loneliness, seen relations suffer with covid and experienced unemployment on a horrendous manner. For months out GAA pitches were silent before games resumed with limited and then no attendances. At one stage we thought there would be no contests for Liam McCarthy and Sam Maguire and though  they took place in empty stadia the Hurling and Football Championships gave the country a great autumn and winter boost. At Club level it was very difficult year with many competitions unfinished -some not even started. Through all the trouble and strife GAA Clubs and GAA members were to the fore in every community in helping those who needed help. Thanks to all our own Bride Rovers members who showed generosity and great community spirit during difficult times. Thanks to all our players, officers, selectors, sponsors and supporters who stood by us when the going was tough. . My wish for all is to have a great Christmas with loved ones but please stay safe because the pandemic is not finished yet. Hope fully the next few weeks will bring peace, hope and joy to you all.
Munster Champions..

Well done to Brian and Eoin Roche and their Cork under20 Hurling teammates who were crowned Munster Champions on Wednesday night. It was a great Christmas present for Cork Hurling and for Bride Rovers two days before Christmas. Cork defeated Tipp by 2 points in a great see-saw game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Over the last 3 years Cork and Tipp have had great games at u 18, u 20 and u 21 but Tipp have won the big ones -the All Irelands. Cork are now straight through to the Under 20 All Ireland Final . Dublin face Galway in the Leinster FInal which was pencilled in for early January with the National Final a few weeks later but this couild all change now bvecause of Covid. In the meantime well done to Cork and to Brian and Eoin. Great to see St Catherines, Castlemartyr, the Hill, Midleton and Bride Rovers players wearing the Red and White of Cork.

 €25,000  Giveaway 

It was unique night on Tuesday December the 15th in the Rathcormac Inn. We had our weekly Lotto Draw with a Jackpot of €20,000. On offer also was €3000 in prize-money for members of the Club 100 and also a Free Raffle for 48 prizes so the total value of all that was on offer was in excess of €25,000 and we gave it all away!  First up was the special drawing of prizes for those in our Club 100 Fundraising Scheme. This year we decided to give one prize of €1000 which was won by Catherine Murphy. The 2nd Prize was €500  and the winner was Catherine's brother  Tomas Kearney. We then drew fifteen further names and the following are the lucky winners of €100 each

Aiden Dorgan James Bermingham  Noel & Colette Crowley Ken O' Riordan Gerard Lane Brendan O' Driscoll Snr William O' Riordan Barry O' Riordan  Patsy & Brid O' Connell Aidan Hayes Paul Morrissey Jerome O' Driscoll  Tom HegartyRichie O' Regan and Michael Bermingham Thank you to all the members of the Club 100 for your continued support of the club.  If you wish to join please contact the club Secretary 087/2070100

After that it was the Weekly Lotto Draw where the four numbers drawn were 3,5,16 and 26. When all the tickets were checked we had one ticket with the correct 4 numbers. The owner of the lucky ticket was Nora McCarthy of Coole, Castlelyons. Well donned congratulations Nora on a fantastic win. Nora and her husband Cal and family are great GAA and community minded people.  They say what goes round comes round and so after two years the jackpot of €20,00 has been won. The good news is that on next Tuesday night December 22nd we start off with a new Jackpot which will again be a fantastic €20,000 so make sure to get your ticket. A reminder that the last Lotto Draw for 2020 will be held on Tuesday week December the 29th in The Rathcormac Inn. On last Tuesday night the €30 prizes went to the Finnegan family, Cathal O Brien, Eleanor Carey, Martin O Keeffe and Jen Lane Vancouver Thanks to each and everyone who has supported the Weekly Draw over the years. Please keep supporting the Lotto by buying a ticket from Club Members, in local business outlets or online at http;//briderovers.ie . Next on a busy night of giveaways was the free raffle for everyone in the Lotto Draw. We had total of 48 prizes and many thanks to the many individuals and firms that generously sponsored pries for this Raffle.  The following were the lucky  prize winners on the night.

1st €50 Leah & Daniel Carey, Monanig

2nd €50 Colm Fenton, Watergrasshill

3rd €50 Daniel Lane, Rathcormac

4th €50 Eddy Barry, Cork

5th €50 Julianne Barry, Rathcormac

6th David Quirke Plant Hire - Hamper Alan Broderick, Monanig

7th OD Tools Rathcormac €50 Voucher James Maye, Rathcormac

8th 2 Wooly Cork GAA Hats Jennifer & DJ Cahill, Rathcormac

9th €30 Voucher Café Ed's Kieran Cahill, Rathcormac

10th €30 Voucher Mill Fuels Tommy O Keeffe

11th Corrib Oil / Suttons Oil Prize Kieran Collins, Mullintoura

12th Flamingo Redz Voucher Jane & Paudy Collins, Mullintoura

13th Voucher from Sinead's Beauty Spot Fintan Lawlor, Monanig

14th Corbett Court - €30 Voucher Ella Barry, Rathcormac

15th Johnny's Restaurant Wgh - €30 Voucher Evan, Zoe & Lily Quaine, Rathcormac

16th Amber Service Station - €30 Voucher Pat Sweeney

17th Glanbia - Jacket Mark Troy, Monanig

18th Mellerick's Pharmacy - Bathrobe Ann Marie Carey, Monanig

19th Bottle of Jameson Whiskey Don Murphy

20th Fitzgerald Butchers €25 Voucher Jan Keating, Mullintoura

21st Finns Vets Voucher Anna-Marie Barry, Rathcormac

22nd Bride Rovers €30 Club Shop Voucher Kevin Quinlan, Rathcormac

23rd Flamingo Redz Voucher Brendan & Martina, Bartlemy

24th Bottle of Tullamore Dew Whiskey Chris Quinn, Mondaniel

25th Hairstyling Kit Sharon Dorgan, Ballinwillin

26th Bottle of Whiskey - Barrys Bar S. Hyland

27th Rathcormac Inn - Voucher Eileen O Donovan, Glanmire

28th D'Barber's Fermoy - €20 Voucher Tadhg O Sullivan, Kildinan

29th Dooleys Bakery & Post Office - Prize Sean & Seanie, Castlelyons

30th Bride Rovers €30 Club Shop Voucher James Finn, Rathcormac

31st Max Fitness Voucher for Classes Maureen O'Sullivan, Castlelyons

32nd McCarthy Sportsworld Glanmire Voucher Shane & Darragh Diggan, Ballinhassig.

33rd McCarthy Mace Fermoy €25 Voucher Tony Healy, Rathcormac

34th Bottle of Wine - Cavanaghs Lynda Dorgan, Rathcormac

35th Denis Ahern Hurley Voucher Joe Finn, Rathcormac

36th 2 Bottles of Wine Joan Gould, Cobh.

37th Ryalls Farm Machinery Voucher Paddy Cronin

38th 2 Bottles of Wine Kathleen O Regan, Mondaniel

39th Ryall O'Mahony Voucher Seamus Buckley, Rathcormac

40th Bottle Graham Norton Gin Joanne Conway c/o LAYA

41st 2 Bottles of Wine Tadgh Kelleher, Rathcormac

42nd Biscuits & Chocolates Tom Mulcahy, Bartlemy

43rd Biscuits & Chocolates John Kellerher, Doneraile

44th Max Fitness Voucher for Classes Kathleen & John Kearney

45th Bottle of Whiskey Johnny Flynn, Fermoy

46th Biscuits & Chocolates Chris Quinn, Mondaniel

47th Fitzys Fast Food Voucher Patrick Franks

48th Hamper from Fermoy Print, Mary O Callaghan.

Many thanks to our own Club Lotto Committee and the management and staff of the Rathcormac Inn for a very enjoyable night.

Club Annual General Meeting. 

The Club AGM  will be held on Monday  January the  11th at 8pm on what is called an 'On Line Platform' .Due to Covid 19 it will not be possible to hold an indoor AGM in the manner we are used to . The Secretary's report will be published on the club website www.briderovers.ie  for viewing from Sat 9th. 

Due to the new format for the AGM any questions relating to relevant matters will have to be submitted to the Runai, secretary.briderovers.cork@gaa.ie in advance of the meeting.  WE will have further information on this procedure and how it will work in the coming few weeks. Nomination forms for the different Officerships  will be sent to all members this week. Any member who wishes to submit a Motion can do so. 

2021  CORK GAA MEMBERS DRAW. 

 'Rebels Bounty' is the new name for the Cork GAA Annual Members Monthly Draw. It was to have had a gala re-launch in October but unfortunately along with so many other events this function had to go.

Rebels' Bounty will instead be launched in late 2020 / early 2021 and a meeting of Cork County Board, which will be devoted solely to this item, will be held when circumstances allow. The Draw is still a monthly draw costing €10 a month to enter or a once-off payment of €100. This year there will be 30 prizes each month. The minimum First Prize each month will be €20,000 with prizes of €25,000 in December and April and in August 2021 the first prize is €100,000. Speaking at the launch of Rebels’ Bounty Kevin O’Donovan, CEO/Secretary Cork GAA commented “Following from the launch of One Cork we are now delighted to official announce details of Rebels’ Bounty, marking the beginning of a new fundraising era for Cork Clubs. We have increased the prize fund to ensure maximum return for our members, with 30 prizes monthly. We listened to our members and all 30 prizes are now in cash. 2020 has been a unique and difficult year for our clubs and I’m delighted to launch this appeal allowing clubs to raise vital funds at a time when it is extremely hard to do so.” 

Bride Rovers Club is encouraging members, players and supporters to join the Draw. Tickets can be had from Club Officers or contact our Runai Daniel Lane at 087 2070100 

BEST WISHES  

Best wishes for a speedy and safe recovery to Fr Fachtna O Driscoll who is recuperating in Cork after hip surgery. We hope you make full and speedy recovery Facthna. 

Stay Safe.

During the Christmas and New Year period we ask all members to be cautious at all times and remember to keep your Social Distance, wear a face covering where possible, wash your hands regularly and try if possible to reduce your social contacts.

Remember, if you have any of the following symptoms; Fever, A Cough, Shortness of Breath or Breathing Difficulties, please contact your GP for advice. Remember that it is important to check in with elderly family members and neighbours to make sure that they are all safe, fit and healthy. All of us have a personal responsibility in an effort to reduce Covid-19 so play your part in our local community by protecting  yourself and everyone around you.

CLUB SHOP.

There's been a huge run on supplies in the Club Shop in the last month. At the time of writing just Stockings and Togs are in stock. For details of these ring Kathleen on  086 3807784 or Betty on 086 1540902. 

DOWN MEMORY LANE 

1998 will always be the year when Bride Rovers hurlers fulfilled the potential and promise of the previous few years Having gone down the Junior B Grade hurling in the early 1990's we won a Co Minor League in 1992 and the Junior BHC and League  and JBFC in 1993 and returned to A grade. We found it a difficult task in the higher grade in 94 and 95 but we had a young team, 1996 was bit better and then in 1997 we reached our first A Grade Final since 1973. In '73 we lost in a replay to Erins Own before huge crowds in Midleton. In 1997 a massive crowd saw us defeated by near neighbours Castlelyons in the Final in Clonmult Memorial Park. Castlelyons won the County so we felt we were making progress. 'Remember 98' will forever be a slogan in our history. It was July 25th before we played the first round- a 21 points to 5 victory over Cloyne.  Carrignavar were tough opponents in the 2nd round but we came through by 2 16 to 1 5. Having been well beaten by the Hill in '94 and '95 a lot was at stake in the 1998 semi final in Caherlag. In a low scoring game we won by 1 8 to  1 5 and were back in the Final for the second year in a row. We d lost the 1972 and 1973 finals so we were determined not to lose another two in a row. On the day that Galway beat the Mick O Dwyer trained Kildare in the All Ireland Football Final we won our 5th East Cork Junior A Grade Hurling title. Played in the Holy Ground of Cobh we defeated Dungourney. Goals from Jerome O Driscoll in the first half and Terry Broderick in the second helped us to a 2 13 to 2 6 win. At long, long last we were East Cork Champions. The fact the Donal Ryan received the Cup, the newly refurbished Jamesy Kelleher cup from Gerard Lane in his first year as East Cork Board chairman made it all the more special. Great too that Fr Seanie Barry was there on that historic day. We were on the road to County glory -ach sin scéal eile.

 THE AVONDHU 

Thanks to the management and Staff at The Avondhu for all their help during a difficult year. The Avondhu is a wonderful paper for the promotion of Gaelic games. Happy Christmas and a Bright New Year to all at The Avondhu. 

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres ,Fermoy Print & Design,Veolia Environmental Services.