Kilcullen Diary: Great night of celebration at Kilcullen GAA Awards Dinner

DID YOU KNOW?

There are three different scientific phases of twilight. Civil twilight is the first, named because the sky is still bright enough for people to go about normal 'daytime' activities — technically this is from when the sun is just below the horizon to when it's six degrees lower. Nautical twilight is when the sun is between six and 12 degrees below the horizon, named because it is the time when stars become visible and sailors used them to fix their position. Astronomical twilight is when the sun is 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon and the sky finally appears black, but to astronomers is not quite so. After that is true scientific night.

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Great night of celebration at Kilcullen GAA Awards Dinner

Upwards of 125 guests enjoyed themselves at the Kilcullen GAA Dinner Dance and Awards Night last evening, writes Brian Byrne, with presentations made to a number of teams and individuals who had represented the club well over the last few years.

With the pandemic having impacted social occasions in recent years, the gathering in Keadeen Hotel was particularly appreciated. Awards presented included those delayed from 2021.

James and Emma Nolan of Nolan’s Butchers, longtime sponsors of Kilcullen GAA, presented medals to the Men’s Junior team, Cill Dara 2021 Champions, while Robert and Ann Browne of sponsors CMT Transport presented the Ladies medals to the LGFA Cill Dara 2021 Div 2 League winners, the LGFA Cill Dara 2022 Div 1 League winners, and to the LGFA Cill Dara 2022 Intermediate Championship and Leinster quarter-finalists — those last also being the first Kilcullen ladies team to play in senior ranks for 2023.

Francis Shortt was the 2021 Senior Men’s Player of the Year award winner, and the recipient of the 2022 Senior Men’s Player of the Year was Ciaran Melinn.

Colm Sheehan received a Recognition Award for his ‘drive, commitment and team motivation’ to the Junior Panel over a number of years, and the Ladies Team were also given a collective Recognition Award.

Christy Howard presented the Paddy and Molly Howard Club Person of the Year award to club chairman Dan Bell.

Recognition Awards were also presented to players who represented the club and their county in 2022 All Ireland campaigns included Cormac Barker and Ciaran O’Brien who were on the U20s County Panel, Leinster Champions, and All-Ireland finalists; and members of the 2022 LGFA U16 B All-Ireland Champions team Zara Hurley (Captain), Caoimhe Egan who scored 0-2 on the day, Laura de Courcey who was a goalie sub on the panel. as well as to Olivia Monaghan, Molly O'Loughlin, Hanna Breen, and Edwina Birchall.

Presentations were also made to Emma Nolan and Ann Brown in appreciation of the sponsorship of Nolan’s Butchers and CMT Transport respectively.

Michael ‘Porky’ Lambe was given a birthday cake to mark a recent significant birthday, and as a nod to Mothers Day last weekend, all mothers at the event were presented with goody bags.

A selection of the Diary's photos are below, and all photos are available to view and download here.