50/50 Draw takes place Friday 22nd December, a week earlier than normal. As well as our normal winner, we’ll have two additional spot prizes of €100 each. To get yourself organised for this draw, you can get your entry on the Clubforce link https://member.clubforce.com/memberships_cart_m.asp?LL_ID=2767&intMF_ID=7833#Anchor. This provides you with different payment including setting up a 12 month direct debit subscription paid on a monthly basis which will ensure you are in for every draw. Alternatively, you can get an entry through REVOLUT to @bbol123 putting your name and contact telephone number in the note. Your support is very much appreciated.
Thank You’s And so, in the mouth of Christmas, our hurling season came to an end yesterday. To our Senior team & management, we say ‘take a bow’! We have been on a rollercoaster journey with you, the courage, spirit & determination shown by you has been an inspiration to us all. Táimíd an-bhrodúil as an bhfoireann agus as an mbainistíocht. To our sponsors we say a huge thank you for putting your faith in us & to our supporters, ‘you have always shown up’! And so now we take time to recuperate, Christmas is back on the agenda, so get those pressies bought! Best wishes to Tullogher-Rosbercon in the Final.
Christmas pressies Have you got all your Christmas shopping done for all the wee hurlers in your house? Limited availability of the following: tops U8/10/13 @€20, wee Blayney Hurler hoodie 6/7 (1 left), String bags €5 (5 left), First touch sliotar €5 (4 left), Gear bag €20 (1 left), Bundle of Gear bag, top & sliotar €40 or string bag, top & sliotar €25. To order message Natalie 087 7543591. Payments via cash or Revolut to @bbol123 or @natalienoone. Please include order & name in note.
Ulster Schools U19.5 Casement Shield Final Hard luck to Castleblayney College who lost to Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore (5-12 to 0-9 ) at Middletown last Thursday.The team, captained by Nathan McArdle gave it their best shot and can be proud of their campaign.
Gola Helmets Counterfeit Hurling and Camogie Helmets are dangerous, warn CCPC and GAA
· Fake branded helmets place style over safety
· Risk of serious injury to face, head, and eyes
· Product safety inspections found poor quality helmets with protruding screws, sharp edges.
The CCPC is issuing an urgent warning to Hurling and Camogie players to cease use of all ‘Gola’ branded helmets immediately. Often sold via online marketplaces and social media and generally purchased for style reasons, the helmets do not meet basic PPE standards and will not protect the wearer from injury. The company Gola does not make helmets and does not licence the Gola brand to any other company to make helmets; however, counterfeit ‘Gola’ branding has been added to batches of sub-standard, retro-styled helmets which do not meet safety requirements.CCPC Member Patrick Kenny said: “Do not purchase one of these helmets for yourself or anyone else this Christmas. Our product safety officers are working to remove these dangerous helmets from the Irish market. If you currently use one of these helmets, stop using it and buy a standard, CE-marked helmet from a reputable retailer instead.” Chairperson of the Gaelic Games Helmet Work Group, Jim Bolger, said: “Purchasing and using a compliant helmet system (helmet complete with faceguard added at the point of manufacture, thus making it an item of Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE) which meets the NSAI standard, IS:355, is of the utmost importance in terms of ensuring player safety and welfare in Hurling and Camogie at all levels. It is worth noting that if a helmet system is purchased when incomplete (i.e., without a compatible faceguard) it cannot be considered an item of PPE.” “In particular, we are concerned about juvenile players using these helmets and encourage parents and players to only buy helmets from reputable sources.” As the ‘Gola’ brand added to these helmets is
counterfeit, it is highly likely that any CE mark on the helmets is also counterfeit. Hurling and Camogie helmets must have a CE mark to show that the helmet meets the required health and safety standards. The helmets bearing the counterfeit ‘Gola’ brand are also manufactured without faceguards. In order to meet health and safety standards, faceguards must be added at the point of manufacture and not afterwards.
Advice to consumers
Buy your helmet from a reputable retailer – not an unreliable online source – and make sure you ask these four safety questions first:
1. Is the helmet fully assembled? A safe helmet should have a faceguard attached at the point of manufacture. You should not need to attach a faceguard.
2. Are there any obvious dangers? Watch out for sharp edges, sharp points, rough surfaces, or protruding screws. Do not wear the helmet if you find any of these dangers.
3. Is there a CE mark on the helmet? If there is no CE mark, don’t buy it.
4. Are the labels and instructions clear and comprehensive? All Hurling & Camogie helmets should be accompanied by instructions and information in a language which can be easily understood by users. Such instructions and information, as well as any labelling, should be clear and understandable.
For further information, contact: Alan Milton, GAA Director of Communications: alan.milton@gaa.ie
Christmas Wishes we send best wishes for a lovely Christmas, filled with family time making great memories. Once again, we can’t say it often enough, thank you so much for all your support, in whatever way you do that. We appreciate all your contributions. Best wishes also to our friends & supporters abroad, always good to catch up! Have a very Happy, safe Christmas, one and all.
By Majella Boyd Mon 18th Dec
