Loreto Leader September 2017

Hi everybody,

Let me start by welcoming everyone back to the new season, both returning members and new members. It’s been great to see so many of you at training and coaching each week. It’s set to be an exciting season in Loreto as our 1sts will again be participating in the All Ireland EYHL and our 2nds-6ths teams that will take part in Leinster League and Cup competitions. Our fantastic Vets will again do us proud in their VET’s League. Best of luck to all our coaches and managers over the coming season. I am delighted to have such high calibre coaches throughout the Club namely Paul Fitz, Ian Clarke, Cathy McKean, Ali Meeke, Stu Ronan and Niamh Kinsilla.

I am delighted that “Dello & Grealy” have agreed to be your Club Captains this season and I look forward to working closely with them. You could not have two better Captains, both are super longstanding players, who are highly regarded and who are passionate about everything in the club.

Special mention to Caroline Sharkey for the super work she continues to do in our Junior Club. Our Junior section is now recognised as being one of the largest and best run Junior Clubs in Leinster. Best wishes to all the Junior Coaches, Managers, Volunteer Parents, Class Coordinators etc. who all work extremely hard behind the scenes. Loreto are very lucky to have such great people giving their time and talents to the club. Special Congrats also to all our 2nd class players who play their first ever hockey blitz last Sunday, they were all so brilliant, so cute and so so excited!!

Social secretary, Caroline Moran has had a very busy start to her season firstly, she organised the Opening Day BBQ in Sept, and then organised last week’s successful “bag- packing” fundraiser in SuperValu Ballinteer. Also in September, Caroline got engaged to Brendan Tracy on a whirlwind trip to Mexico. Congrats Caroline, all in the club are thrilled for you both.

The list of Loreto players getting Irish representative honours just continues to grow. In the past few months Hannah Matthews and Ali Meeke added to their International caps when they competed in the European Championships in Amsterdam. At U21 level Hannah McLoughlin and Sarah Torrans played brilliantly in Valencia and congrats to Paul Fitz who was the assistant Coach for the U21’s. Earlier in the summer the Irish U18 played in the European Championship in Terrassa in Spain and Loreto were well represented by Captain Sarah Torrans, Christina Hamill, Siofra O’Brien and Caitlin Sheerin. Recently Loreto players Ali Meeke, Hannah Mc Loughlin, Sarah Torrans and Jessica McGirr were all called up to the Irish Senior team to play in a three match series against Scotland, – congrats to all, everybody in Loreto is so proud of you.

We are still waiting to hear, if our joint Sport Capital Grant Application (between the Club and Loreto Beaufort) to part fund the replacement of a new pitch is successful. We are very thankful to Minister Katherine Zappone for all the support and backing she has given us. Finally I just want to say a massive “Thank you” to everybody on our Executive Committee for the great work and commitment you have all put in to making Loreto the great club it is.

Regards

Bronwyn O’Donnell
President – Loreto Hockey Club

Get the newsletter: Loreto Leader Newsletter- September 17