Éire Óg launches training hub in honour of club legend
Gerry Brennan and James O'Byrne with members of the Ellis family at the opening of the Anne Brennan (née Ellis) training hub at Eire Og
A SIGNIFICANT milestone was marked recently at Éire Óg GAA Club in Carlow with the official opening of the club’s newly-transformed gym facility, now named The Anne Brennan Éire Óg Training Hub in tribute to a beloved figure in the club’s history.
The revitalised facility, which had undergone extensive renovations over several weeks, was officially opened by Gerry Brennan, husband of the late Anne, who served as the first female secretary of Éire Óg in 1994. During the ceremony, Gerry unveiled a commemorative plaque with the assistance of club chairman James O’Byrne, marking the dedication of the space to Anne’s memory and her contributions to the club.
“All who knew Anne will remember her with fondness. The first lady secretary of Éire Óg in 1994, Anne worked so hard behind the scenes for the love of the club,” the club stated in a post on its Facebook page.
Caroline Kelly, a long-time supporter, volunteer and member of the group affectionately known as ‘The Kitchen Ladies’, explained the journey behind the hub’s transformation.
“It was the relaunching of the gym that hadn’t been in use for a while, only partially. Between the chairman and some of the executive committee and a lot of the youngsters that are players, they got together and decided they were just going to do it up,” said Caroline.
She noted that the space serves multiple purposes beyond physical training, functioning as an important meeting area for young players and club members.
When the decision was made to officially relaunch the facility, the club wanted to honour someone who had made significant contributions to Éire Óg. Anne’s name emerged as the natural choice.
“She would’ve dedicated all her life to Éire Óg because her brothers played with Éire Óg, she was on lots of different sub-committees and then became the secretary,” said Caroline.
When approached about naming the facility after his late wife, Gerry was “thrilled to bits”, according to Caroline, and proudly participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“It was a lovely occasion. It went off great and it was lovely to see the hub being named after a lady,” she added, reflecting on the successful event that brought the community together to celebrate both a renovated facility and the enduring legacy of a dedicated club member.
