Carlow GAA awards night set to return

The Carlow GAA Sports Awards night is set to return. With the arrival of Covid in 2020, what was a Gala Night for Carlow GAA had to be axed for a number of years. Now the clubs are being asked to become involved again. Ber Horohan, who is the chair of the awards committee, says Tommy Murphy, the Carlow GAA President, contacted him recently and asked him would he become involved. He immediately agreed.

“We are looking forward to it. We are looking to get out about 20 awards,” says Horohan who pointed out that the clubs hold the key to the success of the Awards Night.

“The beauty about it the awards are all picked by the clubs bar one. The clubs have a say in it. The only one that is not pick is the Hall of Fame and that is down to the committee. A lot of work is done by the clubs which is brilliant,” he says.

Horohan pointed out that the clubs have received e-mails from the Awards Committee asking them for nominations. These have to be in in November and as soon as the decisions have been made, it will take about six weeks to set everything up. It is all positive now.

“Would you believe it some of the sponsors have been there since day one in 1991. We have contacted some of them and they are delighted to come back on board. A lot of old sponsors plus some new ones. If anyone is interested they can contact us which would be great,” explained Horohan.

Meanwhile a fundraising Business Summit event for Carlow GAA will take place on Friday November 14th at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel. It will be addressed by two of Irelands most successful business people, Denis O’Brien and Ann Heraty. Also taking part in the event is Brian Coady and Jim Gavin who guided Kilkenny and Dublin to multiple senior hurling and senior football All-Ireland titles.

Ber Horohan is delighted and excited with the project.

“Anne Heraty is probably the most successful entrepreneur in the country. We also have two sports people. Jim Gavin and Brian Coady have committed to it.

The aim is to earn money for Carlow GAA,” he said.

The event is focussing on anyone who has an interest in business. At the moment it is expected that Gavin and Coady will address its listeners in the morning and after lunch Heraty and O’Brien will take to the stage.

There will be forty tables of ten at €2,000 a table. Individuals can buy a seat at €250 each.

Our aim, as a supporters club, is that a rising tide raises all boats. We are going from strength to strength. Our membership is increasing every year in the supporters club. We have a fantastic golf classic going. That raises a lot of money. We hope to run the Business Summit every year and in total the three combined accumulate over €150,000 a year which is a lot of money. Eighty percent goes to the development in Fenagh and 20% goes back into the development of our games,” explained Horohan.