Football Board set for outing to Kilbeggan Races

Following Westmeath GAA"s fantastic evening at the Kilbeggan Races in July of this year, Westmeath Football Board will be again holding a Training Fund evening at Kilbeggan Races on Saturday, May 19, 2009.The function will change slightly this year as we will have twenty tables available for corporate hospitality in the panoramic Pavilion Bar overlooking the winning post.Kilbeggan Racecourse is a superb venue for corporate hospitality, whether it"s for staff, customers or friends. Kilbeggan also highlights their companies as major employers within the midlands and the benefits of Kilbeggan hospitality and the promotional value of entertaining their staff and customers in front of a massive audience is second to none.The total cost of this package will be €2,000 for a table of 10 and all businesses with an interest in Westmeath GAA are asked to consider this occasion.There will also be tickets on sale for general admission to the races with a chance to enter into a prize fund draw. These tickets will be €20.County Hurling ManagerAt a recent Hurling Board meeting Eamonn Gallagher (St. Brigid"s) was ratified as the new manager for the county senior hurling team for 2009. The team trainer will be Padraig Lynn (Shandonagh) and the selectors for the coming year will be Noel Geraghty (Castletown-Geoghegan) Sean Loughlin (Clonkill) and Nick Weir (Raharney). I would like to congratulate them all on their appointments and wish them well for 2009.County ConventionsAt a recent meeting of the County Management Committee the following dates were set for the 2009 Conventions:Football Board Convention: December 18Hurling Board Convention: December 18Co. Convention: December 20Times and venues will be announced later.All clubs should have received nomination forms and motions forms for the relevant Conventions by now, please fill these in and return to the County Secretary on or before the specified date.Leinster Club ChampionshipRaharney will take on Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) in their first round of this year"s Club Championship next weekend and I want to wish them the best of luck as I know they will represent the county with pride. This will be a big match as Shamrocks have a number of All Stars among their squad including James "Cha" Fitzpatrick and Henry Shefflin and it will require nothing less than one hundred per cent effort from Raharney if they are to win.Castledaly, the Westmeath senior football champions are in action on Sunday next. They travel to Navan to face local side, O"Mahonys with a 2.30pm throw-in. Also flying the flag for the Lake County will be Maryland and St. Mary"s, Rochfortbridge. The Intermediate champions will be away to Laois champions, Ballyroan while St. Marys will enjoy home advantage when they entertain St. Mary"s, Kildare. Both games throw-in at 2.30pm.Westmeath Coaching and GamesWorkshops for the below activities are being organised by C.L.G.Iarmhi Coaching and Games Development Committee.Workshop 8 - Defensive Play in Football - Pete McGrathWorkshop 9 - Fitness with the sliothar - Tommy DunneThe defensive play in football workshop takes place in Kinnegad and the tutor will be Down"s double All-Ireland winning manager, Pete McGrath. We are also running our last hurling workshop on Saturday next in St. Oliver Plunnketts, Mullingar and the tutor for this is former Tipperary hurler, Liam Dunne. Again we encourage all clubs to have as many coaches/mentors in there clubs in attendance at these workshops. We hope to see you at both workshopsFor any further details please contact any of the followingEddie Bouabbse 087-9016238: e-mail: edward.bouabbse@games.gaa.ieJames Heffernan 087-6460030: e-mail: james.heffernan@games.gaa.ieMichael McHugh 087-2935504: e-mail: mpmchugh@ireland.comGary Sammon 086-8963150: e-mail: gsammon@AIT.ieThe GAA Games Development ConferenceThe GAA Games Development Conference was launched by Uachtarán, Nickey Brennan in Croke Park, on October 8. The Conference will take place on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29 in Croke Park. The theme of the Conference is "A Games Based Approach to Training and Development".The Conference will be a combination of key note and parallel break out sessions and will culminate with a practical coaching demonstration by top Inter County Coaches, Martin Fogarty (Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team) and Michael McGeehin (Limerick Senior Football Team). The cost of attendance is €100 which includes all meals, refreshments and the delegate pack consisting of a coaching bag, folder and pen, USB Key with access to all presentations and the GamePlanner resource. There will be over 25 speakers including:Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, Defence Forces Chief of Staff and Inter County Coaches: Jason Ryan - Wexford Senior Footballers, Damien Young - Tipperary Senior Hurling Performance Analyst, Eamon Ryan - Camogie Coaching Tutor, Eamon O"Shea - Tipperary Senior Hurling Selector and Mickey Whelan - Dublin Senior Football Coach; Games Development Personnel: Paudie Butler, Eugene Young, Liam Óg Gormley, Eoin Breathnach and other noted Games Development specialists.While the Conference is open to the public to attend, there are 10 places reserved for personnel from each County. Each County is asked to ensure that their key Games Development Personnel attend.Personnel expected to be in attendance include the Coaching Officer, Games Development Administrator, Games Promotion Officers, Vhi Cúl Camp Co-ordinator, School of Excellence and Development Squad Mentors. To reserve these places simply complete the Conference application form, indicating the preference for each workshop session and return with an accompanying cheque/postal order made payable to GAA Games Development Conference to the address below.To reserve a place using Credit/Laser Cards, you can use the online booking site - https://www.eventznet.com/295/ac/Gaa/thegaagamesdevelopmentconference2008/