20/03/2020

A Cháirde,

I hope you and your family are keeping well during these very difficult times, unprecedented in the lives of most people. We have been attacked by an unseen enemy, a microscopic parasite, invisible except through an electron microscope, which is causing untold damage to the health of people all over the world. It’s sobering to think that despite all the trillions of dollars being spent on armaments of war, the great powers have been thrown into chaos by an organism a tiny fraction of the width of a human hair.

Here in Éire Óg, our thoughts are with anybody who has been directly affected by the virus and we can only wish anybody in such circumstances a safe and full return to health. Also, many members will be out of work now as a result of business closures on foot of the virus, resulting in reduced family income and the stress that comes with that. In a few weeks our world has been thrown upside down.

Club activity has been severely curtailed in accordance with directives of the GAA and health authorities. Team training, challenge matches, gym activity have all been suspended and it is anybody’s guess as to when they will resume. We kept our pitches, ball wall and astro turf open to allow our younger members the opportunity to exercise and discharge some pent-up energy, while adhering to the guidelines regarding hand hygiene, social distancing, coughing etiquette etc. This worked well for a few days and I want to thank the many members who availed of the facility while behaving responsibly. However, due to difficulties in controlling the numbers last evening, the Executive has taken the decision to close the entire facility-astro turf, ball wall, pitch and grounds- immediately and until further notice. We will make arrangements to allow work continue on our new spectator stand.

We will continue to run our weekly lotto for as long as possible and I want to thank our many loyal sellers who have been a great source of support for the club over many years and who continue to do so now. Casual sales in pubs have ceased for now, but anybody who wishes to continue playing can do so on-line at eireoginis.ie/draws. Results will now be posted on our website eireoginis.ie and social media channels-which will also be the source of ongoing information regarding club developments. Club membership registration payments will continue to be available on-line at Club Membership

Many of our members have come together to offer support to those in the wider community most in need, by doing shopping, delivering meals, running errands etc. and I want to thank them for their generosity of spirit. As our Taoiseach said in his address to the nation, we will get through this together. We are a resilient, resourceful and generous people and if we follow the guidelines on hygiene, social distancing etc., if we take our advice from the health and civil authorities rather than from social media, we will prevail and when this is over, hopefully in a few months, we will be proud of what we have achieved together. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

Beir bua is beannacht,

Jimmy Cooney

Cathaoirleach