18/12/20
Ballon GFC are the Co Carlow winners of The Beko Club Champion Award for events and community services carried out by gaa club’s nationwide during the current pandemic period. The club collected it’s prize,€1,000 worth of playing equipment on Thursday evening last. Pictured above are Donnacha Murphy(instigator of the major pitch renovation), John Gittens(instigator of the Malin Head to Mizen Head marathon) with club chairman John Kelly, secretary Teresa Maher and John Haughney Leinster Council Commercial & Communications Officer who made the presentation.
15/12/20
TURKEY TROT Covid or no Covid the turkey will trot again this St Stephen’s Day. Ballon GFC has been given permission for the annual St Stephen’s Day turkey trot to take place as usual, albeit with a few necessary conditions. Participants are asked to bring their own water bottles and families asked to stay in their own pods as much as possible. Also the club regrets it is not allowed to have the usual refreshments available after the event. Please wear your Xmas jumpers or Santy outfits and hats and together let’s give covid a kick in the teeth for one day this year. Registrations(outside clubhouse) from 11 am with the off at 11.30. Adult registrations €10, under 16’s €5 and family special rates.
3/11/20
Due to Friday 13th November being an international weekend our Last Man Standing competition Round 1 will now commence on the weekend of Friday 20th. All entries MUST be in by Thursday 19th. Enter through any Ballon Gfc committee member or by text to 0862119123 with (1) your name (2) mobile no. and (3) your selected premiership team for round 1. Anyone entering by text must provide the €10 entry fee to a committee member before Thursday 19th. Entries will also be taken at the clubhouse from 7-8pm on the following dates; Thursday 5th, Thursday 12th, Monday 16th and Thursday 19th. Last man standing wins €250.
22/10/20
Ballon GFC- Last Man Standing
Due to the current Covid lockdown our weekly lotto is currently suspended. However we are now commencing a Last Man Standing competition based on the english premier football league. Full list of the rules follows below and is on the club’s Facebook page Entry is through any of our committee members or by text to 0862119123 by supplying the following (1) Name (2) Mobile no (3) Premiership team for Round 1 (4) €10 once off entry fee. If entering by text the €10 entry fee must be given to any committee member before Thursday 12th Nov. If the fee is not paid, entry won’t be included. Round 1 commences on Sat 14th Nov. Entries/money will also be accepted at the clubhouse on the following dates; Thursday 29th Oct 7-8pm, Thursday 5th Nov 7-8pm, Monday 9th 7-8pm and Thursday 12th 7-8pm. Good luck to all.
16/7/20
GAA LOTTO RETURNS
After a 20 week absence Ballon GFC’s weekly lotto will return on Tuesday 4th August with a €4200 Jackpot. Tickets at €2 each or 3 for €5 will be available from Friday 24th July. We also extend a warm welcome back to all our annual subscribers.
8/7/20
Walkway Sanctions Lifted
Ballon GFC are happy to announce that all sanctions(except for social distancing) have now been lifted on the use of it’s walkway in Morris Park. The walkway will now be available all day, 7 days a week until 9.30pm. Users are welcome but reminded to respect social distancing.
17/6/20
GAA Walkway Re-opens
Ballon GFC are pleased to announce that it’s walkway will re-open from Tue 23rd June on a limited basis in accordance with GAA guidelines. The track is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and 7pm to 9 pm each day. Patrons are reminded that adults or children are not allowed on the pitch at any time. No kick arounds or puc-abouts are allowed. Social distancing guidelines must also be adhered to. All users must sign the attendance log(for contact tracing purposes).
3/6/20
Although starved of gaa action so far this year Ballon GFC mens and ladies clubs were certainly not resting on their laurels over the whit weekend as they combined to raise over €3000 for the Pieta House and Jack And Jill Foundation charities by running(in most cases) a combined distance from Malin Head to Mizen Head(466Km). Most undertook to complete a greulling 15k circuit starting and ending at the Bulltree in the centre of Ballon village on Whit Monday, the hottest day of the year so far in Co. Carlow. Oldest running participant was club Children’s Officer Danny Lewis at 47 while his son Conor also completed the circuit. Club Vice-Chairman T. J. O Sullivan cycled his 15k but his son Lar legged it the hard way. Martin Doyle and 13 year old son Eoin also cycled the 15k as did David Wilson and Dessie Nolan(30k). While Dan Fanning, Thomas and Linda Murphy, Joey Holden and Michael Murphy had completed their 15k on Sunday, approx 18 participants left the Bulltree at 15 minute intervals in the hot sun on the bank holiday. All were temperature tested before leaving.
Committee members Seamus, Teresa and Tommy Maher manned the much needed water stations along the route while Joe Cummins and Liam Buggy acted as stewards. Club chairman John Kelly circled the route continously by car to ensure everyone was safe and able to continue.
The idea was the brainchild of committee member and player John Gittens and team selector Terry Byron and the clubs’ players and committee were only too pleased to row in behind the cause.The target set for the weekend was €3000 and this was reached on Monday evening to the delight and satisfaction of all who took part.
All donations were via the Facebook page set up by Linda Murphy(Redmond) and can be accessed for further donations up to the weekend of Sun 14 June on www.gf.me/u/x4rt7k.
by John Kelly
8/3/20
Awards Nights 7/3/20
Ballon GFC held it’s annual social night in Joe Doyle’s on Saturday last. A large crowd was present for the presentation of the 2019 Div 5 football League medals and the annual player and club person of the year awards. The club congratulates all winners and extends it’s thanks to those who sponsored trophies. A very pleasant night was had by all.
Award Winners
5/3/20
NO LEPRECHAUN MUCKFEST this year. Ballon GFC regrets to announce that it will not be possible to hold it’s popular Leprechaun Muckfest on St Patrick’s Day due to insurance constraints. The GAA insurance administrators have informed the club that it will not cover events of this kind leaving the club with no alternative but to cancel. The club will kick off it’s first competitive match of the season on Tuesday evening next 10th March in the Senior Football League Div 3 In Ballon against Palatine.
Juvenile Football Registrations. The last juvenile football registration night will be held on Friday 20th March at the Ballon,Kilbride and Fighting Cocks clubhouses from 7 to 9pm. A large number of juveniles have not yet been registered for this season and parents are asked to note that children must be registered before taking part in training or matches.
Registration for Ballon girls teams on the same night in Ballon GFC clubhouse.