The County Convention took place in the Thurles Crokes complex last Thursday night. Despite the grave weather warning, the Convention was well attended. The Chairman, Owen Fanning, opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the meeting. The Secretary, Anne Fagan, gave a good account of the 2024 Convention with the minutes of that meeting.

In his address, Owen Fanning, thanked all the clubs for promoting the Sport over the past year and it was great to see an increase in membership spread across a lot of the Clubs. He said that this was clearly evident with an increase participation at both Juvenile and Senior events throughout the year. He also gave a brief outline of the major achievements by County athletes and the future looks bright. He thanked all the officers and anyone who helped in any way to promote our Sport by way of assistance at the many Championships throughout the year, such help was vital for the Sport to progress and was greatly appreciated by everyone, athletes, coaches and parents alike.

It was great to see such high numbers in our Primary and Post Primary Schools XC and Post Primary Track and Field competitions which were held in Thurles and Templemore. Credit to Jim Ryan and Niall O’Sullivan for organising and masterminding such super events which helps fund our county expenses.

He gave special mention to the achievements of Sharlene Mawdsley of Newport AC who had a fantastic year. His wish is that her achievements will act as a spur for volunteers to apply themselves for roles in the County Board and their clubs. New blood and fresh ideas are needed to keep this sport alive and progressive. Many of our clubs rely on the same dedicated volunteers and this can be precarious for a club’s future.

Anne Fagan, the County Secretary, in her report, thanked everyone for their invaluable contribution to athletics in 2024, which enabled the County Board to run all the championships so smoothly.

2024 was a very successful year for Tipperary, as you have seen from all the thorough reports which have been so well compiled. The number of success stories for Juvenile, Junior, Masters and Senior athletes alike; in the Indoors, Outdoors, Cross Country and Road Races were amazing. Congratulations to all the athletes and their coaches on their success’s and their commitment to training to get to where they are today. She complimented all our juvenile and senior athletes who do athletics not for winning titles or competing in competitions, but for getting out there to get fit, improving their own mental health and meeting new people along their journey. It is these people that keep athletics going within the county and country.

She thanked all the host clubs for the successful running of all our County Championships. Great credit is due to all these volunteers for the phenomenal amount of effort and organising that goes into running these events. She also thanked Thurles Crokes, in particular Kathleen and Madeline Dorney for making their premises available for County Board meetings and events and especially the refreshments afterwards which went down a treat with everyone.

Aoife Hayde, the County Treasurer, gave a very good report on the county finances, which are in a healthy position. She thanked everyone who helped in any way to promote the many Championships throughout the year, regardless of the weather conditions. She thanked her two assistants Owen Fanning and Albert Doyle for managing the gate receipts at all our Championships which showed a marked improvement on the previous year.

The County Registrar, John Moore, in his report showed that there were seventeen Clubs registered in the County. There were 2882 members registered in 2024 up from the 2023 figure of 2357 athletes, showing a 22% increase in membership. He thanked all the Clubs for their great work. He pointed out that the success of our athletes at the Olympic Games in the summer and especially Newport’s Sharlene Mawdsley in our own County boosting the increased numbers with an overall increase of 19% in the autumn transfer window including a 29% increase in our juvenile numbers.

After all the various reports was approved and adopted, the Election of Officers took place.

President: John Flynn Moyne AC,

Hon Life President: Breda Christie,

Chairperson: Owen Fanning Fethard AC,

Vice Chairperson: Tiernan O Donnell DBB AC,

County Secretary: Anne Fagan Newport AC,

Joint Assistant Treasurers: Owen Fanning Fethard AC and Albert Doyle Clonmel AC,

County Registrar: John Moore Dundrum AC,

Senior PRO: Niall O Sullivan Clonmel AC,

Juvenile PRO: Dara Kennedy Newport AC,

Senior Competition Secretary: Michael Moore Dundrum AC,

Senior Track & Field Competition Secretary: Sharon Cantwell Moyne AC,

Assistant Juvenile Track & Field Secretary: Jim Ryan Moycarkey Coolcroo AC,

County Juvenile Cross County Secretary: Eibhlis Flynn Moyne AC,

Child Officers: Paddy Doyle Moyne AC, Billy Purcell Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, Anne Fagan Newport AC and Emby Walsh Carrick on Suir AC.

Social Media Managers: Sharon Cantwell Moyne AC and Owen Fanning Fethard.

The Chairperson thanked both Fiona Kelly Newport, the County Juvenile Track & Field Secretary and Adrian McGinley, Templemore, Juvenile Track & Field PRO for all their great work over the past number of years and who were stepping down this year. Their positions weren’t filled at the AGM and all Clubs will be contacted over the coming weeks to help fill these important positions.

There was a lively discussion on the many motions at the meeting and clubs will be informed of them in the coming weeks.

The Chairman, closed the meeting by again, thanking everyone for their attendance and he wished all our athletes and coaches the very best for the coming year.

Fethard AC wins the Josie Garrett Perpetual Cup

At the County Convention, the Josie Garrett Perpetual Cup was presented by Owen Fanning to his two clubmates John Hurley and Louis Rice. This Cup was won by Fethard AC for the best overall Cross-Country club in the County based on all the Cross-Country Championships throughout the season. Starting with the County Novice last October to the County Masters and Under 23 which were held recently in Fethard. This is a wonderful achievement by this Club who has grown in stature over the past couple of years and congrats to all involved. As we finish one successful season, Cross Country, another season, the Road Championships, gets underway in early March and I have no doubt that Fethard will be going all out to achieve the double.