Derry city club Sean Dolan's has won the AIB GAA Club of the Year award. According to the judging panel, chaired by Jimmy Cousins, Dolan's deserved the award because it "not alone has an outstanding record on the field but also has an excellent partnership with the surrounding community". Other provincial winners were: Oranmore-Maree from Galway, Waterford's Roanmore and Thomas Davis from Tallaght in Dublin.
Based in the Creggan, having moved from the Waterside in the 1960s because of shifting demographics, the club represents both areas and has a catchment area of about 25,000. More successful at underage level than at senior, the club places a major emphasis on cultural and community-based projects.
"When people stop playing, they don't leave," says club chairman Noel McChrystal. "They move on to coaching or to the language or whatever their speciality is. We've a lot of very good people working in the club."
The club premises features extensive facilities, including a clubhouse and an all-weather pitch, and has been funded by careful investment.
"We originally bought 25 acres which was about five more than we needed," says McChrystal, "so we could sell it off or rent it over the years."
The club's premises is used by the North West Institute for some of its education programmes and also as the site of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir which Dolan's has initially supported but which they hope will be publicly funded from next year.
GAA president Sean McCague said the scheme was particularly timely. "In the year that is the International Year of the Volunteer, it is most appropriate to acknowledge the consistent hard work of our administrators without whom there would be no games."
Prize money for the county winners was £500, for the provincial winners £1,000 and Dolan's picked up a further £5,000 for the overall award.
CONNACHT: Galway, Oranmore-Maree (Winners); Leitrim, Melvin Gaels; Mayo, Ballintubber; Roscommon, Kilglass Gaels; Sligo, Calry St Joseph's.
LEINSTER: Carlow, Eire Og; Dublin, Thomas Davis (Winners); Kildare, Moorefield; Kilkenny, Emerald's; Laois, St Fintan's; Longford, Clonguish; Louth, St Mary's; Meath, Simonstown Gaels; Offaly, St Rynagh's; Westmeath, St Loman's; Wexford, St Anne's; Wicklow, Baltinglass.
MUNSTER: Clare, Wolfe Tones, Shannon; Cork, Blarney; Kerry, Dr Croke's; Limerick, Doon; Tipperary, Drom-Inch; Waterford, Roanmore (Winners).
ULSTER: Antrim, Tir na nOg; Armagh, Crossmaglen Rangers; Cavan, Kingscourt Stars; Derry, Sean Dolan's (Winners); Donegal, Ardara; Down, Clonduff; Fermanagh, Devenish; Monaghan, St Mary's; Tyrone, St Dympna's.
