www.paddysday.be

Dear Friends,

this weekend, Belgium GAA is participating in the largest St Patrick's Day celebrations ever to hit Brussels. Many of you will be playing and helping out on the day, but in the meantime, we need to get the word out to as many people as possible!

Tell your friends, partners, colleagues, everyone! All welcome to Parc 50 on Sunday 15 March.

all details at: www.paddysday.be

Inaugural Belgium GAA Invitational Tournament a great success

A unique celebration of Gaelic football took place in Brussels last weekend as teams from Clare Island and Coventry travelled to the “Capital of Europe” for the inaugural Belgium GAA Invitational Tournament.

A Mayo connection binds all 3 teams together: Roger Casements of Coventry and Belgium GAA, the 2008 European Football Champions, have players of Clare Island origin among their ranks.

The visiting teams both had to negotiate bodies of water on their journey to Brussels. Casements travelled by Eurostar train under the British Channel, while the Clare Islanders, as always, took the ferry to Roonagh Pier before driving to the airport.

The Weather Gods smiled on the travellers as they took to the field on Belgium’s home ground, the Stade Militaire in the world-famous Cinquantenaire Park, and a clear and sunny March day made for ideal footballing conditions.

A day of fast-paced, physical action came to an end with the Belgium men and Roger Casements ladies celebrating decisive victories over their Clare Island opponents.

Belgium captain Phil Cushen, a Kilkenny man with yet another Mayo connection – his grandfather hailed from Mulranny – accepted Clare Island’s Richard Hayes Memorial Trophy and vowed to bring his troops to the island in 2010.

A great weekend was enjoyed by all the visitors and Belgium GAA committee members expressed their great pride and satisfaction in the success of the inaugural event.

Bomber loses out to Hill-Dog in Belgium GAA Shocker

Breaking News: In a shock development that has rocked the world of European Gaelic Games, Belgium GAA's star full-forward Maria "The Bomber" Brosnan today (March 6th) lost her place to Hillary "Hill-Dog" Clinton, who arrived in Brussels on a cloud of scandal and opprobrium.

Sources close to the Belgium Ladies' revealed that Clinton has been drafted on a free transfer, in order to bring a new dimension of attacking aggression to the European Champions, as they seek to build on their 2008 success. "Hill-Dog takes no prisoners," the source revealed, "it's woman, ball and all with that wan".

It is believed Clinton's time spent in Northern Ireland with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, imbued her with an appreciation of the brutal but effective Northern style of Gaelic Football.

Brosnan, meanwhile, is renowned for her silky "total football" skills, honed in the valleys of Kerry, and perfected, infamously, during her 3 year relationship with Colm "The Gooch" Cooper.

Meanwhile, Belgium Ladies' bigwigs Míde Ní Shúilleabháin and Barbara Wynne maintained a stony silence, while Brosnan was unavailable for comment at time of writing.

In a related development, resident Belgium GAA evil genius David "Dilly-Dally-Davey" Barrett today announced his engagement to Hillary, telling the press that "normally I hate forriners, but for Hill-Dog, I made an exception".

Belgium GAA 2009

Imreoirí uaisle An Chraobh Rua, Dear Belgium GAA friends,

On behalf of our club's new committee, I have the great pleasure of (re)welcoming you aboard and looking forward to another brilliant year of gaelic games across Europe.

We have come a long way in a short time. This time last year, then Chairman Conchur De Barra, looking forward to 2008, said that "Belgium G.A.A. will break new ground this year with a new, more accessible, home pitch and more teams. Your enthusiasm and commitment for all Gaelic Games will be paramount to our success on and off the pitch."

Though not widely known as a clairvoyant, Conchur's prediction came true many times over: Belgium GAA finished the year as European champions in both women's and men's football, while the hurling and camogie teams were both runners-up in their respective championships – an extraordinary achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of last year's committee, managers, trainers and players.

Our challenge this year is to use our 2008 success, both on and off the field, as a platform to make 2009 an even greater year for Belgium GAA. Your continuing commitment is the key.
And we've no time to lose! Forthcoming events include:

• Sat March 7: Men's and women's football tournament between Belgium, Clare Island GAA and Roger Casements GAA (Coventry) at Parc Cinquantenaire (P50), followed by dinner for 100 and presentations at Old Oak.
• Sunday March 15: HUGE St Patrick's Day celebrations in Bxl, culminating in games at P50.

As was agreed at this year's AGM the membership fee for the year will be maintained at 50€. Yes, only 50€ for having access to the 50enaire pitch 4 times a week for a large part of the year between all codes. 35€ for students and anyone unemployed.
We ask that you please transfer this amount a.s.a.p. to the club account 363-0292739-33 with your name and mention "fees 2009".

Last year we gave a pair of club shorts and socks when the fee had been paid into the account. This too will remain unchanged for anyone wishing to get the club shorts and socks. For club members who already have the shorts and socks from previous year(s), these members who pay their membership fee will be entitled to a "10€ off" club gear that can be purchased via the Equipment Officer, Maria Brosnan.

On the 'off the pitch' side of things, if you have any ideas in the following areas, do not hesitate to email a committee member, who will bring them up at our meetings:

• Fundraising/sponsorship ideas
• Team "recruitment" initiatives
• Ideas for improving the social/fun/trips side of things for the club

So welcome aboard! The full committee (names and email addresses) is on the ‘contacts’ page on our website – do not hesitate to contact us at any time. Looking forward to seeing you getting your knees dirty for An Chraobh Rua at P50 in the coming weeks,

Is mise le meas, Olof Gill, Belgium GAA Chair 2009.