Balloon Race on 17th September! Will your family have the fastest balloon?

Come up for Launch @ 7pm and the BBQ and MUSIC in the clubhouse after!

On September 17th thousands of balloons will be released from Geraldine Park in a race against the clock. To be in with a chance buy your balloon (ONLY €5) Committee members,managers or members. The balloons will be given a 4 week period to travel as far as they can with the wind as inspiration. When the balloons land the person who finds them will return them to Athy GFC. The buyer whose balloon has travelled the furthest distance in the time frame will win 1st Prize: €400, 2nd Prize: €200, 3rd Prize: €100. Prize is also given to furthest returner as incentive.

So Come on and take your chance and enjoy the spectacle that is the Official Launch on September 17th !

Athy GFC Would sincerely like to thank Eddie Byrne of Topaz, Kilkenny Rd. Athy for their support and Sponsorship.

See A Report of the Kildare County Show Sales Launch! 

Athy GFC Golf Classic

Athy GFC Golf Classic will take place at the Athy Golf Club on Friday the 30th of July. The teams will be comprised of four players each. Contact Paul Hicks, Eamon Wynne or Marty McEvoy for further details.

On Friday the 19th of March a Fun Night was held to encourage grow our Ladies Teams. Many attended the event in the Clubhouse and fun was had by all. Girls as young as 7 came up to make new friends and to start playing. There is no doubt the future is positive for Athy Ladies football. New members are still welcome to join up. Contact any committee member. A notice will be made about the beginning of training for the various age groups. 

Annual Dinner Dance.

The Carlton Abbey Hotel was the venue for the Athy GFC Dinner Dance where over 200 people gathered to look back on 2009. After a wonderful meal attentions were turned to medal presentations.

Firstly, Chairman Mark Dalton reflected on 2009 applauding all panels and management teams on the effort that they put into their respective campaigns. After a very successful year he wished all an equally successful 2010 as the Senior Team returns to Division 1 and the Minor Boys and Girls hope to retain their Championship Titles. He also thanked the club's main Sponsor Tegral, represented by Paddy Kelly, for their continuous support every year.

To present medals to the Minor Ladies, recently appointed Kildare County Board Chairman, Padraig Ashe was welcomed warmly to Athy. It must be recognized that this is a first in Athy GFC history and a special congratulations to the girls and management is due. Next it was the turn of the Minor Boys who had a new friend of the club to receive their medals from. Former Armagh great, and Crossmaglen legend, Oisin Mc Conville was delightfully welcomed by the Athy club. He presented the medals to the team who won the Minor Championship for two years in a row. The also reached the Leinster Final, narrowly beaten by Na Fianna of Dublin. Then came the turn of the Seniors who will face Division 1 in 2010. Oisin commented on how disciplined and welcoming the players he worked with when he first met them. As a relationship between the clubs grew a trip to Crossmaglen was organised and he acknowledged how they team wereU-16's revered in his hometown. 

Padraig Ashe was called upon again to present them with their Division 2 medals and there is no doubt that this young team, guided by their mentors, can go on to more success in 2010 and the future. They remained un-beaten before sadly loosing to St Laurence's in the Championship Quarter Final who were the eventual deserved winners. Padraig Ashe concluded his duties by thanking Athy's contribution to Kildare Football on and off the field. He thanked his fellow officers, Con Ronan (Former Treasurer, new Development Officer) and Marty Mc Evoy (Ard-chomhairle Chill Dara delegate). He also complimented the Athy Executive and membership for their efforts and energy. He lastly thanked Kidare's Main Sponsor Tegral for their support of the county team.

To conclude the presentations Player of the Year Awards, sponsored by Maxwell Motors Athy, were presented.

Minor Ladies: Michelle Foley
Minor Boys: Liam Mc Govern
Senior Men: James Eaton

Darroch Mulhall received a presentation from the Kildare County Board for his rather special achievement of being Top Scorer in the All Ireland Minor Championship 2009. Also Corey Moore received an award for the most blocks in Athy Minor's campaign during the year. In recognition of the effort they put in, the Minor Management Team were presented with a small token of gratitude from the panel.

George Washington and his band then began the music and the dancing followed with all enjoying the night. Athy GFC would like to thank the Carlton Abbey for their hospitality and their high standards which allowed the occasion to be as successful as it was. We would like to thank those who attended for coming to remember 2009 and wish our whole membership and the community a successful 2010 on and off the field.