Model County Draw 2012
Tickets for the Model County Draw 2012 will go on sale in late March, and we are hopeful of your support. The Draw remains a hugely-important source of income to the club, accounting for some 30 per cent of all operating costs in the year just gone by, and we hope to see a similar level of support this year. And don't forget that Ferns tickets won the top prize of a brand new car not just once, but twice, last year - this time, it could be you!
Leinster Hurling League
Our senior hurlers have re-entered the Leinster Hurling League this year, details of which have just been announced.
Our lads have been drawn into Group D of Division 1, alongside Camross of Laois, Castlepollard (Westmeath), and Carlow side Naomh Eoin. They start off with a home tie against Naomh Eoin on Bank Holiday March 19, and then hit the road for trips to both Castlepollard (March 31) and Camross (April 9). Those details can also be found on our adult fixtures pages.
There are five groups in the division, and only the group winners go through to the knock-out stages. The first three names from the hat will go straight into the semi-finals, while the other two will play off for the other semi-final spot.
Rapparees and Rathnure are the other Wexford teams in Division 1, where probably the biggest guns (in terms of past successes) are Offaly side Birr, who have been drawn in Group B.
Our lads have been drawn into Group D of Division 1, alongside Camross of Laois, Castlepollard (Westmeath), and Carlow side Naomh Eoin. They start off with a home tie against Naomh Eoin on Bank Holiday March 19, and then hit the road for trips to both Castlepollard (March 31) and Camross (April 9). Those details can also be found on our adult fixtures pages.
There are five groups in the division, and only the group winners go through to the knock-out stages. The first three names from the hat will go straight into the semi-finals, while the other two will play off for the other semi-final spot.
Rapparees and Rathnure are the other Wexford teams in Division 1, where probably the biggest guns (in terms of past successes) are Offaly side Birr, who have been drawn in Group B.
Movie Premiere & Registration Night
We had a great turn-out in the community centre on Friday night (February 24) for our underage registration night and the launch of our comedy film, 'Historic Hurling'. Thanks to all the parents who brought the young players along. Some teams such as the under-12 and under-14s are already in action, while managers of the other age groups will be in touch in due course with details of when training starts for those sides.
Thanks again too to the parents of all involved in the making of our movie, which brought at least a few laughs. You can see it for yourself by clicking here.
Thanks again too to the parents of all involved in the making of our movie, which brought at least a few laughs. You can see it for yourself by clicking here.
Transfer news
There's some exciting transfer news for Ferns St Aidans this week, as the County Board approved the move of two players to the club.
The first hotshot not-so-young gun is footballing fanatic Richie Lynch, who learned the game in the 'hard chaw' world of his native Meath. Ferns footballing supremo John Tonks is over the moon with the news that Richie is now available for selction should the Junior 'D' team be short a couple of players again. 'We'd get a few minutes out of him anyway, and we'd have something else to talk about over the pints afterwards,' enthused JT.
Also making the official move - in the hope of getting two minutes of low-level gametime somewhere along the way, just so he can say he lined out for the club! - is the not-quite-so-old (by a couple of months) Colm Lambert. His home club Duffry Rovers released the following short statement as his transfer was confirmed: 'Yiz are welcome to him!'
The first hotshot not-so-young gun is footballing fanatic Richie Lynch, who learned the game in the 'hard chaw' world of his native Meath. Ferns footballing supremo John Tonks is over the moon with the news that Richie is now available for selction should the Junior 'D' team be short a couple of players again. 'We'd get a few minutes out of him anyway, and we'd have something else to talk about over the pints afterwards,' enthused JT.
Also making the official move - in the hope of getting two minutes of low-level gametime somewhere along the way, just so he can say he lined out for the club! - is the not-quite-so-old (by a couple of months) Colm Lambert. His home club Duffry Rovers released the following short statement as his transfer was confirmed: 'Yiz are welcome to him!'
Lots of 'traffic'!
We're delighted to say we've had a massive amount of online 'traffic' here since our re-launch on Sunday - with our website attacting no less than 388 unique visitors on that day alone.
To put that into context, the official Wexford GAA site - www.wexfordgaa.ie - recently reported a new record for a single day, of some 1,100 visitors. Remember that's for the whole county - so to have almost 400 for just Ferns really is phenomenal!
We're happy to see that so many of you are so interested in the club to come here in such huge numbers, and please continue to do so, as we intend to keep our site updated as regularly as possible with as much news as we can bring you.
To put that into context, the official Wexford GAA site - www.wexfordgaa.ie - recently reported a new record for a single day, of some 1,100 visitors. Remember that's for the whole county - so to have almost 400 for just Ferns really is phenomenal!
We're happy to see that so many of you are so interested in the club to come here in such huge numbers, and please continue to do so, as we intend to keep our site updated as regularly as possible with as much news as we can bring you.
Senior Hurling management team
Our new senior hurling manager for 2012 is John Barron from the Glynn/Barntown club, and he is joined by selectors Padraig Bailey, Joe Morris and Alan Murphy.
John's most recent role before coming to Ferns was as selector to the county senior team, and he brings a wealth of other experience with him too.
We wish him and his team all the best for a successful and memorable 2012.
John's most recent role before coming to Ferns was as selector to the county senior team, and he brings a wealth of other experience with him too.
We wish him and his team all the best for a successful and memorable 2012.
'New Year, New You' health initiative
2012 began with Ferns St Aidans promoting a 'New Year, New You' health initiative, aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle.
We began with about a dozen people but that's now up to about twenty, and they're all meeting on Monday nights for weigh-ins and advice from Dena Hogan, Stasia Walsh, and more.
It's great to see so many taking part, and all doing so well, by just breaking some old bad habits and developing some new good ones.
Sponsorship is being collected for two good causes (Friends of Gorey District Hospital, and St. Patrick's Special School in Enniscorthy), and all donations are greatly appreciated.
We began with about a dozen people but that's now up to about twenty, and they're all meeting on Monday nights for weigh-ins and advice from Dena Hogan, Stasia Walsh, and more.
It's great to see so many taking part, and all doing so well, by just breaking some old bad habits and developing some new good ones.
Sponsorship is being collected for two good causes (Friends of Gorey District Hospital, and St. Patrick's Special School in Enniscorthy), and all donations are greatly appreciated.
Back in action
After all the heavy training so far with weights and other equipment in the Boxing Club, our senior hurlers had their first taste of on-the-field action on Saturday February 25 with a useful run-out against the county under-21 side at our own grounds in Ferns.
Meanwhile, Paul Morris made an apperance and got a couple of scores for the county senior hurling side in their National Hurling League opener against Antrim on Sunday afternoon. The result may not have gone the right way for Wexford, but hopefully things will pick up in that regard.
Finally, both Ciarán Roberts and Ian Byrne are on the Wexford under-21 football panel for the opening game in the defence of the Leinster title, against Dublin in Bellefield next Wednesday evening (February 29), and we wish them all the best.
Meanwhile, Paul Morris made an apperance and got a couple of scores for the county senior hurling side in their National Hurling League opener against Antrim on Sunday afternoon. The result may not have gone the right way for Wexford, but hopefully things will pick up in that regard.
Finally, both Ciarán Roberts and Ian Byrne are on the Wexford under-21 football panel for the opening game in the defence of the Leinster title, against Dublin in Bellefield next Wednesday evening (February 29), and we wish them all the best.
Registration Night and movie premiere
Our underage registration night takes place in Ferns Community Centre next Friday night, February 24, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. - but that's not all!
The night will also see the premiere of a short comedy film, 'Historic Hurling', made by local children as part of our DVD project supported by the Community Arts Network of Wexford County Council.
It's a tongue-in-cheek look at the development of hurling from prehistoric times to today, taking in such events as the coming of Christianity, Diarmuid McMurrough's quest for foreign players, the coming of Cromwell, 1798, the potato famine, and of course, a history of Ferns St Aidans ourselves.
The film was produced by artist Michael Fortune, and will be included our on oral history DVD 'From Local Fields to Here and Now', which will be launched alongside our club history book on April 7. We also hope to upload it for viewing here after the premiere next weekend.
The night will also see the premiere of a short comedy film, 'Historic Hurling', made by local children as part of our DVD project supported by the Community Arts Network of Wexford County Council.
It's a tongue-in-cheek look at the development of hurling from prehistoric times to today, taking in such events as the coming of Christianity, Diarmuid McMurrough's quest for foreign players, the coming of Cromwell, 1798, the potato famine, and of course, a history of Ferns St Aidans ourselves.
The film was produced by artist Michael Fortune, and will be included our on oral history DVD 'From Local Fields to Here and Now', which will be launched alongside our club history book on April 7. We also hope to upload it for viewing here after the premiere next weekend.
