The small little brown envelope is among the day’s post. You recognise it immediately, as it has no stamp, just your name. Noel Lynch-the Postman-always delivers Jimmy Farrelly the club Secretary’s letters so there must be a club “com-mitt-teee” meeting on soon you think to yourself. Tomorrow night at 8.30 upstairs in Cassidy's Public House.

The last few stragglers have arrived and the babble of conversation has died down. David O’ Reilly* the Club Chairman calls the meeting to order at around 9.15 p.m. This is quite good considering we are working on “GAA Time”. For those unaware of the inner workings of the Dis Great Assossssheeeayshun Of Ours, GAA time means things can start anything up to an hour after their appointed time. After the Minutes from the previous meeting are “read out” by Jimmy and adopted by Jack White we move onto “Matters Arising”.

Jimmy has been Secretary of the club for the last 15 years. A man of about 55 years, he gives his furrowed brow a quick wipe as he begins to flick through his tattered “Black Ledger” to find the latest club correspondence. "We haven't much really to tell ye the truth” he declares. “We have a physio bill of €220 for Brian Brady who hurt his ankle last month, FÁS have sent notice of a meeting next Monday evening in the Parish Hall and crowd from Dublin who sell flags and nets have sent me their new brochure. I will be giving them a ring next week because we need a new set of nets for the far goals because they’re in tatters ". Jimmy asks P.J. O’Neill - who is the club representative at FÁS meetings- will he be able to attend on Monday and he says he will.

“Mr Chairman” says Thomas McCabe, a stocky farmer in his early fifties, who starts to address the meeting.”“ Regarding that physio - Did young Brady go to the Club physio ?, Because I heard that he went to a different wan down the road that charges €22 euro a session yet we are only covered for €18 euro”. Jimmy rummages quickly through a pile of paper and confirms what O’Sullivan has said is indeed correct. After further toing-and-froing the Chairman intervenes. “We shouldn’t pay all of that bill. Players have to learn to obey the rules and go to the club physio or else they won’t get paid”. As usual poor Jimmy is given the job of approaching the budding star Brady and explaining the situation to him - Rather him than me as the saying goes.

After much transgressing we finally get onto the main item on the agenda which is fund-raising. “Lads” announces Chairman David, “You all know that the club needs money to survive. So I think meself we'll have organise some sort of a draw”. Immediately a dissenting voice emerges from the back of the room in the form of Seamus Morgan. "Mr Chairman I just want to say why do we always have to sell Tickets. I'm sick of selling feckin tickets. Sure, how many draws have we had in this club down the years…They’re a complete curse. You’re hittin the same people the whole time and it’s just not “on” anymore. I can tell you now I won't be selling any if we are running a draw”

“Ah Seamus” mutters the Chairman in a state of disbelief as he takes off his glasses and scratches his head in frustration. “I just don’t know- Well how do ye propose to raise money? Has anyone got any suggestions, I’m throwing it out to you lot now!”

This suddenly leads to ten or twelve voices speaking at once with the result that no one can hear anything and forces the Chairman to use all his skills, honed in the Local National School where he has taught for the past twenty-five years, to call the meeting to order. “Lads” he says- “One at a time please so that we can hear what everyone has to say! ".

Martin Morgan, who incidentally is a first cousin of Seamus, is first to speak " I agree with Seamie - we should try something different this year to raise money. The “Thinking Caps” are well and truly on and a plethora of ideas start streaming forward from the floor. - A Sports Day ... Race Night ... Head Shave…Barbeque. or the definitely different “Bed Push” from Dublin to Galway…

With so many suggestions being “thrun out” the Chairman is in a state of flux and decides that any decision on how future club funds should be raised will be held over to the next club meeting. With no further business to discuss everyone adjourns downstairs to Cassidy’s Bar for last orders, where the “real meeting” commences.

*Please Note: Names have been changed to protect the innocent ... and the afflicted!