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 Our 2011 season kicked off with a bang on Sunday 16th January as the Club honoured their founding members and long standing club stalwarts at a function in the Clubhouse to mark our first ever Club Sean Gael and the launch of the GAA`s new Social Initiative Project. Former and present Chairmen/Presidents and Secretaries along with those who have attained the infamous 3 score and ten were honoured with a Certificate of Appreciation for their contribution to the Rapparees/Starlights over the years.
In her introduction Club Secretary Maria Nolan said what an honour and a privilege it was to have the President of the GAA Christy Cooney in attendance to present the Certificates and it was the mark of the man she said that he had no hesitation when asked to do so. Since his inauguration she said Mr. Cooneys main focus has been `the Club` which he believes to be at the heart of the Association. Maria welcomed Sean Kilbride, National Co-ordinator of the Social Initiative Programme, Chairman of the Co. Board, representatives of Leinster Council members of the Garda and other honoured guests in particular those who were being honoured saying that they were the ultimate GAA Volunteers – who have never asked what the club had done for them but rather if there was anything more they could have done for the Club. These were the men she said who had made both the club and the Association great – they had walked the talk, done the work, took the flak and now finally it was their turn to take the accolades. And she called on GAA President to make the presentations and on Club Chairman John Browne who said a few well chosen words on each recipient and complimented and thanked their families for allowing their fathers and spouses give so much of their time and their lives to the Club and the GAA. The large attendance were then addressed by the President who stressed the importance of Club saying that ` the Club is the point of entry for involvement in the GAA and the place we all come back to and finish up. It is of us and we are of it. Is sinne an Club`. He paid tribute to Club Chairman and organisers of the event Maria Nolan and Tom Boland and complimented the Club on its facilities and ethos saying that it was not just a GAA Club but a centre of activity for the larger Community and a most appropriate launch pad for the new Social Initiative Project. Club President Larry Byrne then presented a 1500th Anniversary tie pin designed by local Jeweller Stephen Bourke to Christy Cooney to commemorate his visit to Bellefield and Enniscorthy. In his address Sean Kilbride former Mayo and Roscommon footballer and national Co-ordinator said how honoured he was to be part of the proceedings and went on to give an outline of the Social Initiative Programme launched in Croke Park recently, adding that Rapparees/Starlights were the first club to apply to be included in this Scheme initiated by the President Mary McAleese to combat isolation among older men and encourage them to continue to use and pass on their experience, skills and knowledge and become more active within the club and society in general. He listed some of the suggested activities and looked forward to Rapparees/Starlights Social Initiative Committee. In conclusion Maria Nolan thanked everyone for attending especially President Christy Cooney for making the day a very special occasion for the recipients, their families and the club itself, and she said that she looked forward to working with Sean Kilbride on the Social Initiative over the coming months. With the formalities concluded light refreshments were served and as the sun set on a most enjoyable day and a reminiscent Bellefield tall tales and half truths reverberated around its walls well into the night!
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Mens Social Initiative 
