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Rennes GAA are on their way – not often you see Wren Boys in June. Cover of our Rennes event programme, produced by our Community Officer Donal McCormack (download full programme HERE) Delighted also to mark the visit with the The Wren/Rennes song

For more on the Rennes trip to Ballinrobe, June 14-16, 2013, go HERE For more on the Rennes trip to Ballinrobe, June 14-16, 2013, go HERE For more on the Rennes trip to Ballinrobe, June 14-16, 2013, go HERE For more on the Rennes trip to Ballinrobe, June 14-16, 2013, go HERE For more on the Rennes trip to Ballinrobe, June 14-16, 2013, go HERE

Padraic O’Malley has been in touch to thank everyone who helped to make their recent lightning visit to Ballinrobe a success – our junior team, those who helped out with what he described as excellent hospitality on the evening, and three of our players who donned their jersey. That trio included John Fitzpatrick who went back to his roots – his mother was a native of the island. Would they join us on the trip to Rennes? Actually, Padraic wants to know the dimensions of Flanagan Park. As a townie, this is not something I would ever admit to knowing, even if I did know it, which I don’t. Anyone out there happen to know? Jarlath Reilly, you’re a great man of the soil, surely you’d have that information on the tip of your tongue. Tom Watson – maybe you know it for the quizzes? Let me know if you can answer this, or I might be forced to step it out myself some evening. Sean Murphy, you can probably calculate it by just standing up on the embankment and throwing one over the place. I’m not sure why Padraic wants to know. I certainly don’t think it was because he found the pitch too narrow on the evening… UPDATE, first reply in: A man says: “In paces, I’d give it you in paces (approx 98 wide and 168 long) but no idea in proper measurement”.

In the past decade, our club enjoyed two very successful trips to London. On one occasion we played Tir Conaill Gaels. The other game was an historic occasion as it was the first time a match was played under floodlights at Ruislip. The floodlights were actually on wheels, and were supplied by a company called Musco Lighting. The lights were on trial at the time. I’m not sure if they were taken on on a full-time basis afterwards. We played the London county team (Colm Foody of Bonniconlon was playing) and we beat them. Tommy O’Malley used his subs bench well that night, as far as I recall. Our club PRO Billy Horan wrote a full-page article on the trip in the Mayo News, and it’s framed and up on the walls of a number of local pubs (presented by the club). Anyway, as a club who benefitted from the hospitality of London GAA folk on those occasions, we extend a warm welcome to the London team this weekend as they play Mayo in McHale Park in a truly historic Connacht final. Ballinrobe men who have worn the London jersey? Harry Murphy played for London on a number of occasions. I think Eoin Sheridan played minor for them in Croke Park in 1981 or so – or was that New York? We’d be interested to hear about any other connections, just leave a comment below or email secretary.ballinrobe.mayo@gaa.ie. Are there any Ballinrobe natives home to support the London team this weekend? Manager Paul Coggins played on many occasions for Ballinrobe Community School against Ballinrobe CBS, as Michael Bradley (another man who lived in the UK for many years, and played Gaelic football over there too, not quite sure of the club with which he played)  reminded me when we bumped into each other out swimming Spitz-like around The Point at Cahir Pier last week. And, by the way, in a totally unrelated matter, I have never, ever, repeat ever, experienced the water at Cahir Pier as warm as I found it yesterday evening. Terence Duddy, who supported London when he lived over there, can vouch for that fact, as can Eamon Marrey. Inch was just about to go in when I left, and I’m sure he will back up the claim. It was positively indoor heated. I remember Paul’s brother Eugene playing for Ballyhaunis Community School against Ballinrobe CBS a few years later. More to the point: it’s time for another club trip. Niall Murphy, brother of Harry, will take us by the hand and lead us around Rennes, France, so that must be a priority for late 2013 or early 2014. You can read about the Rennes trip to Ballinrobe last month HERE

Our U10s will train this Saturday morning at 9.30, as per normal. Members of the Rennes GAA team, our guests this weekend, will help out with the Academy. The club have also organised a bus to Mayo v Roscommon on Sunday for U12s and U10s. If you are interested in sending your son or daughter along, text Kevin at 087 284 8324 to book your place. Cost of bus is €5 and you’ll need to purchase a juvenile ticket €5 in Supervalu in advance. Any parents who wish to come on the bus are very welcome.

UPDATE, SATURDAY 2pm: We had a great morning at Debut Day. We had a total of 52 young players and a huge turnout of older players and adults. It is tied in with the visit by Rennes GAA to Ballinrobe this weekend, so head on over HERE to read all about it, and to see the photos. Here’s the pre-match pep-talk by Donal Vaughan, Noel Connelly, Niall Murphy and Alan Flannery, with Liam Horan as master of ceremonies. Plus this VIDEO of the team being clapped onto the field by parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends, coaches, Rennes players and club supporters. They’re now fully inducted in the club colours: may it be a long and fruitful innings for each and every one of them. And we’d like to echo Des May’s sentiments in this video: well done!   In 2012, we inaugurated our Debut Day – when we mark the first year in which our U8s wear the club jersey. Last year it was against Carras on a beautiful Saturday morning – this Saturday (June 15), we are hoping for good weather for the 2013 Debut Day when our young players play Hollymount-Carramore, in Flanagan Park, Ballinrobe, at 11am. Players, family and friends are asked to be there at 10.30am for the ‘welcome to the club colours’ pep-talk by club chairman Alan Flannery, plus photos and the parade of the players onto the field before the game. This is a family day – we had three generations of some families there last year – and we hope to see similar numbers again this year. This is the start of what will hopefully be a rewarding and exciting journey in the club colours for all our young players. Bring your cameras to capture the memories. This year, we will have as special guests the members of the Rennes GAA team who are visiting Ballinrobe this weekend. More on Rennes trip HERE