Hi all,
Please see attached our 2025 report from our chairperson ; Dave Rooney
Annual General Meeting (AGM) Report 2025: A Year of Growth and Transformation
Please see attached our 2025 report from our chairperson ; Dave Rooney
Annual General Meeting (AGM) Report 2025: A Year of Growth and Transformation
I hope you got a sense of the achievements & efforts we as a club have made this year from our club AGM on Monday 8th December. If you could not make it, I would like to take the opportunity to share my view on this year of significant progress both on and off the field, marked by record growth and fundamental structural changes designed to secure our club's future.
Moment of Reflection
2025 has been a very tough year for the club & members with the loss of loved ones during the past year. In particular we remember the sudden passing of Conor Allen, Kevin Flatley and Keith Beezer Gorman. Through these dark times the club has acted with integrity, empathy and I hope we have been a beacon of hope and support for the families impacted.
1. Club Structure and Governance
The club has experienced exceptional growth, with membership numbers increasing year-over-year (YoY) and just currently under 1,200 members. To manage this expansion effectively and ensure long-term sustainability, we initiated a comprehensive review of our structures:
Club Structure & Executive Review: We completed a full review of executive roles and the overall Executive way of working.
Governance Restructure: A significant restructure of the club's governance was enacted, including the establishment of a new Board of Trustees and club president.
Role Mergers: Key roles were merged to achieve greater alignment and coverage, specifically focusing on enhancing Diversity and Recruitment efforts.
Policy Update: We undertook an important action and conducted a refresh of all Club policies to ensure best-practice governance.
2. Commercial Development
Our commercial strategy focused on stability, rationalisation, and building a stronger financial foundation, including a 5-10 year financial business plan
Sponsorship Agreements: We successfully negotiated and secured several vital new sponsorship agreements.
Partnership Rationalisation: We rationalised key partnership and supplier relationships, notably with O'Reillys and O'Neills, to secure better value and alignment.
Club Online Shop Launch: The new Online Club Shop was launched, featuring a popular line of commemorative tops which has proven to be very successful
Tenders: We completed a number of key commercial tenders, including securing a new Print Partner and finalising arrangements with a new supplier Diageo.
Commercial Offering: Work has been completed to update and enhance our overall commercial offering to potential partners and preparing the club for commercialisation of some of our assets in 2026 to ensure the financial stability and health of our club
Business Plans: Comprehensive 5-10 year business plans for club finances have been developed and approved, providing a clear roadmap for financial health.
3. Off-Field Programs and Activities
Our commitment to the development of our members extends beyond the pitch:
Player Development: We implemented enhanced Strength and Conditioning (S&C) Programs for our Adult and Minor teams and expanded the general Athletic Development framework across all CCC2 age groups.
New Social Venture: The Darts Team startup was successfully launched and has begun competing in 2025.
Inclusivity: We were proud to launch the GAA All Stars team ( NA SPIDEOGA ) to ensure Gaelic games are accessible to all. Kicked off with a special day on the 30th of November where we hosted our first event in the new club to nearly 1,000 All star players, teams and families
Awards: The club received a well-deserved Silver Award in the Healthy Club initiative, reflecting our commitment to physical and mental wellbeing.
Our outstanding efforts in Hurling were also formally recognised with an Award for the clubs efforts to develop and grow the game of hurling.
4. Social and Cultural Activities
We continue to expand our role as a community club promoting Irish culture and social inclusion:
Cultural Programs: We saw high participation in the Junior and Adult Scor events and expanded our Irish language classes.
Gaeltacht Scholarships: We supported a new wave of members with Gaeltacht scholarships in 2025 and are looking to continue in 2026
Community Partnership: We established a meaningful partnership to host a Memory Cafe which will launch formally in 2026 for people and families that suffer with or have been impacted by Alzheimer's
We continue to support & champion charities with our December Charity month and the support of Palestine Day earlier in the year.
Social Games: The popularity of Social Hurling, Camogie & Football & G4MO sessions continues to rise, fostering & expanding our club community and providing adults with a social outlet to enjoy our Gaelic games, with expansion in 2026 with the set up of the a Dads & Lads team
5. On-Field Achievements
The dedication of our players and coaches has resulted in historic achievements this year:
We have received a formal recognition from Dublin Co.Board regarding our growth Which we have experienced a massive +833% growth in our numbers of the period 2017 to 2022 - At CCC2 level, we need to remain laser focussed on growth of numbers and retention
Minor Camogie: A milestone achievement was the establishment of two Minor Camogie teams, a first in the club's history.
Team Expansion: We successfully fielded a 3rd Adult Men's team and a 2nd Ladies Football team, demonstrating the fantastic influx of senior players.
Across our adult teams we have seen success and a significant level of improvement across the board and I expect us to achieve more in 2026
Grassroots Development: Key development initiatives included Gaelic on the Green, participation in the Fingal Sports Day, the roll-out of a School & Class Coaching pilot, to expand our visibility across our community in particular the new areas within Balbriggan, Balscaddan, Balrothery areas
6. New development Facilities
We will now have access in the coming week or so to a fantastic state-of-the-art development which is a testament to your hard work over the last 10 years. Over the coming weeks we will formally close Bremore Park and have a launch night for Bremore Park nua.
We would like to formally close Bremore Park and conduct a blessing of our new facility along with a welcome visit to all members on Saturday the 20th December, please keep an eye out for the itinerary.
In 2026 we will have a number of formal openings, welcoming intercounty teams for challenge games and I would encourage all teams to organise blitzes during the year so we can showcase our facilities to all members of the GAA Community.
It is important as a club that we embrace the future but do not forget our past as we move into our new club facilities, Boss Guildea and Chris Curran have been tasked to ensure that the history of O’Dwyers and GAA in Balbriggan are remembered and have prominence in our new facilities.
In addition to Bremore Park we will also be looking at expansion of facilities
Taylor Hill Pitch - Pending handover with Fingal
Exploratory locations Scoil Chormaic / Clonard Hill & Pinewood / Training pitch
Within our potential new club footprint we will have access to the following in 2026
6 pitches ( Bremore Park, Bells Pitch, Taylor Hill, All weather pitch )
4 Training locations ( Glor na Mara, Clonard Hill, St Teresa's, Pinewood )
Our fixtures team of James & Anne have done an amazing job over the last number of years in ensuring equity across the teams for matches and training slot allocations and we will need your patience and support as we navigate through the transition.
Key Messages for the Year Ahead
As we look forward, the Executive Committee wishes to convey four crucial messages:
Volunteer Support: Our extraordinary growth and structural transformation depend entirely on the support of our members. We have an urgent need for volunteers across all areas to sustain and support this growth. If you can share an hour a week, please reach out to a member of Exec or drop an email to Paul T - we will be sharing next week open roles and details of new committees we feel that need to be set up.
Patience in Transition: We ask for patience from all members as we transition into this new development and as we evolve as a club. Change takes time, and is often frustrating but the long-term benefits for the club are immense. We will make errors or have misses these are never intentional. As volunteers we are all doing our very best for the club and members.
Discipline & Respect : We must maintain a strict mindfulness of discipline on the field and off the field. It is concerning to note that fines have again exceeded €2,500, marking another year-on-year increase. We must work together to address this critical issue immediately.
Ambition: We have had a tough number of years with highs & lows, now we have the building blocks and foundations to really transition our club and to retake our position within Dublin GAA, in order for us to do this we must think & act like a Division 1 Senior club across all levels & codes of the club from Ogs right up.
Be Relentless in our recruitment & retention
Be Hungary to expand your coaching & technical skills to support your team development
Be Resolute to ensure your teams are competing at the highest level & to challenge ourselves
Be Passionate, ensure that you do not forget why we are, it is to create an enjoyable fun environment & create positive memories for all
Be Responsible & Own our future
Be Open, we need to communicate effectively and more often going forward to ensure we have full alignment across all topics
I would like to express my sincere thank you to the Executive Committee members who have stepped down from their roles this year
Denise Corcoran | C&G Officer
Mary Kenny | Children Officer
Aidan Smith | Facilities Officer
Dorinda Byrne | Social Officer
Ciara Power | Fundraising lead
Aaron Keenan | Development Officer
You each have made a massive contribution to our club across your time and your commitment to support the club has been inspirational. Thank you on behalf of all our membership past, present and future. You should be proud of what you have achieved and I hope you still see you around the club.
In the coming days, weeks we will be reaching out to members for support to fill these important roles along with other sub committee roles that we need to fill in order to build on our club successes.
Finally I would like to thank all our club coaches, our club President, Board of Trustees, Club executive and committees for your tireless efforts to your teams, the club and wider community.
In life there are limited opportunities to be a force for good and in O’Dwyers we & you have the opportunity. Let's grasp it in 2026 and beyond.
If I do not get the chance in person, I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Dave Rooney
