News from Bruff GAA

Club membership is now due for renewal and new members are also welcome. The annual fee is Eu30 for adults and Eu10 for students and OAP’s, please contact Ger Browne who is club membership secretary or any club officer. Buff GAA club this year as part of a new fundraising initiative are offering long term 15 year membership of the club. For details of this offer contact any club officer or committee member.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be launching a number of exciting projects that will be key to promoting our club as well as assisting in reducing the current loans incurred by building a modern sports complex which is providing a great service to not just our own members but to the wider community as a whole. Therefore it is imperative that we all help in whatever way we can to make sure we continue to provide the best facilities available for our community.

Committee meetings will continue to be held at our complex from 8pm on Monday nights, please make every effort to attend. Coming soon, Bruff GAA leisure wear, we are hoping to have a club shop up and running in the next week which will provide a wide range of clothing for children and adults, featuring our club crest.

Bruff Hockey Club play last game of Season

Bruff finish second in league!

Bruff Hockey Club
Bruff 3
Belvedere 0
Bruff hockey ladies played their last game of the 2007/2008 league on Saturday last against Belvedere of Cork. The girls from Co. Limerick finished the league just like they started with a fantastic victory over Belvedere. This win ensures that Bruff will finish in second place in the league.

Saturday’s game was Bruff’s first match of 2008 due to fixtures been cancelled and clubs unable to field full squads. Due to this it took Bruff a long period to settle into the game. The first half was a stop start affair with frees being awarded to both teams but unable to find the target resulting in the half ending scoreless.
The second half saw Bruff totally transformed, they emerged a new team after an inspiring half time talk from the captain. From the tip off the Bruff mid-fielders and forward line had Belvedere under huge pressure. Players began to utilise the ball and 10 minutes into the half Bruff were awarded a penalty. Gillian Keane step up to the penalty spot where she made no mistake in powering the ball past the Belvedere keeper, to open the scoring of the game. From here Bruff never looked back but Belvedere never gave up. They continued to put Bruff under pressure inside their own "22" without success. In general the game was played in a hard competitive spirit but Belvedere failed to score. Best for Bruff up front was Sharon Bulfin, who scored a great goal from an acute angle, along with Cathy Wallace who left the Belvedere goalie with no chance from her unstoppable shot which hit the back post. Caroline Collins played a huge role in delivering great ball into the circle Both Jennifer Liston and Catriona Kennedy were unlucky not to add to the score line, while great credit goes to the Bruff defence and goalie Lisa Ryan who were so solid throughout the game and denied Belvedere a score.
Team:Lisa Ryan, Patricia O’ Sullivan, Fiona Lee, Nicola Savage, Catherine Martin, Gillian Keane, Catriona Kennedy, Jennifer Liston (Captain) Sharon Bulfin, Cathy Wallace, Caroline Collins, Eileen Murphy.
Great credit goes to all players and members of the club on finishing second in the division. Well done to all involved. Bruff will play in a cup semi-final on weekend 1/2 March against Church of Ireland.

Just for Cliona

A CD dedicated to the memory of Cliona Ring is available at several outlets in Bruff. Cliona, the daughter of Terry and Brendan Ring, was at the tender age of 7, diagonosed with an in-operable brain tumour; despite her illness Cliona enjoyed life immensely until her untimely death on 2nd December 2007. The CD is a beautiful and thought provoking memorial to a young girl. Funds raised through the sale of the CD will go towards supporting families of sick children away from home.

To read "I Love my Life" by Cliona gives us an insight into the mind of a brave young girl who was obviously an extraordinary and brave person.

Tidy Towns Committee in Bruff !

Good news for Bruff..... the Tidy Towns Committee is to be resurrected..... Lenore Quilty is going to Chair the Committee and Maurice Lyons is the main contact. Further details soon

Bruff RFC in line for web award!

The Bruff Rugby Club site, www.bruffrfc.com. has been nominated in the Sports Blog Category and the Best Newcomer in the national awards lists.
"We're over the moon," said Bruff's webmaster, Richard Leonard upon hearing of the news. "It came as a nice surprise although we did know the site had become very popular. Over the last month alone, there were 171,000 hits on the site and 109,000 of them were from the US. We've also received a lot of hits from some less obvious places like Cameroon, the Lebanon and Zimbabwe."

Death of Mary Shanahan

THE death of Mary Shanahan, Main Street Bruff occurred recently in the Regional Hospital, Limerick. Mary will be remembered for her outstanding services as Sacristan of Ss. Peter and Paul’s Church for over 40 years. Sympathy is extended to her daughter, Mary: Son in law John: her grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul was celebrated by Fr. James Costello,P.P. The concelebrants were Fr. Joe Foley and Fr. Desmond Mc Auliffe. Mary was laid to rest with her late husband in the adjoining cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Bruff RFC Win the big one!

Division 3 -- Bruff v Instonians

Killballyowen Park, Bruff

The one everyone has been waiting for. Bruff have won all 10 of their fixtures this season, Instonians have lost just one, a shock defeat to Banbridge, but have accumulated more bonus points and are just three points off the leaders.

...... and Bruff Won ! in a real nail biter 6-5. This leaves Bruff 6 points clear at the top!

Bruff diamond still bulling for road!

Click here to read a good article about John Hayes in today's Irish Times.

John Hayes and Peter Stringer during Ireland's game against Georgia at Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, last December.

Bruff GAA is looking for old photos!

Bruff GAA club are trying to put together a collection of old and new photo's of Bruff teams, players or any photo connected to Bruff GAA. "It is our ambition that these photo's will be placed on the walls of our complex as a reminder of our proud past within the Gaelic Games Association. If you would like to donate any that you may have or alternatively we can arrange for copies to be made please contact Ken Moloney on 087-9381835 or any committee member. Thank you for your continued support"

Big game for Bruff RFC

Bruff play Instonians on Saturday in Kilballyowen Park at 2.30pm.This is a a top of the table clash and big crowds are expected!

School presents musical hit show!

Árd Scoil Mhuire F.C.J. Bruff
T.Y.R.
Present the Musical
Mama Mia Madness

In the School Hall
at 8.00pm
Wednesday 5th., Thursday 6th., Friday 7th. and Saturday 8th. of March 2008
Admission: Adults €10 Students €5 Family Ticket €25 (2Adults & 2 children)
Tickets sponsored by Bank of Ireland, Kilmallock

Tickets will be available from the school office; Telephone 061382349 Fax: 061382511 Email: adminfcjbruff@hotmail.com

Under strength Bruff Outclassed in AIB Cup

Six-try Malone demolish Bruff 02/02/2008 - MALONE 37 BRUFF 3 An under-strength Bruff side were outclassed at Gibson Park this afternoon as six-try Malone eased into the AIB Cup quarter-finals.The Belfast men will travel to Galwegians in the last-eight after brothers David and Michael Bradford, Kieran Hallett, Sam McDonald and Peter Baird (2) helped themselves to tries.With next week's crunch Division Three tie against Instonians in mind, Bruff travelled north without some of their top players and were 18-3 behind at half-time.Second half tries from lock McDonald (48 minutes) and full-back Baird (58 and 78) completed Malone's rout.The hosts, who are currently fifth in AIB League Division Two, hit the front in the third-minute when Hallett, the former Ireland Under-21 international, sent over a well-struck penalty.This tie, postponed last month due to snow, quickly became a one-sided affair as Malone moved 13-0 ahead inside the first quarter.A patient maul led to blindside flanker David Bradford crossing the visitors' whitewash in the 12th-minute and out-half Hallett, who boasts an Ulster development contract, broke free on the Bruff 22 five minutes later and had the pace to make the line.
Both conversions were missed and hooker Michael Bradford's score in the 25th-minute, after another impressive maul drive, also went unconverted. Try-scoring chances were limited for a largely second string Bruff line-up but out-half Alan Kilcoyne did open their account with a 21st-minute penalty.Although their defence was committed throughout, Bruff were unable to live with the Malone forwards at close range and a surge off a lineout helped McDonald muscle over from five metres out for the home side's fourth try.Left winger Chris Rowan did the groundwork for Baird's first try just before the hour mark. Rowan sliced through the Bruff rearguard and offloaded just in time for the supporting Baird to race through and dot down.Hallett converted and Andy Dougan's men notched their sixth try when Baird again showed a clean pair of heels to the visitors' defence, two minutes from time.Scorers: Malone: Tries: David Bradford, Kieran Hallett, Michael Bradford, Sam McDonald, Peter Baird 2; Cons: Kieran Hallett 2; Pen: Kieran HallettBruff: Pen: Alan Kilcoyne

Latest on Bruff Water Supply Problems

Council Replaces Connections To Properties Affected By Bruff Drinking Water Notice
30.01.2008 15:27:36 Bruff, County Limerick, 30th January 2008 – Limerick County Council confirmed today that it is presently replacing lead service connections to ten separate properties in Bruff, which have shown signs of elevated levels of lead in their drinking water supply.
(live-PR.com) - The notice was originally issued on 14th January last, on the advice of the Health Services Executive (HSE), after low levels of lead were detected in some town centre premises during routine monitoring of drinking water.

Based on the results of the monitoring carried out to date, Limerick County Council has said it is satisfied that the source of the water is not displaying elevated levels of lead with no known health risk attached to short term consumption. The HSE, meanwhile, has confirmed that testing has shown that drinking water supplies to all local schools are satisfactory, and schools have been notified accordingly.While the water notice will remain in place and the monitoring of water supplies premises will continue, the local authority said it would be providing safe drinking water at three town centre locations from tomorrow (Thursday). The locations are Collinstown Terrace, Park View (across from the Monument) and the entrance to Chapel Street. Commenting on the Council’s role in addressing the issue, Mr. Paul Crowe, Director of Transportation and Water Services, explained, “A monitoring programme has been ongoing and elevated levels of lead have again been detected in certain locations while other locations have been well below the limits specified in the Drinking Water Regulations. As a result, and following consultations with the HSE, the notice advising residents in the Main Street and Hospital Road areas not to drink the tap water is to remain in force.”He continued, “The problem is site specific and relates primarily to older premises, and most likely linked to the presence of lead pipes either within householders’ premises or between the watermain itself and the premises. As the water supply in the watermain itself is safe to drink, the Council will, in the interim, provide safe drinking water locations for affected residents.”Mr. Crowe said that the Council had begun implementing an action programme aimed at redressing the problem. Among the programme objectives is the identification and monitoring of the water quality in premises, which may have lead connections while providing notification of monitoring results to individual property owners. Where it is confirmed that a property does not to have a lead connection or lead pipes and is not at risk, the property owner will be notified accordingly. Elsewhere, replacement connections from the watermain to the stopcock are presently being provided for ten properties that have displayed elevated levels of lead in the water. Where it is identified in the course of this work that a lead connection is in place from the stopcock to the property, the property owner will be advised to have it replaced.Limerick County Council is also initiating a programme to eliminate all lead connections to the watermains in Bruff, and advise householders who have lead pipework within their properties to replace same. Further details of this programme will be announced once it has been developed. Meanwhile, Limerick County Council indicated that the tap water could safely be used for personal washing, showering and bathing including for brushing teeth. It is also safe for the preparation and cooking of vegetables and for the washing of clothes and dishes.However, the Council is advising householders not to use the tap water for drinking, even if boiled; and not to make ice cubes, dilutable drinks, stews/soups or formula feeds for babies.Two helplines, 061-496326 (9.30-4.30) and 061-419226 (after hours), have been set up to advise members of the public in the affected areas.