Christmas Jumper Day

Our wonderful Christmas Ambassadors, siblings Shay and Chloe, are asking you to do the simplest thing, to help children like them and every sick child that comes through the doors of Children’s Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly.

Their story is so inspiring and heartwarming, one of bravery, love, support and care. “Shay and Chloe’s story is just one of many that makes Christmas Jumper Day so important. This time of year is all about giving, and when you jump into a Christmas jumper, you give kids (and parents like us) the best gift ever… HOPE” say Irene and James, Shay and Chloe’s parents

We need YOU to sign up to help each and every child who comes through the doors of our Children’s Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. Your donations will give sick children the very best present and will make a lasting difference for our littlest patients and their families this Christmas and beyond.

So please, on Friday, 9th December, gather your teams together and ask them to simply…….Wear a silly sweater to help sick children get better!

Update on Hockey Pitch Development, November 2022

Avoca Hockey Club

Following on from our previous announcement in relation to the resurfacing of the Newpark Comprehensive School hockey pitch, we now wish to provide an update on the pitch redevelopment.

Resurfacing works that had been scheduled to commence have unfortunately been under ongoing delay, primarily due to supply chain issues related to key materials. Subsequently, consideration has also been given to the risks associated with potential adverse winter weather conditions during construction, as a consequence of the delay in initiating works.

As a result, Newpark Comprehensive School and Avoca Hockey Club have decided that the most sensible course of action given the circumstances is to pause the current phase of development in the short term.

We acknowledge and thank all users and patrons, from the School, Club and Sports Centre for their patience and support over the last number of months.

We are now planning for an implementation of the pitch resurfacing works to commence in Spring 2023. We look forward to the realisation of this project and the benefits it will bring to all.

Eoin Norton

Principal

Newpark Comprehensive School

Ben Geoghegan

President

Avoca Hockey Club

Club Update Nov 2022

Ireland in World Cup Final!

Irelands over 65s masters featuring Avoca’s Charlie Taylor have beaten Japan in their final group game and now play Australia tomorrow at 4am in World Cup Final.

We heard from Brendan Rice earlier who thanked us for all the support, he said it is a great honour for a small lad from Parteen Co. Clare who only took up hockey in his mid 20s. This is the first men’s Masters team ever in a world cup final. He mentioned there are some major challenges ahead against Australia who are ranked 1st in the world in our Master’s group, however, these are the reasons we play hockey to play against the top teams.

The very best of luck lads – enjoy the day and we will be thinking of you!

You can follow their progress on Facebook here and you can watch the match on livestream at 4am Irish Time (Noon local) if you can’t sleep here.

Avoca HC Performance Director – Graham Shaw

I am very pleased to share with all club members that Graham Shaw is joining Avoca Hockey Club as our Performance Director. Graham has an exceptional record of performance both on and off the pitch and joins us at a critical time in our development. Prior to his outstanding results as a coach and leader with International hockey teams both at home and abroad, Graham held many pivotal roles while playing for and captaining Ireland amassing over 150 caps and collected many accolades while playing for and coaching Glenanne as well as Monkstown. Naturally we are delighted to have Graham join us and I would ask you to give him a warm Avoca welcome as he joins in with some of our training sessions / games and learns about Avoca and our ambitions.

As Performance Director Graham’s key focus areas will include Elite Player Performance including differentiating experience and pathway along with Masterclasses, Senior Team Performance including Performance Management, Mental Preparation and Advantage and advising on next steps, Coaching Development and Mentoring to support Junior Section and to help the whole Club on retention & attraction and Club Direction and Identity helping us to grow the Club and contributing to our brand refresh process.

Graham will observe, listen and learn ahead of prioritising his time where he can help most. As you would expect, these focus areas are likely to change and we’ll adapt our plans accordingly. These are clearly aligned to our Strategic Plans and I ask you to help and support Graham in his endeavours for our club.

Very exciting times for sure and a lot to look forward to in yet another exceptional season at Avoca HC!

Yours in sport,

Ben Geoghegan, President – Avoca HC

Newpark Parking

In an effort to help ease the congestion at Newpark, all hockey players should park to the left as you enter the school grounds (before you get to the pitch) and not the parking area at the sports centre. Many thanks!

Irish Breast Cancer’s Great Pink Run returns

Irish Breast Cancer’s Great Pink Run with Glanbia is to make a physical and virtual return next month.

The Great Pink Run, which has raised over €5.4million since it began back in 2011, returns to Dublin’s Leopardstown racecourse and surrounding areas on October 9, with a second event taking place in Kilkenny a week later on October 16.

Junior Season Commences!

Exciting day tomorrow (Sunday, 28th Aug) as we kick off the Junior section hockey across 5 pitches throughout the day. One key highlight will be introducing our 60 newest members – Senior Infants. We will be presenting them with their bibs and Avoca Hockey Sticks at Loreto Foxrock at 9.30am Sunday. Roger Dunwoody – ex Avoca President – will present the first stick to his Granddaughter Robin who is the third generation club member. Do call by for this very special kick off to the season.

Canadian Hall of Fame

A fascinating story and video of Tony Boyd who has just been entered into the Canadian Hall of Fame. Tony started hockey at Avoca in the 40s and having moved to Vancouver in his twenties, was influential in building hockey there before representing Canada at the Olympics in in Tokyo 1964. Read more here.

Newpark Pitch Resurfacing

Hockey Pitch at Newpark Comprehensive School to be resurfaced

The hockey pitch at Newpark Comprehensive School, which was laid in 2005, is to be resurfaced in 2022. Newpark Comprehensive School and Avoca Hockey Club have contracted with Haffey Sports Grounds to lay an Edel ID. EL 15 carpet. The project is due for completion by October 2022 and will be managed by Sports Labs and IKEO Group.

The cost of €354,000 is being funded by a Sports Capital Programme grant, loan finance provided by Blackrock Credit Union and Community Finance Ireland and contributions by both Avoca Hockey Club (supported the club’s fundraising activities, sponsors and donors) and Newpark Comprehensive School/Newpark Sports Centre.

The Edel ID.EL 15 surface is the updated version of the current surface and will ensure that both Club and School can again enjoy one of the top pitches in Ireland. The resurfacing project commenced with an application for the Sports Capital Programme grant in 2018/2019 but was delayed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.