Both lads and ladies have had some important fixtures over the past year but this is just as momentous!

Throw-in is at 4.0 in Devitts on Camden St this coming Saturday, December 17th.

A weary gang of Gaels is expected to reach the promised land of Smyths, Ranelagh around about 10.15 pm – for those interested in joining along the way, here’s where we’ll be….

If you have a Ranelagh Gaels polo shirt or jersey lying around you are expected to don it, otherwise your best Christmas jumper will do the job.

Previous year’s highlights include cross-dressing, romantic walks, obscene rugby chanting, search parties for jackets and blood spilt for the cause.

We expect the same and more this Saturday.

See you then.

This is only the second year that the event has been run, but already it is a firm fixture in the calendar.

Players from the men’s and ladies team plus other club members packed a room at Doheny and Nesbit on Baggot Street for what turned out to be a great night.

The men’s team won the Murphy Cup this year and though the Dublin County Board hadn’t got their medals ready in time for last week’s function, they did have the cup ready for presentation.

The ladies team picked up their medals for making the Junior D Championship final, a remarkable achievement considering they only won the E title last year in their first season in competitive action.

The main prizes on the night though were for the two players of the year and the club person for 2011.

Liam O’Hagan faced a difficult choice in picking his number one player for the season, but in the end he went for corner-back Denis Crehan.

The Mountbellew man had another great season and he was a more than deserving winner.

Karen Coughlan was the ladies player of the year and she was one of the stand-out performers on a team that put together a remarkable series of wins during the campaign.

The last award was voted for by all of the players and members who attended on Thursday night and Denis Doolan was the overwhelming winner of the Ranelagh Gaels Club Person of the Year.

Denis, who now falls into the veteran category, still plays a key role for the men’s team and he is also involved in running the ladies team with Jimmy, Brian and Cathal.

He is a member of the committee too and rarely ever misses a meeting. Denis is always ready to lend a hand and he was a hugely popular winner on the night.

SO WHAT do you normally do on a Thursday evening?

Do you sit around the pub with your mates arguing over who finished third in X Factor two years ago (we’re not sure either, but we’d go for Jedward)?

Well on Thursday, September 15, you can do that AND win some top prizes at Ranelagh Gaels Pub Quiz in Smyth’s starting at 8.0.

That’s right, training is cancelled (though Jer and Tadhg have suggested we do two extra sessions with double jack jumps next week to make up) and all of the Gaels – men and women – will be there. And they’ll all be bringing their friends.

Questions are general knowledge and not just about sport, so your in-depth knowledge of Fair City (1994-present, specialist subject – the marriage of Rita and Bella) might actually come in handy at last!

Eamon Courtney came up with the questions, but he has selfishly decided to go on honeymoon with the lovely Sharon so we’ll be showing off our new MC on the night.

Still, Eamon is the sort of guy who knows who played cornerback on the Fermanagh side that won the 1996 All-Ireland B title (beating Longford after a replay in Carrick-on-Shannon, don’t you know).

There are loads of top prizes on offer – most of them generously donated by friendly local businesses.

All money raised goes towards a great cause – helping to run your local GAA club in Ranelagh.

If you spend your Thursday nights watching Masterchef Ireland at home on the box, then shame on you. You have absolutely no excuse for not coming along to Smyth’s at 8.0 on September 15 for the Ranelagh Gaels Pub Quiz.

With the Dubs in the All-Ireland final and Ranelagh Gaels Ladies team in the Junior D decider – both games this weekend – there is sure to be a great buzz about the place so come along, join in and show your support.

P.S. – Those of you with iPhones and the like, leave them at home! We want this quiz to be fair and square so we’ll have people checking on the night that there’s no cheating.

A big Thank You to everyone who supported and took part in Ranelagh Gaels Table Quiz in Smyth’s Pub on Thursday night.

We had a record number of entries and there was a great buzz about the whole event, which was another massive success for the club.

A huge thanks to all of the local businesses who sponsored prizes – Gmale, Dahlia, Redmonds, La Bodega, Expert Hardware, Tribeca and, of course, Smyth’s.

Well done to everyone involved in the organisation – it was no small task – and paticulalry to Eamonn Courtney for once again coming up with the questions and acting as MC on the night.

Team captain Brian Regan looked to be heading for another victory with his table but a final round collapse (well, he is from Mayo) allowed Barry, Mags and Mick to sneak in and take top spot.

We’ll be having another quiz later in the year when more fun and great prizes are assured so keep an eye on the website and look out for Ronan Murphy‘s brilliant posters around the village for details.

SO WHAT do you normally do on a Thursday evening?

Do you sit around the pub with your mates arguing over the name of the girl Miley cheated on Biddy with in Glenroe all those years ago? (It was Fidelma).

Well on Thursday, March 31, you can do that AND win some top prizes at Ranelagh Gaels Pub Quiz in Smyth’s starting at 8.0.

That’s right, training is cancelled (though Jer and Tadhg have suggested we do two extra sessions with double jack jumps next week to make up) and all of the Gaels – men and women – will be there.

Questions are general knowledge and not just about sport, so your in-depth knowledge of Coronation Street (1984-present, except for that year you spent in Australia) might actually come in handy at last!

Eamon Courtney is MC on the night and he’s also the man who comes up with the questions because he’s the sort of guy who knows who played cornerback on the Fermanagh side that won the 1996 All-Ireland B title (beating Longford after a replay in Carrick-on-Shannon, don’t you know).

Top prize on the night is dinner at the the fantastic Tribeca restaurant in Ranelagh Village. Tribeca are the new sponsors of our ladies team and, for the record, Smyth’s have been sponsoring the lads since the start.

There are loads of other top prizes on offer, including match tickets to watch Dublin play at Croke Park, bottles of wine and spirits and many others – most of them generously donated by friendly local businesses.

All money raised goes towards a great cause – helping to run your local GAA club in Ranelagh.

If you spend your Thursday nights watching Shameless USA at home on the box, then shame on you. You have absolutely no excuse for not coming along to Smyth’s at 8.0 on March 31 for the Ranelagh Gaels Pub Quiz.

P.S. – Those of you with iPhones and the like, leave them at home! We want this quiz to be fair and square so we’ll have people checking on the night that there’s no cheating.

Our last table quiz in March was a massive success, attracting a record number of entries.

Proceedings get underway at 8.0 and entry for a table of four costs just a recession busting €30 – everyone welcome!

All money raised on the night goes to a good cause – helping to run your local GAA club.

Among the great prizes for the winners this time include dinner for four at Carluccio’s Caffe Dawson Street.

And if general knowledge isn’t your thing, you can still take part in the raffle, where local businesses such as Gourmet Burger Company, Company of Books, Expert Hardware, Serendipity Kids, Dahlia, Bow and Pearl and other local business have generously donated prizes.

MC on the night will the Gaels’ own Eamonn Courtney, the quiz king who also sets the questions. Watch out for the mobile phone stewards!

THURSDAY night’s Ranelagh Gaels Table Quiz in Smyth’s was a huge success and helped to raise badly needed funds for the club.

A huge Thank You to everyone who was involved on the night, including MC Eamon Courtney, and all the people who helped correct questions, sell raffle tickets and collect answers.

A major Go Raibh Mile Maith Agaibh to Smyth’s Pub and to all of the local businesses who generously donated prizes: Donnybrook Fair, Ochos, Dyson, Swan Cinemas and GMALE.

The support of the people of Ranelagh was much appreciated and we look forward to seeing you at our next quiz later in the year.

For the record, the winners (who picked up two great vouchers for the restaurant at Donnybrook Fair) were Ronan Rasdale and his team and there wasn’t an iPhone in sight at his table. We’re not so sure the same can be said for the thrid place team who won four tickets to the AIB Club Finals at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day – you know who your are Murphy!

If you won a prize we’d love to hear how you got so please do leave a comment below.

Sit around the pub with your mates arguing over whether it was Murdoch or Face Man who got shot in that classic eighties A-Team episode?

Well this Thursday you can do that AND win some top prizes at Ranelagh Gaels Pub Quiz in Smyth’s starting at 8.0.

That’s right, training is cancelled (though Jer and Tadhg have suggested we do an extra session next week to make up) and all of the Gaels – men and women – will be there. Questions are general knowledge and not just about sport, so your in-depth knowledge of World War II submarines might actually come in handy at last!

Eamon Courtney is MC on the night and he’s also the man who comes up with the questions because he’s the sort of guy who knows who played cornerback on the Fermanagh side that won the 1996 All-Ireland B title (beating Longford after a replay in Carrick-on-Shannon, don’t you know).

Top prize on the night is dinner at the Donnybrook Fair, there’s a beautiful restaurant situated above the iconic D4 shop these days, and there are plenty of other tempting prizes on offer.

There will be a great raffle on the night too, with cinema vouchers at the New Swan Cinemas, a portable DVD player and dinner for two and Ranelagh’s lovely Ochos restaurant for the winners.

There’s also a voucher from GMALE – the male grooming salon in Ranelagh – for a ‘First Date’ special, which involves a haircut, hot towel shave and facial. (Sorry lads, we’ve been told you can’t trade this in for an all-over wax job).

Ladies get yourself and your fella down to Smyth’s on Thursday so you can have a good time AND he can win these great prizes so he can either look special just for you, or take you out for a nice dinner!

All money raised goes towards a great cause – helping to run your local GAA club in Ranelagh.

P.S. If you spend your Thursday nights watching Desperate Housewives at home on the box, then you have absolutely no excuse for not coming along to Smyth’s at 8.0 for the Ranelagh Gaels Pub Quiz.

Lock up your daughters it’s the Ranelagh Gaels 12 Pubs of Christmas, Saturday 19th December.

Same as last year – just the other way around.

No major rules, only it is vital all players wear the Ranelagh polo tops. If you turn up late you buy a half pint/ shot. No point getting too technical with it.

No restriction on people joining us on our merry path of discovery, soul searching and player recruiting!

Hope to see you all there, including some of the ladies.

For All You Music Lovers took the crown of Ranelagh Gaels Table Quiz Winners on Thursday 29th October, but a very jubilant I Love Cheese team came second.

The Gaels would like to thank all you togged out for the event and specially those who took part and didn’t know about the event. Thanks to Smyths Pub for putting us up for the night and local business who offered prizes.

Remember you can join the Ranelagh Gaels Mailing List on the sidebar for more infrequent Gaels events and we would be very happy to welcome you.