THE New York Ladies GAA will hold their annual dinner dance on Saturday, November 13 in the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle when their Guest of Honor will be past president Anne Holland, a native of Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Holland has been very involved in the Ladies GAA since coming to New York in 1995. She played with Cavan Ladies upon her arrival and won four New York Championship medals with Cavan. She also won two Peter Connaughton Cup medals with her Kerry Ladies in 2001 and 2003. 

Holland was interested in both on and off the field workings of the association and in 1999 was elected president of the New York Ladies GAA, becoming the first female president. 

Under her tenure the New York county team played in an All-Ireland junior final in 1999 and in 2000 the All-Ireland semifinal was played in Gaelic Park. 

Despite winding down as a player Holland continues her involvement with the Association as a coach in the Gaelic 4 Girls program which is grooming the future stars in New York. 

She is married to Bantry, Co. Cork native Louis Holland and they have three daughters, Kerry, Sorsha and Erin. Holland currently is the development officer of the NYGAA and believes that is where the future direction of the GAA here lies.

The Imelda Tracey Memorial Award will be presented to Sister Christine Hennessy from Project Irish Outreach based at the Aisling Irish Community Center.

Sister Christine is a native New Yorker. Her mother hailed from Moylough, Co. Galway and her father from Schull, Co. Cork. She is a certified social worker. Her work enables her to help Irish immigrants with the psycho-social problems they face in New York.

Player of the year in 2004 is Mary Maguire, a native of Dunboyne, Co. Meath. She plays with Cavan Ladies and played a huge role in their winning of the Sean Faherty Championship.

This year will see the inaugural all-star awards sponsored by Noel McGovern of Logue Capital. There are 45 nominees, with each club receiving at least three nominations.

The nominations are — goalkeeper, Sharon Levins, Patti McGrail and Eibhlish Dinneen.

Backs: Olive Coleman, Catherine Donohue, Elaine O’Donovan, Mary Maguire, Eleanor Fox, Katrina Lynch, Tara Loftus, Mags Ryan, Kathleen Hickey, Shauna McNamee, Kathleen Enright, Sue Hannon, Aoife Gibson, Louise McKeever, Nicola White, Cathy Hughes, Joanne Monaghan and Allison Traynor.

Midfield: Jenny Kirby, Caroline Murphy, Mary Cooney Michelle McVann, Ellen McGrail and Lorraine Leacy.

Forwards: Ann-Marie Maye, Marie Cassels, Cathy McKenna, Sue Bennett, Ann-Marie O’Malley, Lynda Donnelly, Mags Dineen, Marie Melly, Nuala Carroll, Denise Dunnion, Brenda Furlong, Maureen O’Driscoll, Rosie O’Reilly, Joanne McKenna, Mena Tuohey, Justine Clifford, Bobbi Stacks and Aisling Boyle.